MEDICARE PART D - GETTING YOUR RX IN A DISASTER OR EMERGENCY

[GailL1]

As part of the CARES ACT, Medicare was instructed to advise Part D Insurers to relax the rules a bit in order to help beneficiaries get their medication, to not run out since they were to be staying at home.

CMS Guidance 04/29/2020 - Medicare Advantage and Part D Plans: CMS Flexibilities to Fight COVID-19 

This may help many of you get the meds you need in bigger quantities than normal or skip prior authorization depending on the med.

Medicare.gov - Getting prescriptions in disaster or emergency 

from the link ~

NOTE

During the COVID-19 pandemic, if it’s difficult for you to get to a retail pharmacy or if you’re not allowed to go to a retail pharmacy, like during a quarantine situation, Medicare drug plans may allow you to get mail or home delivery from retail pharmacies that choose to offer these delivery services.

NOTE

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Medicare drug plans must relax their “refill-too-soon” policy. Plans must let you get up to a 90-day supply in one fill unless quantities are more limited for safety reasons.

LOTS MORE AT THE MEDICARE LINK ABOVE

Also from Kaiser Family Foundation on this same issue:

KFF 04/01/2020 - Examining Medicare Part D Policies for Extended Supplies of Medication 

In light of the coronavirus pandemic, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act requires Medicare Part D plans to provide up to a 90-day (3 month) supply of covered Part D drugs to enrollees who request it. Part D plans currently provide drug coverage to more than 46 million older adults and people with disabilities. Prior to this requirement, Part D plans had the option to relax their ‘refill too soon’ restrictions to ensure enrollees had access to a sufficient extended supply of medications, and some plans stated they would temporarily lifted these restrictions, but plans were not required to do so. The change in law is designed to ensure that all Part D enrollees can obtain an extended supply of medications if they request it during the COVID-19 public health emergency.

From my readings, this covers all types of drugs and tiers - this is access ability; you still have to pay your part.

. . . . most Medicare Part D enrollees are in plans covering extended supplies of relatively low-cost generic drugs in 2020, but just under half are in plans that cover extended supplies of brands and only a small share of enrollees are in plans that cover extended supplies of more expensive specialty-tier medications. These coverage policies will be in effect after the COVID-19 emergency declaration ends, when plans will no longer be required by law to issue extended supplies for all Part D drugs they cover.

KNOWLEDGE IS POWER ESPECIALLY WHEN THE GOVERNMENT IS INVOLVED  🤔