On Aug. 20, HHS activated its Emergency Prescription Assistance Program for residents of Louisiana affected by massive flooding in the state. The floods were declared a major disaster by President Barack Obama on Aug. 14.
The program will allow uninsured state residents whose access to medicine has been hindered by the disaster to obtain 30-day supplies of the medications they need at participating pharmacies. As long as the EPAP is active, patients will be able to continuously renew their prescriptions. The program can also be used to obtain specific medical supplies and vaccines. Across the country, more than 72,000 pharmacies participate in EPAP.
"I visited today [Aug. 20] with people whose health conditions could easily be worsened by the major flooding in Louisiana," said Nicole Lurie, MD, HHS' assistant secretary for preparedness and response. "Many of the people I talked with in shelters, like many others in the impacted area, routinely depend upon medicines to keep their chronic conditions in check. I encourage people to take advantage of this program and to take the medicines you need to stay healthy during this disaster."
More articles on quality:
First percutaneous procedure on an umbilical hernia in U.S. performed at a Northwell hospital
Lack of diversity in genetic research could lead to misdiagnoses among minorities, study finds
How MedStar Health trains clinicians to address medical errors