 SAVE THE DATE: SPRING ROUNDTABLES
Winter has moved on and Spring is finally here! The Spring workshops have been scheduled and we have an exciting agenda planned. We invite all TPC related staff to attend one of the sessions around the state as this is a great opportunity to network with other Medication Assistance Caseworkers (MACs). Discussion topics include the TPC Web Conversion & Preview, Affordable Care Act Updates, the impact of brand medications going off patent, other PAP issues and more! Hope to see you there!
REGISTER NOW!
- May 1- Richmond
- May 3- Suffolk
- May 7- Roanoke
- May 8- Abingdon
- May 14- Northern Virginia
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Sign Up Now to Be Trained on the Web-based TPC
Later this summer, on-site trainings in computer labs will be held all across Virginia on the web version of TPC! All
TPC related staff within an organization must attend a training class on the web version before data can be converted.
Once your organization has been trained, your data conversion will be scheduled to occur within 9 days of the date you are trained. When you register for a training, please make sure to coordinate with your IT staff so if assistance is needed during the data conversion, they can be available in that timeframe.
Click the link below to see when TPC staff will be in your area. If you don't see a location near you, please let us know, and we will see what we can arrange. We will be monitoring registration to make sure every organization gets signed up for training. We can't wait to show you the new system!
TPC Web Version Training (for ALL users)
July 30-Abingdon
July 31-Roanoke
August 1-Winchester
August 5-Williamsburg
August 6-Richmond
August 8-Norfolk
August 13-Fairfax
August 15-Danville
View the entire schedule & Sign up for a session.
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VHCF welcomes Amanda Kennedy as the new Director of Fund Development & Communications! She has a range of fund development expertise that includes serving as a regional director for the YMCA of Greater Richmond, overseeing external relations for the School of Engineering and Computer Science at University of the Pacific, and founding a small non-profit in Great Barrington, Massachusetts. In addition to her love for fund development, she loves cycling and yoga, and to spend time with her husband Adam and their dog Bogart. We are thrilled to have her as part of our team! |
QUARTERLY DATA TRANSFER
The next quarterly report is due by June 14th! Remember you have between the 1st and the 14th of June to send your data before the system locks you out.
REMINDER: All RxRelief Virginia grantees and Virginia Community Healthcare Association (VCHA) members need to transmit data during the 1st week of EVERY month for special reporting needs. |
Quick Links...
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Welcome to The Pharmacy Connection's quarterly e-newsletter! We've got some great information to share in this issue. |
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As many of you know, a new web-based TPC is in development, and on schedule for completion late this summer! The software will be developed in four iterations, and the first iteration is now complete.
Notification letters were recently distributed to Executive Directors & Medication Assistance Caseworker Supervisors at each organization, which utilizes TPC. The letter contained system requirements that should be passed along to the appropriate IT staff, if applicable at your organization. Also, all TPC related staff received a post card announcement.
A team of 10 Special Advisors has been developed that consists of TPC caseworkers from across the state who represent different types of organizations and practice settings. Their role is to provide feedback on system features and usability from a user's perspective during development. We had our first meeting at the end of March, and received some very helpful feedback. The Special Advisors will also assist VHCF in beta testing the new software. Trainings will begin in late July and continue through August for all users.
Also, the TPC Message Board now features a new section called Web TPC. You will find the new web software requirements here, as well as status reports regarding development of the new software. If you have any questions or comments, you may use this area to ask questions in addition to email.
Our Spring Roundtables will feature the new web-based TPC, and provide some previews of it. We hope to see you there!
Stay tuned for more information as we progress!
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Important PAP Updates & Resources
All Pfizer patient assistance programs will be making changes to some of their available medications beginning on July 1, 2013 due to medications that have lost their patent exclusivity ("LOE" medicines). The removal of certain medications will impact many of your patients as Pfizer products currently account for about 40% of the medications ordered via TPC. Pfizer is working with RxOutreach, a fee based program, to ensure the availability of many of these medications in generic form once they are removed. Many of these products are already on the RxOutreach program. Please be aware of the product changes, and inform your physicians that there are other brandname products available through other PAP programs that may be prescribed instead. This will enable patients to continue to obtain them free-of-charge. As of 7/1/13, no new patients will be accepted in the Connection to Care program for these medications. The products that will be removed include: Accupril, Aldactazide, Aldactone, Antivert, Azulfidine, Calan, Calan SR, Cardura, Cytotec, Daypro, Diflucan, Flagyl, Geodon, Glucotrol, Glynase, Lipitor, Lopid, Medrol, Navane, Neurontin, Norvasc, Vistaril, Zithromax and Zoloft. Patients currently enrolled taking these medications (and, if applicable, any other branded medicine that will remain in the program), and whose enrollment is set to expire from the program between 7/1/13 and 12/30/2013 will receive extended enrollment through 12/30/13. Patients currently taking one the products to be removed and whose enrollment is set to expire from the program in 2014 will continue to receive their LOE medicine through the end of their enrollment period as scheduled. Health Care Centers, Providers and patients should be receiving notices about this program change. Stay tuned for more information!
Having trouble with the Pfizer Web Portal? If so, contact the vendor First Resource at 877-744-5675 and ask for technical support.
RxOutreach has recently added Prodigy Insulin Syringes ($13 for a box of 100) to the Diabetic Supplies program, and Pro-Air Inhalers are now available for $35 per inhaler. If you are already e-prescribing, RxOutreach is now able to receive prescriptions electronically directly to pharmacy computers via a secure connection to the Surescripts electronic prescribing network. Prescriptions will be sent to the patient's home in approximately 7-10 days after the prescription is received. They also have the ability to send prescription renewal requests to you electronically if your physician is a prescriber in the Surescripts network, reducing the amount of faxes and phone calls! To find out more about e-prescribing with RxOutreach, contact 1-800-769-3880. |
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SERVING PATIENTS REMOTELY
Virginia physicians are fortunate to have one Medication Assistance Program that can serve them no matter where they are located. This model is not based at a clinic, hospital or community agency, but rather in the offices of the Medical Society of Virginia Foundation in Richmond. Katherine Carmon (pictured) is the Medication Assistance Caseworker who helps 74 clinical sites that participate in DOC RxRelief . For the past 3 years, Katherine has assisted not only physician offices around the state, but also two safety net clinics in Richmond - St. Joseph's Outreach and Bon Secours Care-A-Van, which make up the bulk of her requests.
She receives the applications, prescriptions, and proof of income; contacts the patients for any missing documents, prepares the TPC application with the PAP, and returns it to the physician's office for signature and mailing to the PAP. The medicines are sent to the patient, to the clinic, or to the physician's office. Patients are asked to notify her when the medicines are received. She re-orders for compliant patients, but must wait for a re-order call from others.
Even though Katherine is remote from the physician offices, her patient satisfaction surveys are filled with compliments and gratitude, such as "She is the kindest, most considerate and caring person I have had the privilege to work with"; or "She returns my phone calls quickly". One of her patients was also featured in the recent series on Virginia's working uninsured patients, who are eligible for the Medicaid expansion. That was shared with each legislator during the General Assembly session.
Katherine is easily reached by phone, but sometimes Richmond patients even walk into her office. This was the case recently, when a grateful patient came in with a bouquet of tulips. It's nice to be appreciated! |
 ASK JULIET & LISA
Some of the most frequently asked technical support questions...
The 90 day pop up reminder has prompted me to change my TPC password. I have reset my password, but now I cannot remember it. How do I reset my password again?
A: TPC password every 90 days. To change your password, you must click on the Change Password button on the login screen. If you are unable to remember your password, please contact TPC staff for assistance in the password reset. The recent release, Version 9002, included a new enhancement that prompts users to change their
Will I have to do backups when TPC goes web based?
A: No! Backups will done automatically by the web hosting provider.
Will I still have perform the data transfer process when TPC goes web based?
A: No! Data will automatically be available for VHCF reporting and data will no longer need to be sent. You will also have access to the most up-to-date forms and medications right away without having to download data.
Still can't find the answer you are looking for? Contact Juliet or Lisa.
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Thank you for reading this edition of Rx Connect!
Sincerely,
TPC Staff |
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