As many still find themselves dealing with the devastating aftermath of Hurricane Harvey, IACP wanted to provide you with invaluable pharmacy and legal resources that are available.
Pharmacists Assist Patients Impacted by Hurricane Harvey
Texas and especially the Houston metropolitan area was hit hard this past week with unprecedented flooding as Hurricane Harvey moved up along the South Texas coast, and into Louisiana.True to form, pharmacists quickly sprang into action, helping their communities during what threatens to be an extensive recovery process. The below articles describe the heroism and hardships the area has experienced in the last couple of weeks.
Access and re-entry to flooded areas will be controlled by emergency managers for some time. For information on requesting access, visit
www.healthcareready.org/harvey.
Healthcare Ready's Rx Open is an interactive map that helps patients and providers find nearby open pharmacies in areas impacted by disaster. The map will be updated daily throughout the federally declared disaster. If your status is not accurate or you want to enroll your pharmacy, please send an email with your name, the name of the pharmacy, and the NCPDP or NPI number for the pharmacy to Healthcare Ready at [email protected].
The American Bar Association is Offering Legal Services
Members of the American Bar Association (ABA) are providing legal services to those affected by Harvey. Please visit ABA's Hurricane Harvey Relief webpage for a variety of support services including housing assistance, National Disaster Legal Aid, and Disaster Legal Services!
Waiver Program and Emergency Refills
The Department of Health and Human Services has declared a public health emergency, and the CMS 1135 waiver program is now available. Certain requirements for Medicare, Medicaid and CHIP are modified to ensure needs are met and providers and suppliers acting in good faith are reimbursed. Find out more details on the CMS website. Texas health officials have issued guidance for Texas pharmacies that need to dispense emergency refills. Click here for information from the Texas Board of Pharmacy.
IACP Foundation Partners with NCPA Foundation to Raise Funds through NCPA Disaster Relief Fund
The IACP Foundation is working with the National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA) Foundation to raise funds for the disaster in Houston and surrounding areas. Read more and access the donation form here. You can help community pharmacy owners restore their businesses in the wake of disasters like Hurricane Harvey. Make a donation to the NCPA Foundation's Disaster Relief Fund. Your help is urgently needed to help maintain the fund so timely aid can be provided to affected independent pharmacies. Corporate and individual donations are welcome. Support is tax-deductible. And don't forget to enroll your pharmacy in the Pharmacy Disaster Support Centerto be prepared for future disasters. In addition, to apply for a NCPA Foundation Disaster Relief Fund grant, please access form here.
MATCHRX Urges Member Pharmacies to be diligent about selling medications on its marketplace to help Independent Pharmacies in Texas; Pledges Contribution to NCPA Foundation Disaster Relief Fund.
Texas Pharmacy Foundation Disaster Relief Fund Details: Donate Online
Help pharmacy help Texas communities in need. Contribute to the Texas Pharmacy Foundation Disaster Relief Fund today. Funds will be used to assist pharmacies in affected areas to help communities in Texas have access to pharmacy services.
Healthcare Ready is helping route and coordinate supply donations. If your pharmacy has a health care supply need OR your pharmacy is able to donate supplies, please email
[email protected]. Requests so far include oxygen concentrators, insulin, syringes, and other medical supplies. Healthcare Ready is also coordinating directly with some organizations to supply trained health care professional volunteers.
Email [email protected] if you are a trained health care professional and interested in volunteering, so your information can be shared with organizations that need a pharmacist.
How to Send an Emergency Recording to your Patients: PrescribeWellness is donating a recording service, at no cost, to pharmacies impacted by Hurricane Harvey. All you have to do is reach out to PrescribeWellness through phone (800-960-8147) or email ([email protected]), and their support team will work with your pharmacy to set up a voice recording that can go right out to your patients. Help your patients by letting them know if there are pharmacy-specific special hours, emergency medications, and/or vaccinations, and if they need anything, to give you a call.
