Amazon Pharmacy makes 2 enhancements for medication management
Amazon Pharmacy has made two enhancements aimed at making medication management simpler, more accessible and more convenient for millions of customers across the United States.
The first enhancement enables customers to use Amazon Pharmacy’s new feature for caregivers to help manage medications for family members or loved ones who need assistance.
Additionally, customers with Medicare insurance can now access PillPack from Amazon Pharmacy, making it easier to manage multiple medications with pre-sorted, labeled packets delivered right to the home. With PillPack, customers receive their medications in tear-away packets organized and labeled by date and time.
[Read more: Amazon Pharmacy bringing same-day medication delivery to 20 more cities]
“These updates deliver what our customers have been asking for—simpler medication management for themselves and their loved ones,” said John Love, vice president of Amazon Pharmacy. “Whether you’re a caregiver juggling multiple prescriptions for an aging parent, or a customer who could benefit from the convenience of pre-sorted packets delivered reliably each month, we’re removing barriers and making pharmacy work better for you.”
Amazon noted that according to AARP, one in five adults in the United States—an estimated 53 million people—are taking care of an aging family member; and U.S. adults spend the equivalent of an eight-hour workday each month coordinating health care for themselves and their family members. Medication management is often the most complex task. Amazon Pharmacy’s new caregiver feature allows customers to securely invite trusted individuals who, once verified, can manage medications on behalf of their loved ones through their own Amazon Pharmacy accounts.
“Caregiving comes with enormous responsibilities, and managing multiple medications is one of the most challenging aspects,” said Tess Carey, senior pharmacist at Amazon Pharmacy. “Amazon Pharmacy’s new caregiver feature provides a secure, streamlined way for trusted individuals to help manage prescriptions and place orders 24/7, when and where convenient for them—all through their own Amazon accounts. This ensures medications arrive on time, giving both caregivers and patients greater peace of mind.”
[Related: Amazon Pharmacy debuts same-day delivery in NYC, L.A.]
To set up caregiver support, customers can log into their Amazon Pharmacy account and send an invitation to their caregiver using their mobile phone number. The caregiver will receive a secure link over SMS and—after confirming a few details like the customer’s date of birth—can start managing medications through their own Amazon account.
PillPack from Amazon Pharmacy helps customers with two or more recurring prescriptions by providing monthly shipments of pre-sorted medication packets. Each packet is clearly labeled with date and time, eliminating the need to manage multiple pill bottles and making it easier for customers to follow their prescribed routines. With this expansion, more than 50 million Medicare Part D beneficiaries who manage multiple daily medications are now eligible to use their insurance for PillPack from Amazon Pharmacy.
[Read more: Amazon Pharmacy to bring pricing transparency via collaboration with Photon]
To enroll in PillPack from Amazon Pharmacy, customers can log into their Amazon Pharmacy account and click “Sign up for PillPack.” After selecting eligible medications, reviewing insurance and delivery details, customers can complete their sign-up and start receiving their medications. Amazon Pharmacy will coordinate the refill schedules so multiple medications can all be delivered at the same time each month.