HCS Week 19

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Health City Sun

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www.healthcitysun.com

May 8, 2020

New Mexico’s Legal & Financial Weekly

Vol. 10.100 No. 19

FORECLOSURE SALES: 0 PROBATE: 19 AUCTIONS: 4 NOTICE OF SUITS: 6 OTHER: 11 SPANISH NOTICES: 1

COVID-19: Pharmacy Benefit Managers Are Working for Patients

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s the coronavirus takes hold in the United States and front-line health care providers are hard-pressed to treat those who are sick, pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs), along with health insurers, are working to help patients weather the pandemic. PBMs across the board are helping patients obtain their essential medications, and supporting plan sponsors who want to waive treatment costs associated with COVID-19 care. A number of PBMs are doing more. For example, one PBM and health plan are offering an early intervention screening tool to help customers and members understand their personal risks for COVID-19. Beyond these efforts, PBMs are collaborating with health plans and pharmacies to remove potential barriers to getting prescriptions filled by people staying at home and social distancing. Specifically, PBMs are encouraging early prescription drug refills, helping patients sign up for home delivery, and adjusting utilization management programs to minimize potential access delays. PBMs are also advising patients to adhere to guidelines issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. This global pandemic raises the possibility of prescription drug shortages, as drugs normally used by only a few people may suddenly be needed by many, or manufacturing centers may be sidelined by virus outbreaks. PBMs, along with drug manufacturers, wholesalers and pharmacies, are integral to identifying and managing drug shortages to reduce the prospects of patients being without their prescribed medications. PBMs are closely monitoring the global manufacturing environment and using analytics to gauge patients’ prescription drug usage trends to anticipate possible disruptions to the supply chain. Then, working in concert with others, PBMs are working to help spread the existing drug supply as equitably as possible among patients who need those drugs.

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Indeed, it’s vitally important during the public health crisis that all patients continue receiving access to medications, particularly those treating chronic illnesses, such as asthma and rheumatoid arthritis. As the public increasingly demands off-label use of some medications to treat COVID-19, PBMs are implementing measures that balance off-label usage with the ongoing needs of patients using on-label prescriptions for chronic illnesses. Here, for example, is how one PBM approaches this balancing act: Decades ago, PBMs perfected home delivery of medicines for patients. While the service has always been a convenient and lower-cost option for patients to access their prescription drugs, home delivery has never been as important as it is right now. That’s why PBMs are enhancing home delivery services, as well as working with network pharmacies to provide local delivery options for consumers. As we all come together to find a new normal in this age of COVID-19, it is important to understand that PBMs are - and will be - working to help patients lead healthier, happier lives.-(NewsUSA)

New Mexico Senior Olympics Cancels 2020 State Summer Games

he New Mexico Senior Olympics (NMSO) Board of Directors unanimously requires that changes are made to the current qualification process, NSGA voted to cancel the 2020 Ernesto Ramos State Summer Games for safety will continue regular communications with our State Senior Games to share reasons related to Covid-19 and to refund applicable registration fees. information to athletes”. The Board met virtually via Zoom for their regular bi-monthly meeting on Thursday, April 16, 2020. Included in the agenda was the business item on whether the State Summer Games will move forward due to the Covid-19 current status and the Governor’s order for social distancing. The Board heard many responses, concerns and notifications from athletes who have registered with the NMSO Headquarters located in Roswell, NM, regarding the cancellation of the State Summer Games planned for June 10-13th at New Mexico State University. Athletes can be assured that the Board’s decision considered many factors concerning the safety of senior athletes, volunteers and staff. The 2020 Ernesto Ramos Summer Games are the qualifier for the 2021 National Senior Games. Executive Director Cecilia Acosta assured the Board that the National Senior Games Association (NSGA) is currently analyzing potential impacts on State Senior Games and the qualifying process. NSGA is reviewing several potential scenarios and considering many factors. The NSGA website and recent newsletter THE LONG RUN, states “If the situation

All NMSO athletes will receive an email or phone call regarding game cancellation and can expect a full refund minus any processing fees. Athletes who paid with a debit/credit card will be automatically refunded. All others will receive a check refund from NMSO. NMSO will post the official notice of Game Cancellation on the website at www.nmseniorolympics.org. For more information on all other team tournaments scheduled for the fall, please visit the official website at www.nmseniorolympics.org or call 575.623.5777. Other agenda items included a report on EnhanceFitness statewide evidenced based group exercise classes held at 11 sites and a report on the work plan for the FY21 state grant renewal application with NM Aging and Long Term Services. The next meeting for NMSO Board of Directors is scheduled by virtual Zoom for June 18, 2020 at 10:00 a.m.


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HCS Week 19 by Dave Rivord - Issuu