10:13 AM Thu, Sep 18, 2008 | Permalink
Aaron Chimbel
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For Hurricane Ike evacuees from a declared disaster location who need
prescriptions filled for medications or durable medical equipment):
Any evacuee who needs a prescription filled must have one of the
following:
. A written prescription from a licensed health care provider
. A prescription phoned or faxed in from a licensed health care provider to a
licensed pharmacy in Texas
Other proof of an existing prescription
. Note: prescriptions for Schedule II drugs (commonly referred to as
narcotics) must be written and cannot be refilled.
If in a special medical needs or a general population shelter in Texas:
. Those with prescription insurance or other third-party coverage can
receive at least a 7-day supply of the medication.
. The Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) will pay the copay
amount for the prescription.
. The above prescriptions can be filled by HEB or Walgreens.
. Those eligible for the federal Emergency Prescription Assistance Program
(EPAP) can receive a 30-day supply of any needed medications. There is
no charge or co-pay to the eligible person. EPAP # is 1.866.935.4135.
. The EPAP-covered prescriptions can be filled at almost any pharmacy in
Texas.
. The pharmacy is responsible for verifying eligibility for the EPAP program.
. The Shelter Manager or his/her designee is responsible for verifying
shelter residence.
If in the general population:
. Those eligible for the federal Emergency Prescription Assistance Program
(EPAP) can receive a 30-day supply of any needed medications. There is
no charge or co-pay to the eligible person.
. The EPAP-covered prescriptions can be filled at almost any pharmacy in
Texas.
. The pharmacy is responsible for verifying eligibility for the EPAP program.
Eligibility for the Emergency Prescription Assistance Program:
. Must be from a county declared as a disaster area as a result of
Hurricane Ike. A list of Hurricane Ike disaster-declared counties is
available at: www.fema.gov/femaNews/disasterSearch.do
. Must have no prescription insurance coverage.
Other:
. A list of Hurricane Ike disaster-declared counties is available at:
www.fema.gov/femaNews/disasterSearch.do
. EPAP is a joint program of the U.S. Federal Emergency Management
Agency and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
. EPAP prescription service period: Sept.12 through Sept. 22, 2008.
. DSHS prescription co-pay service period: Sept. 9 through Sept. 30, 2008.
. Evacuees in shelters should check with shelter staff for prescription
assistance.
We saw on the news that you could get a prescription card where you can get a percentage off medication from any of the pharmacies due to hurricane ike. My husband has went to walgreens and cvs and they acted like they did not know what he was talking about. also, I called 211 and they transferred me to texas health and human service and I completed a app. over the phone. the rep told me if i don't get a call in a week to call back because things were still up in the air on how they were going to do everything. I think that is horrible because do they think i would be asking them for help if i had everything i needed. I am not sure if you guys check this or not, but Ii need help. my main question is : If I applied for emergency food stamps over the phone can i go into a thhs location and give them my social security # will they be able to pull up my application and complete it so I can get food stamps that day?
In response to Anitra, I work for one of the two companies you mentioned. Of course the workers did not know what you are talking about because we get our directives from our corporate. Our headquarters gives us information on how to process that kind sort of things and if we do not hear from them via email or fax then we do not do anything out of company's requirements. We understand that this is a time of need and such but we can't do anything we don't have directions to do (ie...how to bill that particular insurance/discount card). Once we get the clearance from headquarters to do something, then when a customer enters a store we know exactly what the customer is talking about. These news station shouldn't be saying anything over air without it coming from the companies first for this causes confusion when customers call/enter our stores and we don't know what they are talking about. These companies always gives their employees these types of information before making it public so we would be prepared to face these temporary assistance.