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Frequently
Asked Questions
Managing your medication can be complicated, challenging
and stressful. We understand that, and try to answer all of your questions and concerns.
Our team of clinical specialists is available around-the-clock for emergency services
to help you manage all aspects of your treatment. The following are some of the
more common questions patients may ask. Ascend SpecialtyRx recommends that you consult with your physician or nurse regarding
a specific question about your therapy.
Q: What is a specialty medication?
Q:
How do I send my prescription to Ascend SpecialtyRx?
Q:When should my prescription
be submitted to Ascend SpecialtyRx?
Q: I am not home during the day, so
can you send my medication to my workplace or another address, instead of to my home?
Q:
If my medication must be refrigerated will it be shipped by mail?
Q: What if I need to talk with a pharmacist about
my medication?
Q:
I don’t want my neighbors or co-workers to know about my health issues. How does Ascend SpecialtyRx maintain confidentiality when shipping my medications?
Q: I don’t think my insurance will
cover the cost of my prescription. Is there anything Ascend SpecialtyRx can do to help?
Q: Why can’t I get my medication at
my local pharmacy, where I’ve been going for years to fill all of my other prescriptions?
Q: How do I know the right pharmacy
to choose for my treatment?
Q: What is a specialty medication?
| A: | Specialty
medications generally require initial patient education and monthly monitoring,
specialty packaging for shipping, are intended for unique chronic diseases, exceed
$500 per month, and are produced through biotechnology processes. |
Q: How do I send my prescription to Ascend SpecialtyRx?
| A: | Your prescription can be sent to
our pharmacy four ways:
1) Your physician or nurse can call or fax in your
prescription:
Telephone Prescriptions:
800-850-9122
Fax Prescriptions: 800-218-3221
2) You can provide one of our pharmacists with the
name and telephone number of your doctor and we will contact their office to obtain
the prescription.
3) You can transfer your prescription from another
pharmacy by simply calling us with the name and telephone number of your previous
pharmacy and we will arrange for the prescription to be transferred.
4) You can mail your prescription and a copy of your insurance information to:
Ascend SpecialtyRx
53 Darling Avenue
South Portland, ME 04106
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Q: When should my prescription be submitted to Ascend SpecialtyRx?
| A: | Your medication will be delivered prior to your
treatment start date. So that our reimbursement counselors have ample time to complete
a comprehensive review of your insurance coverage, fully exhaust all possibilities
for reimbursement and confirm all necessary insurance paperwork, we suggest that
your prescription be submitted to us as soon as it is available from your physician’s
office.
Once you are an established patient with our pharmacy,
you will be contacted on a monthly basis to schedule your refill medication delivery.
One of your Ascend SpecialtyRx care coordinators
will call approximately 7 days before your current medication supply is exhausted
to ensure your therapy is uninterrupted.
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Q: I am not home during the day, so can you send my medication to
my workplace or another address, instead of to my home?
| A: | When we receive your prescription, one of our patient
care coordinators will call you to confirm insurance coverage and the delivery of
your medication. At the same time, we are able to make any specific delivery arrangements
and ensure on-time delivery to the proper location. Ascend SpecialtyRx will arrange for delivery of your medication to the destination of
your choice, including home, work, physician’s office or vacation spot.
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Q:
If my medication must be refrigerated will it be shipped by mail?
| A: | Yes,
specialty medications requiring refrigeration will be shipped in insulated packages
according to manufacturer guidelines through an overnight delivery service. |
Q: What if I need to talk with a pharmacist about
my medication?
| A: | Our pharmacists are available 24 hours a day for
emergencies and can respond to your call any time of the day or night.
During non-business hours, a caller will hear a message instructing
them to call a pager number and a pharmacist will return the call.
Once you are an established patient with our pharmacy,
you will be contacted on a monthly basis to schedule your refill medication delivery.
During the call you may be asked pertinent questions for us to access the effectiveness
of your therapy. At any time, you may speak with one of our pharmacists or
nurses for clinical questions or concerns. |
Q:
I don’t want
my neighbors or co-workers to know about my health issues.
How does Ascend SpecialtyRx maintain
confidentiality when shipping my medications?
| A: | Ascend SpecialtyRx
understands the need to protect your privacy. Our packaging and shipping materials
have NO reference to your medication and are labeled in such a way so that they
are not identified as coming from a pharmacy. |
Q: I don’t think my insurance will cover the cost of my prescription.
Is there anything Ascend SpecialtyRx can do
to help?
| A: | Absolutely! Through our exclusive PRIME Program our team of experienced reimbursement counselors will work with
insurance companies and are effective advocates on your behalf. They understand
how to interpret reimbursement policies, know which questions to ask an insurance
provider and have an in-depth knowledge of reimbursement mandates. In some cases,
Ascend SpecialtyRx reimbursement counselors
are able to find coverage even if the patient’s claim has been denied in the past,
or when no insurance was thought to be available.
For those patients who do not have insurance coverage or have partial insurance
coverage for their medication, Ascend SpecialtyRx
will accept MasterCard, VISA or Discover credit cards, personal checks or wire transfers
for payment. |
Q: Why can’t I get my medication at my local pharmacy, where I’ve
been going for years to fill all of my other prescriptions?
| A: | Many injectable drug therapies are highly specialized, can be very expensive,
require specialized pharmacy services and are not typically available at local retail
pharmacies. At Ascend SpecialtyRx, our staff is highly trained and experienced in helping manage your
treatment. We also offer more competitive
pricing and provide extensive patient education and support that is unavailable
at most other pharmacies. |
Q: How do I know the right pharmacy to choose for my treatment?
| A: | It is important that you are comfortable with and have confidence in your pharmacy.
First, we recommend that you find out about the pharmacy’s licensing and credentials
related to your treatment. You should also contact a pharmacy, in advance, and ask
a number of questions to help you select the right pharmacy, including:
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Can you speak directly to a pharmacist?
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Is a minimum order required?
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What is the pharmacy’s policy
for replacing any medication damaged in shipment?
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Are there any membership or other hidden fees for participation in the pharmacy programs?
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Do you charge for shipping or delivery?
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