CVS Health offers support as Hurricane Helene approaches

CVS Health is actively preparing for Hurricane Helene’s landfall in Florida by prioritizing the health and safety of its customers, members and colleagues, and offering communities access to the products and services needed. 

For starters, CVS Pharmacy shared that it is reaching out to its patients by text message, email and phone reminding them to refill and pick up prescriptions. Stores also are receiving additional supplies of emergency items such as water, batteries and first aid products. 

CVS Caremark, the company’s pharmacy benefit manager, is enabling pharmacy claims for one-time emergency refills of a 10-day supply of medication for plan members in impacted areas.

Dollar General partners with World Central Kitchen in wake of Hurricane Francine

CVS Specialty patients who are within the emergency area and are taking specialty medications will be contacted to discuss alternate delivery arrangements, if needed. 

Aetna clinical response teams have expanded their engagement with Medicare and Commercial members in potentially impacted areas to ensure member safety and access to emergency services.

Additionally, Aetna is liberalizing its Resources For Living services to ensure individuals and organizations have access to care regardless of whether it is part of their existing benefits. Liberalized services include in-the-moment mental health phone support, a dedicated crisis support website and community resource information. Individuals and organizations who do not have RFL can call 1-833-327-AETNA, and those with RFL should contact their designated RFL number. 

CVS Health also said it is contacting colleagues who are at risk from the storm to check that they are safe and offer crisis support. Information about community resources and emotional support services is available through the company’s employee assistance program.

CVS Pharmacy stores comply with all local evacuation orders. If there are mandatory closures, impacted stores will reopen as soon as it is safe to do so. If a store is closed for more than one day, the pharmacy’s phone lines will be rerouted to a nearby open CVS Pharmacy to help patients access their prescriptions. Patients with a scheduled vaccination will be notified of any changes to their appointment by email or text message.

CVS Health supporting local community as Hurricane Debby makes landfall

CVS Health also recommends the following tips to ensure prescription needs are met for those potentially impacted by this storm:

• Follow local evacuation orders. Get to a safe location first and refill your medications at the nearest pharmacy. This allows you to avoid potentially long lines at your local pharmacy, and you won’t need to needlessly delay your evacuation.
• Take a waterproof bag with your current medication — even if the bottle is empty. The information on the prescription label will help pharmacy staff with refill requests. Heat, humidity and sunlight can degrade the effectiveness of medicine, so try to protect it from extreme weather conditions.
• Keep a written record of your current prescriptions on hand. If you are taking several prescription drugs, it’s an especially good idea to keep a record of your current medications, dosage and doctor’s contact information.

[Read more: CVS Health report highlights need for expanded role of retail pharmacists]

Lastly, CVS Health said it remains dedicated to supporting its local communities and is in contact with disaster relief organizations to help communities respond to and recover from the storm.