HHS activates medication program for uninsured residents in Louisiana disaster

The Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response Saturday activated its Emergency Prescription Assistance Program for areas in the Louisiana flooding disaster, allowing residents without health insurance to obtain at no cost certain prescription drugs, medical supplies, vaccines and medical equipment at participating pharmacies. Patients can renew their prescriptions every 30 days while the program is active. They also can use the program to replace specific medical supplies, vaccines or medical equipment lost as a direct result of the declared emergency or lost or damaged on the way to the designated shelter facility. Affected residents can call Express Scripts at 855-793-7470 to learn if their medication or durable medical equipment is covered by the program and to find a participating pharmacy. “I encourage people to take advantage of this program and to take the medicines you need to stay healthy during this disaster,” said Nicole Lurie, M.D., HHS assistant secretary for preparedness and response.