Understanding Medication Shortages

❕Medication shortages occur for various reasons, disrupting access to critical treatments. Common causes include:

• Manufacturing Issues: Quality control problems, production delays, or raw material shortages.
• Increased Demand: Spikes due to public health emergencies or seasonal trends.
• Supply Chain Disruptions: Natural disasters, transportation delays, etc.
• Regulatory Challenges: Delays in FDA approvals or compliance issues with existing regulations.

🔎 How to Find Medications During Shortages

Medication shortages can significantly impact patient care, making it crucial to know how to navigate the issue effectively. If your prescribed medication is unavailable, here are some tips to locate it nearby:

• Check the FDA Drug Shortages Database: The FDA maintains a Drug Shortages Database that provides up-to-date information on medications currently in short supply. This resource includes details about the shortage’s cause, estimated resolution timelines, and available alternatives. Use it as a starting point to understand the situation and plan accordingly.
• Call Multiple Pharmacies: Contact several local pharmacies to check their inventory. Chain pharmacies may restock at rates different from those of independent pharmacies.
• Consider Generic Versions: If you are taking a brand-name medication that is in shortage, ask your healthcare provider if a generic version is available. Generics often contain the same active ingredients and can be a cost-effective and viable substitute.
• Explore Alternatives: Your doctor or pharmacist may recommend a therapeutic alternative - another medication with similar effects that can be used temporarily or long-term.
• Explore Different Dosages: If the exact dosage is unavailable, please talk with your doctor or pharmacist about whether splitting a higher-dose pill (if safe) or combining smaller doses is an option.
• Try Mail-Order Pharmacies: Mail-order pharmacies often have larger inventories and can access medications that might not be available locally. Additionally, many insurance plans include a preferred mail-order pharmacy managed by a Pharmacy Benefit Manager (PBM). Using the preferred mail-order option can help you avoid unexpected out-of-pocket expenses, as non-preferred pharmacies may not be fully covered. Be sure to check with your insurance provider or PBM to confirm which mail-order pharmacy aligns with your plan.
• Ask for Partial Fills: Some pharmacies may have limited stock and provide a partial prescription to bridge the gap until full availability.

📋 Drug Shortages Database

When a medication is unavailable, notifying the FDA's Drug Shortages staff can be beneficial. In most cases, a drug being out of stock is a temporary, localized issue, with additional supplies already on the way. However, localized supply disruptions can sometimes indicate a potential future shortage.

When the FDA receives reports of new local shortages, they reach out to manufacturers to assess whether the current supply can meet national demand. If a medication is at risk of a broader shortage, this early warning allows the FDA to take proactive steps to prevent or minimize the duration of the shortage.

• You can check the Drug Shortages Database for current shortages to see if the FDA is already aware of this shortage. Search by your product's generic name or active ingredient.
• If the drug is already in the Drug Shortages Database, it means the FDA is actively working on resolving that shortage.
• If the drug is NOT in the Drug Shortages database, you can send a report to the FDA through their public portal.

📫 Non-Profit Mail-Order Pharmacy: Rx Outreach

Rx Outreach provides a valuable option for those needing affordable medications, particularly during times of shortage or financial strain as they partner directly with many pharmaceutical manufacturers. Rx Outreach is a non-profit digital pharmacy that offers over 950 affordable medications to individuals and families across the United States.

Who Qualifies for Rx Outreach?

Rx Outreach serves those who are uninsured, underinsured, or unable to afford their prescriptions. You don’t need health insurance to participate, but you must meet income eligibility guidelines. Find out if you are eligible for Rx Outreach either by visiting their website or calling them at [phone] to speak with a Patient Care Advocate.

How to Get Started?

• Register Online: Visit their registration page to create an account and begin accessing their services.
• Contact Support: If you have any questions, you can reach Rx Outreach directly at [phone] or [phone].
• Send Your Prescription: Have your healthcare provider send your prescription directly to Rx Outreach to streamline the process.

❕Important: Rx Outreach operates outside of insurance, including Medicare, so all costs are paid out-of-pocket.

❕Still have questions? Ask HealthJoy Concierge for assistance!

Navigate to "Chat" in the HealthJoy App where you can interact with JOY, our virtual assistant, or with a live concierge. Alternatively, you can reach out to us at [phone].