Pharmacy Hubs Make Filling Fertility Prescriptions Easier
Infertility is a topic that can make people uncomfortable. Specifically, most individuals either think that the diagnosis means starting or expanding a family is impossible or will be complicated. The opposite is actually true. Whether the causes are known or a person is told that unexplained infertility is to blame, assisted reproductive technology (ART) treatments can be the solution. For most fertility treatments, participants will usually need to use prescription medications at some point during the process. Discover how Pharmacy hubs can make filling and receiving those necessary prescriptions so much easier.
What is a pharmacy hub?
A pharmacy hub is somewhat different than traditional in-store pharmacies at grocers, drug stores, and big box retailers. A pharmacy hub also works as a patient advocate to help individuals understand what options are available, manage the cost of co-pays, determine what financial assistance might be available, and provide essential guidance for managing a medication regimen to boost patient outcomes.
Fertility medications and pharmacy hubs
In most cases, people undergoing fertility treatments will usually receive prescriptions catered to specific stages in the process. For women, medications usually center around either regulating ovulation via hormonal birth control to begin the process or hormone stimulation to boost ovarian production for egg retrieval. While other medications may be prescribed, the above are the most common categories for more standard treatments like intrauterine insemination (IUI) and in vitro fertilization (IVF).
Taking the guesswork out of costs
Any individual who's even consulted a fertility specialist knows that treatments aren't cheap. Especially when medications are added into the mix, many people can ultimately face sky-high expenses. A pharmacy hub can work with a patient's insurance provider as well as the fertility center to find effective alternatives, such as generics, that can bring down costs. More importantly, pharmacy hubs may also be able to get prescriptions authorized faster because of a deeper knowledge of insurance criteria to ensure proper coverage. In some cases, a hub can even get a few doses released before the insurance claim is approved to help women or couples start fertility treatments.
Benefits to consumers
Regardless of the fertility method chosen, couples undergoing ART treatments can feel stressed and under great pressure. Taking one more responsibility off of a couple's list of to-do's undergoing IVF can be the lifeline people need to reduce stress and ultimately boost potential outcomes. Likewise, streamlining the pharmacy fulfillment process means women and couples can stay on track with timelines and are less likely to miss critical doses. Additionally, if an individual has a reaction to a dose that's too strong, a pharmacy hub can work with the fertility center to determine a lower strength that reduces side effects.
An advocate for a critical time
Although pharmacy hubs primarily focus on working in tandem with medical providers to help facilitate fulfilling and dispensing prescriptions, the network also works like a patient advocate. That added layer of support can be indispensable at a time when emotions and stress are at all-time highs. Individuals contemplating fertility treatments that will require prescriptions should consider working with a pharmacy hub for added peace of mind.
