September 2020
As you may already know, our knowledgeable pharmacists are accessible daily (weekdays 7 am to 9 pm and weekends 9 am to 7 pm) and you can just call or drop by during our extended hours to discuss your particular situation and questions with them. We thought it might also be useful to let you know about some of our other services, in case they may be helpful for you or a loved one.
Pill Pack (or other similar pill packaging services). Do we do it too?
PillPack is an online pharmacy that sorts your medications into packages that are labelled with the day and time they should be opened and taken. They deliver your box of medications on a monthly basis to your front door, without requiring your signature, so if you’re not home, it will be left outside. Since they also deliver on Saturdays when most workplaces are closed, they don’t recommend using an office address. The deliveries are generally based on prescriptions three weeks prior.
Do we do PillPack? Not exactly because we do it better — we provide personalized blister packaging (pictured above) AND we put customer service, professionalism, and accessibility into it. As a local business, we have an interest in your welfare, and our relationship with you means that our professionalism is underscored by a better knowledge of you, your lifestyle, and your health history. For example:
- If an allergy situation arises and you want to know immediately what OTC (over-the-counter) products don’t have potential interactions with your prescription medications, you can discuss this in person with our pharmacists while looking at the various OTC options on the shelf. We’re also available on the phone and deliver locally.
- If your medications need to be kept cold, you’re better off having them delivered locally on the same day the prescription is filled, which we do.
- If your medications need to change, we work with your prescriber and make the change immediately, getting you your new medications, often within the same day.
- For extra or expired medications that you don’t need, we now also have a new Rx Drug Drop box to safely dispose of them. Learn more about it below.
Our prices are competitive, so if you’re considering using PillPack, talk with us to discuss the best option for you.
Are you getting full use of your Healthcare Spending Account (HSA) / Flexible Spending Account (FSA) benefit?
The CARES Act (Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Securities Act, passed in March 2020) allows patients with HSA or FSA to use their pre-tax savings for purchasing OTC products.
- OTC medications include products used to self treat conditions such as the common cold, allergies, or body pain. Previously, you needed a prescription for HSA or FSA to cover these costs.
- Now, FSA/HSA holders can use their debit cards when buying eligible products.
- Menstrual or feminine care products are now recognized as eligible expenses. This includes pads, tampons, cups, and other period care items.
- This policy change applies to eligible products purchased after January 1, 2020, so keep your receipts to submit your claims to your FSA/HSA administrator.
Contact your healthcare plan administrator to confirm if specific products are eligible and any additional benefits under your specific plan.
Should you get a flu shot?
While there has been speculation in the news that flu infections will be lower this year, the flu shot is still recommended, in particular because some flu symptoms are similar to COVID-19 symptoms.
We’d appreciate if you could make an appointment for a flu shot to reduce your wait time, but you’re also welcome to just drop by without an appointment. Here’s the link to make an appointment:
We are a drop-off site, thanks to:
- UAMS – University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
- Arkansas Drug Director’s Office, Arkansas Drug Take Back
- American Security Cabinets
- Arkansas Department of Human Services
Please take a look at the list of accepted and unaccepted items in the photo above and remove your personal information off the labels.
Medicare enrollment – Part D
For those of you who will be on Medicare, we can help with choosing the best plan for your situation. Similarly, we can help those of you already on Medicare with Annual Open Enrollment, which is held October 15 to December 7 each year.
Our pharmacists Brittany and Nick obtained their insurance agent license to be able to provide patients with meaningful information and make it convenient to enroll or re-enroll in Medicare. Please feel free to make an appointment for yourself and/or a loved one by calling us on our Wellington Benefits line at 501-584-8532.
Appointments with insurance agents Brittany or Nick can be booked online during Medicare Annual Open Enrollment at:
Take a look at our Wellington Benefits website for more information about this service:
As always, we are available if you have questions. Drop by (we’re at the corner of Chenal Pkwy and Wellington Hills, behind the bank), call (501-708-4320), or email (info@thepharmacyatwellington.com) us. We welcome hearing from you!
Please note that with us, your copays are usually the same as at the big box and chain pharmacies, so you get stellar service without paying more. Feel free to let your friends and loved ones know that switching prescriptions over to us is easy — they just need to call us or drop by and we’ll take care of the rest.
Your local partners in health,
Brittany, Nick, Jenny, and the whole team
References and Resources:
- Consumer Healthcare Products Association on FSA/HSA changes: http://overthecountervalue.org/taxfreeotc/
- PillPack: https://www.pillpack.com/
- CDC (Center for Disease Control) on the 2020-2021 flu season: https://www.cdc.gov/flu/season/faq-flu-season-2020-2021.htm