Prescription refills can cause stress for people with pulmonary hypertension, especially when they don’t know whether their medication will arrive in time. Specialty pharmacies try to ensure patients don’t experience medication disruptions, but errors sometimes happen.

You can ask your pharmacy how soon they can process your next refill. Some insurance plans won’t cover the cost of the medication until you have used 75% or 85% of the medication. Other plans won’t cover refills earlier than 10 days before the refill date. These limitations can delay your next month’s shipment, but your pharmacy doesn’t control that process.

Tips for success

Tell the pharmacy how many days of medication you have left. Most pharmacies can ship medication overnight so you don’t miss a dose. In most cases, they won’t charge you for overnight shipping.

Explain your financial situation. If you struggle to afford your copays or can’t refill your prescription because of outstanding account balances or other billing issues, let the pharmacy know.

Ask about assistance options. Your specialty pharmacy might have a patient assistance program to provide financial support or other resources. Don’t be afraid to mention financial hardship. Most pharmacies have teams to address billing issues and staff experienced with finding financial assistance options.

Contact your PH care team if you have difficulty paying for your medication. Ask your care team if it has a staff member to help patients navigate insurance or financial challenges.

Schedule your refill as soon as you receive a reminder from your pharmacy. Pharmacies usually offer reminders via phone, text or email. Contact your pharmacy to request the communication method that works best for you.

Look into advance shipments. Some insurance plans allow 60- or 90-day refills, which can help you avoid refill delays, especially if you will need a new prior authorization at the start of the new year. If your PH is stable, you might be allowed to schedule medication shipments for the full calendar year. Your pharmacy will check whether you have to change before it ships your medication and remind you when the order is coming.

Be prepared for emergencies. If inclement weather or disasters prevent mail delivery to your zip code, your pharmacy might be able to ship your medication to a different location or to your doctor’s office.

How is your pharmacy doing?

Having trouble reaching your specialty pharmacy? PHA’s treatment access program manager can help connect you. Although you shouldn’t use this option for emergencies, it can help address repeated or ongoing issues with refill deliveries or billing challenges. You can also use this form to let your pharmacy know when they’re doing well.

Specialty pharmacy feedback form