People insured through Medicare can now access PillPack from Amazon Pharmacy to get access to presorted medication, according to the retailer.
Amazon said that presorted, labeled medication packets delivered to people's homes will make it easier to manage multiple medications, which come packaged in personalized, tear-away packets organized and labeled by date and time.
PillPack provides customers with two or more recurring prescriptions with monthly shipments of personalized, presorted medication packets. Because of the clear labeling, Amazon said this eliminates the need to manage multiple pill bottles and makes it easier for customers to follow their prescribed routines.
With this expansion, more than 50 million Medicare Part D beneficiaries who manage multiple daily medications are now eligible to use their insurance for PillPack. That entails logging into an Amazon Pharmacy account, and after selecting eligible medications and reviewing insurance and delivery details, customers can complete their sign-up and start receiving their medications in packets.
Amazon Pharmacy said it will coordinate the refill schedules so multiple medications can all be delivered at the same time each month.
WHAT'S THE IMPACT
Amazon also provided another update: Customers can now use a new feature for caregivers to help manage medications for family members or loved ones who need assistance.
Citing AARP, Amazon said one in five adults in the U.S. – or about 53 million people – are taking care of an aging family member; and U.S. adults spend the equivalent of an eight-hour workday each month coordinating healthcare for themselves and their family members. Medication management is often the most complex task.
The new caregiver feature allows customers to securely invite trusted people who, once verified, can manage medications on behalf of their loved ones through their own Amazon Pharmacy accounts.
To set up caregiver support, customers can log into their Amazon Pharmacy account and send an invitation to their caregiver using their mobile phone number. The caregiver will receive a secure link over SMS and – after confirming a few details, like the customer's date of birth – can start managing medications through their own Amazon account.
THE LARGER TREND
Amazon Pharmacy will provide ongoing delivery updates via text or email, it said, with the goal of making it simple to track and manage medications. Prime members in a dozen cities, such as Los Angeles, New York and Seattle, are also eligible for free Same-Day Delivery of their medications.
This year Amazon said it was teaming with Teladoc Health to expand access to its telehealth chronic condition programs.
Amazon customers who are eligible for Teladoc Health's diabetes, hypertension, pre-diabetes and weight management programs can enroll in these cardiometabolic care benefits directly through Amazon's Health Benefits Connector, previously known as Health Condition Programs.
Amazon offers scale by surfacing eligible benefits to customers when they search for related products or devices. Nearly a quarter of adults say they are unaware of all the benefits available through their health plan, Teladoc said.
Jeff Lagasse is editor of Healthcare Finance News.
Email: jlagasse@himss.org
Healthcare Finance News is a HIMSS Media publication.