HMSA offers free Part D talks

Members of Hawaii Medical Service Association who have questions about their medications under Medicare Part D plans can get the answers from a free HMSA program.

One-on-one consultations with a pharmacist are available through Dec. 31 at pharmacies participating in the HMSA Medication Therapy Management Program.

The pharmacist will examine all of a person's medications to help resolve and prevent problems, including prescription and nonprescription items, herbal products, dietary supplements, medical supplies and devices.

Follow-up discussions can be arranged if needed to discuss new medication problems or focus on a previous problem.

Pharmacists also will work with seniors to address any issues related to medications, or consult with a person's physician to change them.

To qualify for the program, patients must be enrolled in HMSA's Medicare Part D plan and have two or more chronic diseases; prescriptions of four or more chronic medications on the 65C Plus Prescription Drug Coverage formulary; and spend $1,000 or more per quarter on prescription drugs, or $4,000 annually.

Questions about eligibility and participating pharmacists can be obtained from HMSA's Customer Service Department: 948-6000 on Oahu; TTY/TDD, 948-6222; Maui, 871-6295; Molokai/Lanai, (800) 776-4672; Kauai, 245-3393; Big Island, Hilo, 935-5441, Kona, 329-5291.