Ally Dering-Anderson, Pharm.D., a clinical associate professor in the College of Pharmacy at the University of Nebraska Medical Center, discusses steps people can take if their medications are washed away because of flooding in their communities, concerns about insulin and insurance coverage of medication refills.
Here is a Dropbox link to video featuring Dr. Dering-Anderson:
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/chpussjq10s7njr/AABp9a3cJqkeUtOAJJYqw142a?dl=0
Below are transcripts:
Pharm.1 audio/video: “For people who cannot get to their medications that is their medications are on one side of the flood water and they’re are on the other or they have simply washed away, the pharmacy is not accessible. Every insurance company, including Medicare and Medicaid, have built systems that allow pharmacies that are open to get immediate overrides to get you refills, even if it seems like it is too soon. Sadly, this is not the first natural disaster that these insurance companies have dealt with. Yes, it’s the biggest flood in the history of Nebraska but they have dealt with the problem in other places and have a very seamless way that pharmacists can help you get your medication.”
Pharm.2 audio/video: “For people with concerns about insulin, most of the time you will be able to use it, even if it has been out of the refrigerator for a couple of days. Call the pharmacist and ask just to be sure. But remember, most insulin can actually be stored at room temperature. If it was July, we would be worried because you lost refrigerator and air conditioning. But it’s not hot enough outside for that to be a big problem. If you have no access to your insulin or your needles, go to any pharmacy and they will do their very best to help you given the disaster that we are facing. Most insurance companies will help you find a way to get insulin and supplies.”
Pharm.3 audio/video: “One of the messages we want to send is pay close attention to the news when they are talking about your drinking water. If for any reason, they tell you not to drink the municipal water, don’t do it. This is especially important for people who are immune suppressed, they may be going under cancer chemotherapy, they may have had a recent burn, they may have a disease that suppresses their immune system. It’s also very important for babies and small children. Drinking bad water would make all of us sick. But for those special people they can get very sick very quickly, so do pay attention to all of the alerts about bad drinking water. We hope that those will be able to recover very quickly but we know that some places are going to be challenged to get clean drinking water.”
Pharm.4 audio/video: “Nebraska law allows for pharmacists in emergencies to use their professional judgement. And we get fantastic support from all of our prescribing colleagues. From the doctors and the dentists and the nurse practitioners and the physician assistants. If you are out of medication please go to any pharmacy, the pharmacist will use the pharmacist’s professional judgement to get you a short supply of medication until we can contact your original pharmacy, your original prescriber. We will get support from all of the prescribing community to help take care of you. Bring any information you may have. If you have lost everything that’s OK. We still have a way to talk you through what you have used. And if it was paid for by an insurance company your insurance company will help us figure out what you need.”
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UNMC Pharmacy Professor discusses pharmaceutical impacts due to flooding
