Coronavirus (COVID-19) in Nevada | Nevada Health Response



Guidance to Pharmacy Practitioners and Prescribers during COVID-19 OutbreakBackground: Pharmacies and Pharmacists are essential to the health of Nevada residents, as timely and accurate medication delivery is foundational to the treatment of acute and chronic diseases. We know that access to needed medication is important during the uncertainty caused by COVID-19. As patients look to pharmacy staff for guidance, please use calming and reassuring language. Your help to prevent panic and communicate accurate information is essential for our communities. Watch the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Department of Health and your county health web page for accurate information, and resources.Prevention: Pharmacies should implement strategies to prevent person-to-person transmission of infection. Frequent, effective handwashing, use of hand sanitizer and wiping frequently touched surfaces with an EPA approved biocide should be common practices. Staff should strive to maintain a distance greater than 3 feet from patients, and greater than 6 feet for patients actively coughing. Although this is not always possible, emphasis should be given when patients are coughing and sick. Communicate to patients the importance of sick patients staying home, sending a friend to the pharmacy instead, or using the drive through when possible. Currently, COVID-19 virus has a relatively low estimated transmission rate of 0.5% in the general public.Exposure: If a patient sick with COVID-19 visits a pharmacy and talked with pharmacy staff, the exposure risk as classified by the CDC is generally low risk. With low risk exposures the CDC recommends that health care providers self-monitor for illness. “Self-monitoring means Health Care Provider should monitor themselves for fever by taking their temperature twice a day and remain alert for respiratory symptoms (e.g., cough, shortness of breath, sore throat).” Fever is either measured temperature >100.0°F or subjective fever in healthy individuals. As mentioned above, individuals who develop symptoms should not go to work, instead they should call in sick and self-quarantine at home until they no longer have a fever and their symptoms improve. Unless at risk for severe illness, individuals do not need to be tested for COVID-19 or seek care.Planning: Pharmacies should begin to develop emergency plans based on the potential for absenteeism due to illness in their staff. This is an evolving situation which may eventually be worsened by drug shortages. The Nevada Department of Health and Human Services will continue to share information between state and local public health staff and our pharmacy community.Early Prescription FillsThe Department of Homeland Security has issued preparedness guidelines at . This "pandemic prophylaxis" list calls for stockpiling a 2-week supply of water and food, having medical records readily available, discussing preparations for illness with family members, and obtaining "a continuous supply in your home" of prescription medications. Information below outlines important information regarding medication access and refill policies for Fee-for-Service recipients as well as each of the Medicaid Managed Care plans.Fee-for-Service MedicaidOptumRx has made system changes to allow for a reduction in the “refill too soon” edit threshold from 80% to 50% on all non-controlled medications, including acute and maintenance medications. The situation will continue to be monitored should future system changes be needed to ensure access to medications.Maintenance medications are required to be filled in three-month (100-day) supplies. The following drug categories are considered maintenance medications and are required to be filled in three-month (100-day) supplies: Antianginals, Antiarrhythmics, Antidiabetics, Antihypertensives, Cardiac Glycosides, Diuretics, Estrogens, and Progesterone. Contraceptive drugs are considered maintenance medication. Contraceptive drugs that are approved by the FDA are covered up to a 12-month supply. The OptumRx Clinical Call Center can be contacted by the pharmacy to assist with claim transactions. The OptumRx Technical Call Center is available 24 hours per day, seven days a week. The telephone number is (866) 244-8554.Medicaid Managed Care PlansAnthem: IngenioRx has several programs designed to help members remain adherent to their prescription drug therapy including programs that allow a member to obtain a 60-day supply of their maintenance medications through the IngenioRx home delivery pharmacy. We would strongly encourage all members who are currently on a maintenance medication to consider taking advantage of these programs. Members can call the pharmacy services number on the back of their health plan ID card to learn more about these programs. If members do not currently have a prescription for a 60-day supply, they should contact their physician to determine whether a 60-day supply is appropriate for them. If their provider believes that a 60-day supply is right for them, then the provider can send IngenioRx home delivery an electronic prescription, fax the prescription to 800-378-0323, or call it in to the home delivery pharmacy at 833-203-1742.Health Plan of Nevada: After monitoring service levels as well as President Trump declaring a National Emergency for COVID-19 we have made the decision to systematically remove the refill-too-soon edit for Medicaid members. Silver Summit Health Plan: SSHP and our Pharmacy Benefit Manager (Envolve Pharmacy Solutions) have implemented the following protocols regarding the refill too soon waiver:The refill too soon waiver has been activated.The waiving of the refill too soon restriction applies to all claims EXCEPT those for controlled substances or specialty drugs.?It applies to both retail and mail order pharmacies.It does not waive any other standard benefit, formulary or utilization management edits.It does not waive prescriber or pharmacy restrictions.As we continue to monitor the spread of COVID-19, we are reviewing drug utilization protocols. Our goal is to ensure that members have access to the medications they need in the event of a self-quarantine or mandated quarantine. We also want to ensure members will be able to maintain adherence to medication therapy and avoid unnecessary visits associated with emergency room and hospitalization access. We will continue to monitor the situation and make further changes or adjustments as necessary.Medication Access – Retail ChainsCVS: On March 9, 2020, CVS Health announced additional COVID-19 resources to increase patient access to medications. Beginning immediately, CVS Pharmacy will waive charges for home delivery of prescription medications, which will help patients avoid visiting their local CVS Pharmacy for refills or new prescriptions.Walgreens: Walgreens is waiving delivery fees for all eligible prescriptions during this evolving situation. The company is reminding customers of a number of available services, including Walgreens Pharmacy Chat, a secure platform available 24/7 online and through the Walgreens mobile app, as well as pharmacy drive thru for customers looking for alternative ways to access their medications. Customers are also able to use the drive thru to purchase select products.Resources: - Beginning immediately please refer COVID-19 calls and emails to the following site for up to date guidance and information: For Nevada clinician guidance/information and for Person Under Investigation (PUI) Reporting: Office of Public Health Investigation and Epidemiology (OPHIE) Duty Phone 775-400-0333 (Available 24/7)-CDC Healthcare Personnel with Potential Exposure to COVID-19. Interim Guidance for Healthcare Facilities: Preparing for Community Transmission of COVID-19 in the United States. -EPA Registered Antimicrobial Products for Use Against Novel Coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 ................
................

In order to avoid copyright disputes, this page is only a partial summary.

Google Online Preview   Download