Tag: Prescriptions

Active Duty And Retired Military Eligible For Emergency Prescriptions Due To Storms

Uniformed service members, military retirees and their families served by TRICARE are eligible for emergency prescription refills due to recent inclement weather.

The Defense Health Agency announced Thursday that TRICARE beneficiaries in four counties in West Virginia may receive emergency prescription refills now through April 13, 2024, due to storm damage.

The Defense Health Agency and TRICARE serve uniformed service members, military retirees and their families. 

Beneficiaries in Fayette, Kanawha, Lincoln and Nicholas counties are eligible for the emergency waiver.

On Thursday afternoon, Gov. Jim Justice amended his State of Emergency to include Barbour, Brooke, Hancock, Marshall, Ohio, Wetzel and Wood counties. 

The Defense Health Agency told West Virginia Public Broadcasting via email that the waiver will not be extended to those counties at this time.

To receive an emergency medication refill, TRICARE beneficiaries should take their prescription bottle to any TRICARE retail network pharmacy. Patients are advised to visit the pharmacy where the prescription was originally filled.

To find a network pharmacy, beneficiaries may call Express Scripts at 1-877-363-1303 or search the network pharmacy locator.

Groups Collecting Prescription Drugs For Take Back Day

For more than ten years, the Drug Enforcement Administration has organized National Prescription Drug Take Back Day. It’s a safe way to dispose of expired or unwanted medications. Groups across the state are collecting old prescription drugs Friday and Saturday.

For more than ten years, the Drug Enforcement Administration has organized National Prescription Drug Take Back Day.

It’s a safe way to dispose of expired or unwanted medications. Groups across the state are collecting old prescription drugs Friday and Saturday.

A majority of people who abuse prescription drugs obtained them from family and friends – and the home medicine cabinet. To remove the hazard, groups will accept tablets, capsules, patches, and other solid forms of prescription drugs. Liquids and needles will not be accepted. Vaping devices and cartridges are allowed,

The collections are also meant to prevent unused prescription drugs ending up in the trash, where they can be retrieved and abused or illegally sold. It also helps to prevent unused drugs from being flushed, contaminating the water supply.

Most Sheriff’s offices will take part including Oceana Police Department in Wyoming County and the Raleigh County Sheriff’s Department and Crab Orchard Pharmacy. Drugs can also be dropped off at the Charleston Police Department and several pharmacies across the capitol city.

Most Sheriff’s offices will take part including in Raleigh County as well as the Oceana Police Department in Wyoming County. Drugs can also be dropped off at the Charleston Police Department and several pharmacies across the capitol city.

The DEA has created a collection site locator where you can find a location near you.

W.Va. House Backs Aides Giving Nursing Home Drugs

West Virginia’s House has voted to let nursing aides give various prescription medications to patients at nursing homes.

Supporters of the bill, approved 55-44 on Tuesday, say the certified nurse aides would have to be trained every two years, work under the direction of a registered nurse, couldn’t give opioids and other drugs listed as having high potential for abuse and could give injections only with pre-filled insulin.

Aides would have to record every medication they give. They couldn’t calculate dosages or work from verbal doctor’s orders.

Opponents say their concerns are patient safety as well as the potential diversion of allowable medications, which include barbiturates that are potentially addictive.

Lawmakers on both sides note that 25 states allow the practice and 25 don’t.

Prescription Drug Collection Effort Set in West Virginia

An annual prescription drug take-back event at West Virginia’s Capitol is being expanded to two days this month.

Attorney General Patrick Morrisey said in a news release that state employees can dispose of their expired or unwanted medications on Friday at the Division of Protective Services Office. On Saturday, the public can drop off medications near the Capitol’s East Rotunda.

Morrisey says more than 90 other collection sites across the state also will participate on Saturday.

Drug Take-Back Day was initially launched in 2010. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration spearheads the effort.

Delegates Pass Telemedicine Bill to Help Rural Areas

Delegates have approved a bill that its sponsors hope will expand access to mental and behavioral health medications.

House Bill 2509 allows physicians to prescribe certain controlled substances through telemedicine technologies – like over a video call. Doctors are currently prohibited from prescribing certain types of medications over telemedicine systems, including narcotics like oxycodone and morphine—drugs that have been abused in recent years in the state.

Cabell County Delegate Matthew Rohrbach says while curbing the state’s opioid epidemic is a major focus for lawmakers, this specific bill does not affect those efforts. It still prohibits doctors from prescribing opioids, but would allow prescriptions for behavioral or mental health issues.

“We have a tremendous problem with access to mental health providers, particularly for our pediatric population,” Rohrbach explained, “So, ADHD is the main thing that this is gonna seek to close, so kids that have ADHD can be treated via telehealth to get their aderol and other prescriptions for such, so this is not to allow pill mills; this is really to extend for our mental health providers a way to service our clients in rural areas.”

House bill 2509 passed 95 to 4 Monday. It now heads to the Senate for further consideration.

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