Rationing Medications and Online Pharmacies
When money is tight you may be tempted to ration your medications, trying to extend a 1 month supply to last 2 months or even longer using them much less often than you should. Rationing medications can have major consequences, as in the case of 26 year old Alec Smith who died from insulin deficiency after going off insurance for 1 month and attempting to ration his insulin because he could not afford it. If you cannot afford any of your medications it is important for you to speak with your provider and to work with your healthcare team in finding affordable medication options. There are a number of resources for prescription assistance and drug discount available to patients through manufacturers, non-profits, and governmental agencies. It is also important to notify your healthcare team if you cannot afford your medications, often times cheaper alternatives may be available and changes to your medication regimen can be made to make them more affordable.
Drug discount programs through GoodRx, NeedyMeds, Blink Health, FamilyWize, RefillWise and others are a good place to start your search for medication discounts.
Purchasing medications online is another option people are increasingly using to save money. Although using online pharmacies may be a convenient alternative in some cases, it is important to verify the validity of the online pharmacy you use. According to the Alliance for Safe Online Pharmacies (ASOP), 97% of online pharmacies are illegal. On top of that, the World Health Organization (WHO) says that 50% of medications sold by pharmacies that hide their physical address are counterfeit.
There are numerous case reports of serious adverse effects from taking medications purchased online, it is important to remember there are no specific online pharmacy laws and no way of assuring the medications you purchased are safe or effective. If you choose to purchase your medications online, make sure to use a Verified Internet Pharmacy Practice Site (VIPPS) as part of the VIPPS program by the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (NABP), a program that accredits online pharmacies. Look for the following logo on the website you are using.
You may also use the ASOP tool for finding verified online pharmacies here.
The rising costs of medications pose barriers to access for all, strategies are being developed and implemented to help curb costs, however it is important to educate yourselves and your patients not only on how to appropriately use medications but also how to get them in the first place. Be sure to utilize your state, federal, and community resources available if you need assistance affording your prescriptions.
If you need assistance in finding affordable medication options for yourself or for a patient, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us here at NovaScripts Central.
Links:
https://www.refillwise.com/index.html
https://www.goodrx.com/
https://www.blinkhealth.com/
https://familywize.org/
https://www.needymeds.org/
ASOP link –> https://buysaferx.pharmacy/
Author: Zeshan