(Photo Credit: Adobe)

By Erin Flynn Jay for Next Avenue

Millions of Americans are struggling to afford their medications during COVID-19, including some with health insurance, the nearly 27 million who lost coverage due to a job loss and those who never had it. But there are quite a few ways to lower your prescription drug costs in the pandemic.

The sticker shock is real. In July, according to the GoodRx site, 67 prescription drug prices rose an average of 3.1%; prices for 857 brand-name and generic drugs increased by an average of 6.8% from January 1 to June 30, 2020. Refills for common medications such as insulin for diabetes and Nexium for heartburn can cost around $300.

The coronavirus has only worsened the medication cost crisis for those with chronic diseases who are unemployed or facing financial hardships.

Don’t assume that doctors and pharmacists will automatically prescribe the most cost-effective treatment.

Here are seven ways to save money on medications in the pandemic:

1. Pay out-of-pocket (cash prices) instead of co-pays. The out-of-pocket price of medications is usually much lower than the average health insurance co-pay for them. You can save a lot of money (often up to 80%) by buying your medications directly from a pharmacy and skipping insurance altogether.

If you have prescription drug coverage and are unclear about the most affordable pricing, ask your local trusted pharmacist about the price for your medications without insurance vs. with insurance. Note: in some states, it is illegal for a pharmacy to charge a co-pay when the cash price is lower.

2. Switch to an online pharmacy. Retail pharmacies can mean getting stuck waiting in long lines and risking exposure to COVID-19. Online pharmacies are simpler or more convenient since they ship your medications straight to your door.

Online pharmacies can be especially helpful for those who have just lost their jobs, and consequently, their health coverage, as well as people who were left out of the pandemic relief.

Honeybee Health, for example, doesn’t accept insurance; its out-of-pocket prices are generally lower than the average co-pay. Dr. Jessica Nouhavandi, its lead pharmacist and co-CEO, co-founded the company to ensure that everyone has affordable access to generic medication — regardless of whether they have health insurance.

3. Switch to a 90-day supply. That can be helpful if you’re on maintenance medications, such as ones to treat chronic conditions like high blood pressure, high cholesterol, anxiety, depression or type 2 diabetes.

Instead of having to worry about getting a refill every month, it is much more affordable and convenient to buy a three-month supply at a time.

But you may have to do it through an online pharmacy that doesn’t require insurance, since insurers sometimes restrict the number of refills you can pick up at one time.

4. Use pharmacy savings cards and online programs. Pharmacy savings cards can offer significant discounts on drug prices at the pharmacy counter. Programs like the new Carecard let you search your prescription online to find the lowest prices at local pharmacies, whether you have insurance or not. You just show the pharmacist your card (or mobile app) to gain instant savings. A 10-second search could save you hundreds on your next drugstore visit.

SingleCare and GoodRx are two other prescription discount programs. Both sites promise savings of up to 80% off the cost of prescriptions.

5. Evaluate your health insurance or prescription drug plan. You’ll want to know what’s covered and, more importantly, what’s not.

“Take the time to comprehend what your co-pay and insurance costs are, how big your deductible is and which health care and pharmacy providers are in your network,” says David Hannon, founder and CEO of Carecard. “If your current plan doesn’t meet your current health care needs, consider adjusting your coverage or finding a new plan. You may have other options that better suit your personal needs.”

Starting in January 2021, Medicare Part D (health insurance for people 65 and older) will introduce its Senior Savings program limiting the cost of most insulins to $35 for a 30-day supply and no deductibles.
There are also patient assistance programs for insulin to reduce the co-pay, sometimes to zero.

6. Ask for generic medications when you can. Don’t assume that doctors and pharmacists will automatically prescribe the most cost-effective treatment. Physicians often prescribe drugs they’re familiar with.
Hannon says generics are just as effective as brand-name equivalents and usually cost about 80% less, on average.

Be sure to ask your pharmacist if there is an equally effective, less expensive generic alternative for your prescription. And check with your physician to see about changing medication to something more affordable than what was prescribed.

7. Sign up for an HSA or FSA. If you have health insurance, an HSA (health savings account) or an FSA (flexible spending account) can help save you on out-of-pocket medical expenses. Both let you contribute a portion of your pre-tax income to pay for eligible medical expenses like co-pays and prescriptions.

Erin Flynn Jay is a writer, publicity expert and author of Mastering the Mommy Track: Juggling Career and Kids In Uncertain Times. Read More

By Roberto Muñiz

As we wrap up the final month of 2020 it’s hard not to think about this past year ending without something like the phrase “good riddance” running through our minds. Yet it’s as I was thinking of all the challenges that COVID-19 brought this year, that I was also humbled by the strength I saw in the human spirit.

In observing our Elders, care partners and families at Parker I saw so much resilience, compassion and unity. It was evident in how we reacted each time one of our Elders recovered from the virus – with sheer joy; displayed in lined up employees clapping and cheering. I saw patience as our families and Elders had to find new ways of communicating through technology, window visits and at a distance. And I saw creativity in how all our employees interacted with our residents and participants; still determined to bring them moments of vibrant spontaneity. Life still happened in 2020.

Yes, the human spirit is strong and with the holidays upon us, I am celebrating that. I encourage you to choose to see the good in what 2020 brought and while a lot of how we live and operate was different, including how we celebrate this season upon us, we recognize that every moment is so very precious.

I leave you with that thought and share our Parker Holiday video, which we have put together as a tribute to our residents, participants, patients and to our amazing staff. I hope you enjoy it, as it shows many of the memories worth remembering that I mentioned above. They are moments worth treasuring.

Happy Holidays and may you have a very happy and healthy New Year!

Roberto

Jason Fierstein at Phoenix Men’s Counseling in Phoenix  |  Credit: Courtesy of Jason Fierstein

By Jennifer Nelson for Next Avenue

As the global COVID-19 pandemic continues, talking to your therapist over the internet may be here to stay. Where you may have once traveled to a therapist’s office and sat face-to-face for an hour, you can now boot up your computer and log onto a secure, encrypted video platform like Zoom or Skype to chat with your mental health provider.

Even if you could attend an in-person therapy session — most were cancelled due to COVID-19 — sitting six feet apart with masks on makes it difficult to read each other’s facial expressions.

 

“There may be clients that feel even more comfortable being open because they are already in their safe place (their home)”

 

Southern Cross University, with campuses across Australia, recently surveyed over 1,000 people on their experiences and perceptions of teletherapy and found 98% of respondents said COVID-19 has impacted their mental health care significantly. Over 65% participated in online therapy since the pandemic began and survey takers touted the top benefits as no commute, flexible schedules and an easy set-up.

“We’re seeing a large increase in mental health services over video, and therapists and their clients are trying to adjust to it,” says Jason Fierstein, licensed professional counselor at Phoenix Men’s Counseling in Phoenix.

“I think that people have started to get used to the idea of doing therapy over video, even if it’s not ideal for either party. I do think that video will stay consistent for some time to come, even if COVID numbers go down, for the sheer usefulness of the platform.”

As the nation hunkers down in preparation for fall and winter weather, possible COVID-19 waves, and even things like the flu, will make it more difficult to access an in-person therapy appointment.

Your Virtual Therapist Is In

While having a virtual therapy session may be new for you, some therapists have long offered the service, and many others ramped up to teletherapy quickly at the start of the pandemic. An American Psychiatric Association survey found that before the pandemic, only about 2% of providers offered tele-psych services. No roughly 85% offer virtual treatment.

“At the beginning, it definitely took some getting used to, particularly for clients because it felt disconnected and less personal,” says Leina Rodriguez, a licensed marriage and family therapist at Refresh Psychotherapy in New York City. As time goes by though, she says, clients seem more at ease.

“I would even say that there may be clients that feel even more comfortable being open because they are already in their safe space (their home),” says Rodriguez.

In fact, that’s one advantage licensed clinical social worker Catherine McCallum at Coral Life Strategies in Bethesda, Md., touts when discussing teletherapy: “We get to see them in their home environments.”

This can give important clues to how well a patient is really doing, whether their space is cluttered or tidy and whether they’re dressed or out of bed. Even the art on their walls or what’s on their nightstand can provide insight.

 

“Show up on time, make sure there aren’t any distractions, such as kids, pets or other environmental noises. Find a private space in your home or office.”

 

On the flip side, mental telehealth care may fall short in some ways, McCallum says, particularly without the ability to detect smells like alcohol or body odor, which can be warning signs of impaired functioning. Likewise,

“Seeing body language not visible by video, particularly below the neck, may be indicators of anxiety, anger, problematic or repetitive behavior,” says McCallum.

For example, not being able to see bouncing feet, clenched hands, scratching and self-injury through picking, could throw off a clinician’s ability to assess for safety or a proper diagnosis.

While teletherapy has skyrocketed, whether it’s right for everyone seeking therapy or as effective as in-person treatment remains unclear.

A Harmony Healthcare IT survey asked 2,042 Americans about virtual medical services and found 46% of boomers and 57% of Gen Xers were comfortable with online appointments.  More than 40% of respondents have used telehealth for mental health and 70% would be more willing to speak with a mental health professional if they could do it virtually.

“I do think we need to investigate the outcomes of this grand teletherapy experiment so that we can determine evidence-based best treatments,” says McCallum. “I have no doubt telemental health will be a bigger part now, but I do not think it will be the only modality for every client situation.”

Rodriguez notices that telehealth therapy appointment no-shows are very low because clients don’t have to travel and it’s much easier to attend a virtual session. “Also, many clients who suffer from depression are seeing that this is a great option for when they can’t even get out of bed,” she says.

What’s more, during the pandemic, many health insurers as well as Medicare and Medicaid programs have waived co-pays or loosened restrictions to allow coverage for telehealth sessions. Check with your plan to be sure it’s covered.

To have the most successful experience with teletherapy, Firestein recommends treating teletherapy sessions as you would a regular in-person visit. “Show up on time, make sure there aren’t any distractions, such as kids, pets or other environmental noises. Find a private space in your home, or office,” advises Firestein.

Some therapists say clients have connected from their parked car or tucked into a bathroom when there’s nowhere else for a secluded session.

Also, get comfortable with how you look on video and adjust your computer for the best lighting and background. And if you’re new to therapy or your virtual therapist, give it three to five sessions. It can be more difficult developing trust and rapport over screens with internet glitches and time lags.

McCallum says she worries about taking the human out of human connection. But for what it’s worth, it has become normalized and accepted as the next best thing.

  By Roberto Muñiz, President & CEO



  As we enter the fall season, the chance of a resurgence in COVID-19 cases is top of mind for all of us, especially for health care providers. Just like we’ve seen in Britain, France, Germany and other European countries New Jersey needs to be fully prepared for a second spike. For us in long term care, it is our utmost responsibility to be ready and equipped with protocols that would limit exposure should a second wave occur.

 

 At Parker we are implementing best practices and protocols learned in this past year to not only limit exposure but combat the psychological effects a quarantine brings. Many of our solutions center around technology. Let me explain how, with the hope that our processes may help inform others.

 

The use of telecommunications was critical at Parker when COVID first hit. Foreseeing the need for our Elders to have engagement early on, prompted us to purchase additional tablets to promote communication between our residents and families.

 

We greatly expanded technology for virtual sessions so that outside healthcare providers can provide “house calls” online with our residents. Parker care partners have also used virtual programming to bring some of the at home services we offer to those we serve, such as Health & Wellness programs and Rehab at Home.



Technology has also been used for vibrant social engagement, which we see as a critical need to reduce feelings of loneliness and give meaning and purpose to our residents. We’re providing interactive programming, such as painting classes, games and stimulating social activities via Zoom and other platforms. 

 

Virtual Reality Technology is a unique tool we are using with our residents. We had been considering piloting the technology long before COVID, but were prompted to launch it during this pandemic to help with isolation. I’m pleased to report that it’s making a remarkable difference socially and emotionally with our Elders who are enthusiastically embracing it. You can learn more about their experience with VR here.

 

Additionally, we continue to evaluate all our communities to determine the best approach to help us eliminate the spread of infections. We have installed ventilation systems that moderate the air pressure to minimize the spread of viruses and continue to explore every piece of new technology available that can help our communities be much more effective with prevention and infection control.  I’ll have more to come on this in the future.  

 

I’m thankful for this day and age where we can use technology in the face of a pandemic. These enhancements not only prevent the spread of COVID-19. They are also part of updated protocols being enacted as Parker eventually moves beyond the pandemic and focuses on a healthy, nurturing environment for the next generation of residents. Constant innovation has been one of our key attractions to families; this pandemic has only furthered that commitment.

 

I believe that Parker is well-positioned for what may come next. But we remain vigilant, flexible and focused. We are steadfast in our commitment to provide exceptional care to our community – come a second wave or not.