Join Us for Fall Roundtables!

All TPC-related staff are encouraged to participate in one of the upcoming Fall Medication Assistance Roundtables. These Roundtables are designed to brief TPC users on how upcoming changes in healthcare relate to the availability of free & discounted medicines and possible alternatives. Together we will explore innovative ways in which medication assistance programs are integrated with other services of your organization and more! Please mark your calendars and plan to attend one of these sessions. Register today!


Thursday, October 20, 2022  (10:00 am – 12:00 pm)

Wednesday, October 26, 2022 (1:00 pm – 3:00 pm)

Friday, October 28, 2022 (10:00 am – 12:00 pm)

NEW Brandname Medications Now Available in TPC

As new medications are approved by the FDA and become available on PAP(s), they are added to TPC. We continue to make updates regularly. Check out the most recent additions. Don’t forget to share these newly available products with your providers so they are aware of new medication options when considering what to prescribe for patients based on their condition(s).


Aklief (Dermatologic-Acne)

Dysport (Neurologic-Dystonias/Parkinson’s Disease; Cosmetic-Dermatologic)

Epsolay (Dermatologic-Rosacea)

Radicava (Neurologic-Neuromuscular Disorders- amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)

Sotyktu (Dermatoloic-Psoriasis)

Twyneo (Dermatologc-Acne)


Program Changes in TPC provide additional updates to PAPs such as available medications/supplies, program notes, form changes, and more. Please contact tpc@vhcf.org to request a new product/PAP be added. We’ll take care of the research!

Health Insurance Marketplace Open Enrollment

Begins November 1st

Most individuals who purchase private health insurance from the federal Marketplace will need to sign up for 2023 coverage during the 11-week Open Enrollment Period. It starts November 1 and ends January 15, 2023. Those who do not sign up during Open Enrollment will not be able to sign up for 2023 coverage, unless they experience an unexpected event like losing other health insurance coverage (including Medicaid/FAMIS); moving outside their current insurer’s covered area; or have a qualifying life event, like getting married or having/adopting a child.

 

The additional premium and cost-sharing subsidies that were established during the pandemic have been continued for 3 more years thanks to the new Inflation Reduction Act recently passed by Congress. These have made the Marketplace Silver Plans more affordable for many.


Virginians interested in purchasing health insurance through the Marketplace can work one-on-one with a navigator through Cover Virginia, visit healthcare.gov, or call 1-800-318-2596 (TTY: 1-855-889-4325) to apply on their own.

Important PAP Updates for Patients & Providers

Pradaxa, a blood thinner used to reduce the risk of stroke, is no longer available to new patients through the Boehringer Ingelheim Cares Foundation. Existing patients will receive refills through the end of the calendar year (12/31/2022) regardless of the re-enrollment date. Other brandname alternatives are available in TPC via other PAPs such as Arixtra, Eliquis, Fragmin, Heparin, Lovenox, and Xarelto. Check TPC’s medication app on the go for additional alternative options by selecting Search By Subclass and enter Anticoagulants.


The shortage of Ozempic continues due to an increase in demand. Ozempic is a prescription medicine used to improve blood sugar in adults with type 2 diabetes. It can also reduce the risk of major cardiovascular events such as heart attack, stroke, or death in adults with type 2 diabetes with known heart disease. Due to the increase in demand, patients enrolled in Novo Nordisk’s Patient Assistance Program will be affected by these products.


  • Ozempic 1mg is currently available
  • Ozempic 0.25/0.5mg is expected to ship mid-late September
  • Ozempic 2mg will be available to ship at the end of October


Several possible brandname alternatives are available in TPC including Trulicity, Byetta, Bydureon BCise and Victoza. Check out how Ozempic compares to other Diabetes medicines and search for other potential options here.


For current and resolved drug shortages, you can search or download a list from the FDA website here.

Annual Renewals of Medicaid Eligibility Are Coming!

When the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services declared a Public Health Emergency (PHE) due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it allowed Virginia’s Department of Medical Assistance Services (DMAS) to temporarily discontinue annual renewals of eligibility for most Medicaid/FAMIS members. The PHE is likely to end in the first quarter of next year. When that occurs, DMAS will have 14 months to renew coverage for all 2 million Virginians enrolled in Medicaid/FAMIS.


For successful renewal, members must keep their contact information up-to-date. Members who have moved in the last 3 years can report an address change by:

  • Logging in online via commonhelp.virginia.gov,
  • Contacting their Managed Care Organization (MCO),
  • By calling the local Department of Social Services, or
  • By calling Virginia’s ONEBenefits line at 1-833-5CALLVA.


To help spread the word about renewals resuming, DMAS has developed PHE "Unwinding” Tool Kits that include flyers, social media graphics, and newsletter blurbs you can use to help encourage your clients/patients to report a change in their address. 

Save the Dates for Upcoming Training & Monthly Support Calls

Sign up for an online TPC training session if you are new to your organization and need to learn the basics. If you currently use TPC and are looking to refresh your skills or want to learn about additional features, sign up for Advanced Training.

 

We also host monthly calls where we provide updates and give users the opportunity for a Q & A session. It’s also a great opportunity to brainstorm and learn from other TPC users. All sessions are Eastern Standard Time. Be sure to check the website for additional dates or to coordinate special training for a large group!


TPC Beginner Training

October 4, 2022 (1:00 pm – 3:00 pm)

November 3, 2022 (9:30 am – 11:30 am)

December 8, 2022 (10:00 am – 12:00 pm)


TPC Advanced Training

November 9, 2022 (1:00 pm– 3:00 pm)


Monthly Support Calls (10 – 11 am)

November 16, 2022

December 7, 2022


Check out some of the most Frequently Asked Questions in TPC!

SignUpNow Announces Fall 2022 Workshops

Do you work with clients who are:

  • 65+ years old, or
  • Enrolled in or eligible for Medicare?


Would you like to learn how to help them sign up for or renew their Medicaid eligiblity? Thanks to generous support from the Virginia Department of Medical Assistance Services (DMAS), SignUpNow now offers NEW training on how to help these individuals apply for and renew their eligibility for Medicaid!


To view and register for available training dates, go to vhcf.org/workshops/ and select a training date for SignUpNow 2: Medicaid for Aged, Blind, or Disabled (ABD) Virginians. Additional training will be offered throughout fall/winter 2022, so check back often!


SignUpNow also has new training dates available to learn about the Medicaid/FAMIS programs for children and families, including the New Health Coverage for Adults (Medicaid Expansion). To view available dates and register, go to vhcf.org/workshops/, and select a training date for SignUpNow 1: Medicaid/FAMIS for Children and Families (including Medicaid Expansion).