Specialty Pharmacies and Accessible Medication Solutions

DeAnna Quietwater Noriega, an essayist and full-time caregiver for her husband Curtis, receives medications and other supplies hand-delivered by D&H Drugstore in Columbia, Missouri. Ms. Noriega, 73, was born with glaucoma and has been visually impaired since the age of 8.

"They know us by name and always treat us with respect and kindness," she says of her independent pharmacy. "They go above and beyond to ensure our medications are compatible and advocate for us when our insurance company pushes back on the prescribed drugs."

Ms. Noriega's medications come with ScripTalk labels, which she reads using her iPhone. Previously, she filled her prescriptions through Walmart but found it frustrating because she wasn’t notified when refills were due. "We had to rely on reading the fine print on the label," she explains.

Many independent pharmacies offer personalized services, including home delivery, to meet customers’ needs. Major pharmacy chains also provide home delivery in many locations. Over the past several years, these chains have become more accessible, thanks in part to efforts by advocacy organizations like the American Council of the Blind.

However, finding a pharmacy with a full range of accessible options under one roof has been elusive. Last summer, CVS Health, which offers ScripTalk through its website, introduced a feature in its app called SpokenRx, which can scan labels and read out the prescription information. This service is now available in over 1,000 stores.

Walmart also provides ScripTalk in nearly 1,800 Walmart and Sam's Club locations. Walgreens has implemented a Talking Pill Reminder available at no cost. However, Eric Bridges, executive director of the American Council of the Blind, mentioned that they have yet to engage with Amazon Pharmacy.

NY Healthcare Provider May Have Fraudulently Obtained Vaccine Doses

Provided by CNBC, Pfizer's Covid-19 vaccine is pictured at Rady Children's Hospital before being placed back within the refrigerator in California on December 15, 2020. Doses of the coronavirus vaccine may have been wrongfully obtained and distributed throughout parts of New York, according to the state's top doctor on Saturday.

Dr. Howard Zucker, commissioner for the state's department of health, stated that his office received reports of ParCare Community Health Network "fraudulently" obtaining the vaccine and transferring it to "facilities in other parts of the state." These doses were allegedly diverted for "members of the public," bypassing the state's prioritization for frontline healthcare professionals and residents of long-term care facilities.

New York's initial rollout of the vaccine was still limited to hospitals and nursing homes. On December 16, ParCare offered doses of the vaccine on a "first-come, first-serve basis" through a social media post. The post included a sign-up form for elderly individuals, those at high risk, and people with underlying conditions.

ParCare later shared photos of the Moderna vaccine on Twitter, claiming to have received thousands of doses. In response, the Department of Health launched an investigation, and anyone found to have knowingly participated in this scheme will be held accountable to the fullest extent of the law, according to Dr. Zucker.

ParCare acknowledged the inquiry and pledged full cooperation during the investigation. "During these unprecedented times, we have striven to provide critical healthcare services and administer COVID-19 vaccinations to those qualified to receive them under the New York State Department of Health's guidelines, which includes frontline healthcare workers and first responders," ParCare said in a statement.