Of course patients who are facing chronic medical situations know the importance of taking the medications prescribed for them. The transplant team always encourages patients to take an active role in their healthcare by asking questions, gaining knowledge of their medications, and keeping track of their schedules. We let patients know that they each should also prepare for an emergency situation with adequate supplies.
Equally important is keeping prescription drug coverage. Without coverage, the cost of transplant medication may be too expensive.
Daily Compliance
The following may help you manage your prescribed medications:
• Know what each medication looks like.
• Read the pill bottle label; make sure you understand the directions.
• Try and use the same pharmacist for all of your prescriptions, ask questions, inform him of any concerns you may have.
• Keep a log of medications you are taking, dosages, and physical descriptions of the pills. Give a copy to a friend or family member for safe-keeping.
• Create a way to help yourself remember when to take your medication.
Ways you can remember to take your medication: • It can be as simple as using the ‘Medications Log’ for making a check-mark every time you take a dosage. • Pill boxes with AM/PM sections that can be filled weekly are effective. • There are other pill boxes with alarms if you need an audible reminder. |
To Keep in Mind...
If you miss a dose, check with your physician or nurse coordinator.
Over-the-counter medications may or may-not interact with your prescription medication – check with your physician. This is also true for herbal based products, including pills and teas.
In An Emergency…
We never know when an emergency may strike. It can be a hurricane, snowstorm or a man-made catastrophe. There are many items that should be on hand: food, water, light source, blankets, medications and much more. Call the Red Cross for their guide or visit www.redcross.org for a complete list. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services: www.hhs.gov and The Center for Disease Control: www.cdc.gov both have useful emergency guides as well. If you have trouble accessing this information on-line, ask for help at the information desk of your public library.
Ideally, you should have a month’s supply of your medications on hand (at least have 7 days worth). This is not always possible due to prescription insurance limitations. Check with your prescriptions insurer to see if they can accommodate and cover an emergency supply.
Have important medical information in a waterproof container with duplicates given to a friend or family member.
Consider getting a medical bracelet which will reference your ID to important medical and prescription information.
Paying for Your Medication…
Ultimately, patients are responsible for paying for their prescriptions. This is either by having prescription coverage, and never letting the insurance lapse or by having adequate funds to pay for them personally "out-of-pocket."
If you have prescription coverage:
– Do not let it lapse. If you are shopping for a better plan, make sure you do not cancel your coverage until the next one is in effect.
If you find paying for medication is a problem with Medicare:
Signing up for a Medicare D prescription plan is extremely important.
Some Medicare D plans may cover immunosuppressants, even if the transplant was not paid for by Medicare. There are significant differences in the plans. At a certain amount of coverage, a non-coverage gap occurs. This seems to be the hardest part for patients to handle. It can be up to $3600 out-of-pocket before coverage resumes again.
There may be a better plan for you.
There are plans that cover formulary or generic drugs when the gap is reached. Call 1-800-633-4227 or visit www.medicare.gov for Medicare’s Plan Finder.
Depending on your income, you may qualify for additional help from Social Security in paying for your Medicare D premiums. Call 1-800-772-1213 or visit www.socialsecurity.gov to see if you qualify.
If you find that you are without coverage, for whatever reason, there are pharmaceutical Patient Assistance Programs (PAPs) for those in need. Some medications are delivered at little or no charge. The easiest way to access these programs is through the Pharmaceutical Industry’s ‘Partnership for Prescription Assistance’ website: www.pparx.org. You can search by medication and the links will lead you to an application and information. You may also call 1-888-477-2669 for applications for the medications you are taking.
Don’t forget to look into the various state programs that may be offered (for example, the Maryland Pharmacy Assistance Program "MPAP.")
If you find yourself in a situation where you cannot afford your medications – look into the above suggestions.
Need further help? Call your social worker immediately. Do not wait until you are almost out of your medications. It is crucial to your well-being that you continue on your prescribed meds.
-Joanne Kramer, Liver
Transplant Office Manager
