September 2010

Division of Alaska Pioneer HomesP.O. Box 110690

Juneau, AK 99811-0690Phone (907) 465-4416

Fax (907) 465-4108

www.hss.state.ak.us/dalp/

ALASKA PIONEER HOM

ES

Division of Alaska Pioneer HomesP.O. Box 110690Juneau, AK 99811-0690Phone (907) 465-4416Fax (907) 465-4108

ALASKA PIONEER HOM

ES

PharmacyProgram

AlaskaPioneerHomes

Alaska Department of Health and Social Services Governor, Bill Walker Commissioner, Valerie Davidson

Visit the Pioneer Homes Website at:

dhss.alaska.gov/daph

Alaska Pioneer Homes • Pharmacy Program 1

N

Pharmacy Program

Benefits of the Pharmacy Program 2

Resident Responsibilities 5

Frequently Asked Questions 6

Payment Addresses and Contacts 11

For answers to questions regarding the Alaska Division of Pioneer Homes programs,

please call: (907) 465-4416 For answers to questions regarding costs

and billing, please call our toll free number: 1-888-355-3117

Table of Contents

2 Alaska Pioneer Homes • Pharmacy Program

The Pioneer Homes Pharmacy Program provides pharmaceuticals and pharmacist consultation for the residents of Alaska Pioneer Homes. The pharmacy and staff are located in the Anchorage Pioneer Home. Staff members include licensed pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, and billing personnel.

Benefits of the Pharmacy Program The Pioneer Homes Pharmacy Program includes several beneficial services:

1. Pharmacists and pharmacy staff work inconjunction with other staff members and arededicated to serving the Pioneer Homes residents.The primary benefit of having a single-sourcepharmacy program is to have on-staff pharmacistswith knowledge, experience, background and interestin geriatric pharmacy. Prescriptions for PioneerHomes residents are appropriately filled, packaged,and delivered daily. The Pioneer Homes pharmacistsprovide the following services:

A. Clinical review of residents’ medication regimens.Our pharmacists review all medications a resident takes to help ensure that risks of interactions and side effect are minimized.

B. Communication with residents’ healthcare providers concerning medication regimens.

Benefit of the Pharmacy Program

Alaska Pioneer Homes • Pharmacy Program 3

C. Overall quality assurance program.

D. Staff education concerning medications.

E. Resident/family education concerning medications.

F. Community education to healthcare providers serving the Pioneer Homes regarding the Pioneer Home Pharmacy Program.

2. Greater efficiency and safety controls.Prior to the implementation of the Pioneer HomesPharmacy Program, a number of pharmacy sourceswere supplying medications to residents in manyof the Pioneer Homes. This inevitably causeddifferences in the ordering, labeling, packaging,storage, and administration of medications. Thisfragmentation resulted in inefficiencies andpotential safety problems. Solutions to theseproblems were found in the development of asingle pharmacy that serves and supplies all sixPioneer Homes.

Resident Participation in the Pioneer Home Pharmacy Program

Anyone who resides in a Pioneer Home may purchase medications through the Pioneer Homes Pharmacy Program. The pharmacy may or may not provide medications to residents who administer their medications independently without any intervention, reminders, or follow up by staff.

4 Alaska Pioneer Homes • Pharmacy Program

However, all residents whose medications are administered to them by Pioneer Homes staff members or who are on the Payment Assistance Program are required to participate in the program. A single-source pharmacy is considered to be the safest and most efficient basis for medication administration throughout the Pioneer Homes.

Residents who wish to use an outside pharmacy, other than the Veterans Administration Pharmacy or Native Health Service Pharmacy will only be allowed to do so with the approval of the Pioneer Homes pharmacist.

A resident who chooses to use an outside pharmacy will be notified by the Pioneer Home about the increased risk for medication errors or complications from drug interactions when an outside pharmacy is utilized. The resident will be informed that this policy, which imposes conditions for using an outside pharmacy, is intended to reduce the risk of medication errors and prevent additional costs to the State of Alaska.

The Pioneer Homes will not refuse any resident assistance with medication administration.

Alaska Pioneer Homes • Pharmacy Program 5

Resident Responsibilities if Obtaining Medications from an Outside Pharmacy

1. The resident agrees to pay for all medicationsobtained through an outside pharmacy withthe resident’s available income after all PioneerHomes charges have been met.

2. The Pioneer Homes will not subsidize the cost ofmedications obtained from an outside pharmacy.

3. Insurance recoveries are the responsibility ofthe resident.

4. The resident is responsible for ordering,procurement, and delivery of the medicationsfrom the outside pharmacy.

5. The pharmacy provider must agree to packagemedications in a way that is approved by thePioneer Homes Pharmacy in order to reducethe risk of medication errors and protect theresidents’ right to a safe environment.

6. A resident using an outside pharmacy must alsohave an agreement with the outside pharmacistto participate in care plan counseling for theresident when deemed necessary by the PioneerHomes Pharmacy.

6 Alaska Pioneer Homes • Pharmacy Program

The following section presents the most frequently requested information:

1. How are prescriptions/medication orders filledby the pharmacy?Prescriptions or medication orders are directly faxedto the Pioneer Homes Pharmacy by the prescribinghealth care professional or by a Pioneer Homesstaff member using a toll-free fax number. Courierservice is used to ship medications from the PioneerHomes Pharmacy to the other Pioneer Homes.Medications are delivered directly to the designatedPioneer Home staff members who are responsiblefor receiving and appropriately storing the resident’smedications.

2. How are refills obtained?All medications for which a refill has been prescribedare refilled by the pharmacy. Some medicationsare refilled automatically while others must berequested. Medications in tablet form, which aretaken on a routine schedule, are automaticallydispensed, per federal regulation, every 14 days bythe pharmacy (effective 01/01/13). Medicationstaken only as needed or medications in non-tabletform such as liquids, eye drops, and patches, aredispensed by the pharmacy upon request from thedesignated Pioneer Home staff member. Staffmembers also monitor the resident’s supply ofmedications and request medication refills from thepharmacy as needed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Alaska Pioneer Homes • Pharmacy Program 7

3. How long does it take for medications shippedfrom the Pioneer Home Pharmacy to arrive?Medications are shipped from the Pioneer HomesPharmacy once each working day. Prescriptions,medication orders, or refill requests receivedafter daily shipping has occurred are sent the nextworking day. It may take up to three working daysfor newly ordered medications to arrive at a PioneerHome. In addition, if a newly ordered medicationis not currently in stock at the Pioneer HomesPharmacy and must be specially obtained prior toshipment, the order may take up to five workingdays to arrive at a Pioneer Home.

4. What happens when a resident requires amedication sooner than delivery can occur?For medications needed immediately, prescriptions/medication orders can be partially filled froma stock supply of medications available at eachPioneer Home. If the medication is not availablein the stock supply, it can be acquired at a localpharmacy.

5. Will prescriptions be filled with brand namemedications or generic medications?All prescriptions, when possible, are filled with thegeneric equivalent. Not all medications are availablein a generic form. Some drugs are protected bypatents or are supplied by a single company. Inthese instances, the prescription is filled with thebrand name medication, but labeled generically.

8 Alaska Pioneer Homes • Pharmacy Program

6. What is the difference between a generic and abrand name drug?Besides the name and price, there is very littledifference. Generic drugs must be therapeuticallyequivalent. This means they contain the samechemical ingredient, have the same medicaleffect, and are approved by the Food and DrugAdministration (FDA) for substitution for brandname drugs.

7. Are generic drugs safe?Yes. Both generic and brand name drugs areregulated by the FDA. Generic and brand namedrugs are tested and approved in the same way.Manufacturers of generic medications must proveto the FDA that a product contains equal amountsof the same active ingredient, and that a genericequivalent has the same medical effect as its brandname counterpart.

8. How are over-the-counter medications obtained?Pioneer Homes require a prescription for over- the-counter medications, and the Pioneer HomesPharmacy provides these medications in the samemanner as prescription medications. Requiringa prescription for over-the-counter medicationshelps to ensure that a resident’s prescribing healthcare provider has approved all medications. Also,with this system, the Pioneer Homes pharmacistsand staff are aware of each medication taken by aresident and can screen all medications for harmfulside effects and interactions with other medications.

Alaska Pioneer Homes • Pharmacy Program 9

9. Does the pharmacy stock items such as herbal orhomeopathic remedies?The pharmacy stocks USP (United StatesPharmacopeia) approved dietary supplements. ThePioneer Home System requires that the supplementsare held to the USP standard to ensure the potencyand purity of the product. In order for the nurseto administer these supplements to a resident, thedoctor must write an order for the supplement and itmust be obtained from the Pioneer Homes Pharmacy.

The Pioneer Homes Pharmacy has a Formulary Listof all USP approved dietary supplements that areavailable from the pharmacy. If the resident wishesto use a dietary supplement that is not on thePioneer Homes Pharmacy Formulary List, thatsupplement must have a doctor’s order and the familyis responsible for acquiring and administering it tothe resident.

10. How does billing for medications occur?Pioneer Homes residents are billed once a month.Pharmacy charges are included on the resident’smonthly statement along with their rent and suppliescharges. This provides the resident the convenienceof making one payment each month. Payment canbe made by check, Visa, or Mastercard. The monthlybilling includes:

A. A statement identifying charges for rent, suppliesand, if the resident receives items from the Pioneer Home Pharmacy, pharmaceuticals. The pharmacy charges on the statement are the resident’s responsibility to pay.

10 Alaska Pioneer Homes • Pharmacy Program

B. An itemized list of the individual pharmaceuticals dispensed during the month. This list is provided for information purposes and can be submitted to insurance companies for cost reimbursement. When the pharmacy bills insurance companies electronically, the charges on the itemized list are the resident’s co-payment amounts. For all others, the charges on the itemized list are the total charges for each medication.

11. Does the Pioneer Homes Pharmacy bill insurancecompanies directly?Currently, the Pioneer Homes Pharmacy has thecapacity to electronically bill most major insuranceplans/companies for medications distributedfrom the pharmacy. If any resident’s insurancecompany is not available for electronic billing, thePioneer Homes Pharmacy billing clerk will bill thatinsurance company by mail. To ensure the pharmacyis able to submit claims for reimbursement, it isimportant that a copy of both sides of the resident’sinsurance card is on file with the pharmacy.The pharmacy billing clerk needs the resident’sinsurance information card to properly bill insurancecompanies on behalf of the resident.

12. When are the statements mailed?The statements are usually mailed on the lastworking day of each month.

Alaska Pioneer Homes • Pharmacy Program 11

13. Where should payment be sent?An addressed envelope is enclosed with all statements.Payments are mailed to:Division of Alaska Pioneer HomesAttention: Revenue UnitPO Box 110690Juneau, AK 99811-0690For increased convenience, payments may also bedeposited in the designated drop boxes located at eachPioneer Home.

To reach the Pioneer Homes Revenue Unit (BillingOffice) call toll-free 1-888-355-3117

Toll-Free Information Number

For answers to any questions regarding the PioneerHomes Pharmacy, medications, or pharmacy bills,please call the Pioneers Home Pharmacy duringworking hours: 7 a.m.-3 p.m., Mon. through Fri., closedSat., Sun. and most state holidays. In Anchorage, pleasecall (907) 343-7294. Outside Anchorage, please use thestatewide toll-free number 1-888-546-7294.

E-mail

For answers to questions regarding the Pioneer HomesPharmacy or medication questions that are not ofan urgent nature, e-mail may be used. However, thetelephone numbers above are generally the fastest wayto receive information.

E-mail regarding medication/pharmacy questions maybe sent to: lanalondon.bell@alaska.gov or

Billing questions may be sent to:sheryl.casey@alaska.gov

12 Alaska Pioneer Homes • Pharmacy Program

For further information please contact The Pioneer Homes Central

Administrative Office at:

Division of Alaska Pioneer Homes dhss.alaska.gov/daph

P.O. Box 110690 Juneau, AK 99811-0690

(907) 465-4416 Fax: (907) 465-4108

Anchorage Pioneer Home

923 W. Eleventh Ave. Anchorage, AK 99501

(907) 276-3414

Juneau Pioneer Home

4675 Glacier Hwy Juneau, AK 99801 (907) 780-6422

Alaska Veterans & Pioneers Home

250 E. Fireweed Ave. Palmer, AK 99645 (907) 745-4241

Fairbanks Pioneer Home

2221 Eagan Ave. Fairbanks, AK 99701

(907) 456-4372

Ketchikan Pioneer Home 141 Bryant St.

Ketchikan, AK 99901 (907) 225-4111

Sitka Pioneer Home 120 Katlian St.

Sitka, AK 99835 (907) 747-3213

Other important numbers:

Pioneer Home Revenue Unit (Billing Office) Toll-free 1-888-355-3117

Pioneer Home Pharmacy Toll-free 1-888-546-7294

Contact Information

This booklet is one of five providing information about Alaska Pioneer Homes.

Other booklets in the series:

A Matter of Rights

Payment Assistance

Admissions & Discharge

About Our Homes

State of Alaska Bill Walker, Governor

Alaska Department of Health and Social Services Valerie Davidson, Commissioner

dhss.alaska.gov/daph

Division of Alaska Pioneer Homes P.O. Box 110690

Juneau, AK 99811-0690 Phone (907) 465-4416

Fax (907) 465-4108

dhss.alaska.gov/daph

December 2014