Delaware Orders Insurers to Expedite Meds for Families Hit by School Fire
The state insurance regulator issued a formal directive requiring carriers to bypass standard bureaucratic hurdles for students at Lulu Ross Elementary.
By Marco Kapoor ·
Delaware insurance regulators have ordered health carriers and pharmacy benefit managers to fast-track prescription replacements for students affected by the Milford school fire.
The fire destroyed medications stored on-site at Lulu Ross Elementary School. State education and health officials notified Insurance Commissioner Trinidad Navarro of the loss. Navarro issued a formal bulletin to the industry last week in response to the incident.
The directive instructs insurers to waive or accelerate prior authorization requirements and quantity limits when appropriate. It requires companies to allow early or out-of-cycle prescription refills. The bulletin also mandates that processing instructions be communicated to pharmacies and customer service representatives to ensure consistent handling of replacement requests.
Navarro stated that the bulletin was sent to notify the industry of the situation and seek cooperation. "We put out the bulletin to essentially notify the industry what has happened, and that we're seeking their cooperation so that those potential challenges won't be at the level that they may otherwise be," Navarro said. The regulator noted that families could face obstacles such as refill timing restrictions and prior authorization requirements.
Navarro emphasized the urgency of the situation for children who depend on specific drugs. "We're talking about children who need these medications, and so it was really the right thing to do when we found out that this was a problem," Navarro said. "We're basically asking all the entities involved in the prescription drug coverage arena to respond with urgency, flexibility and compassion. So families coping with the unexpected loss should not face unnecessary delays in obtaining medications their kids need."
The order calls for insurers to work collaboratively with pharmacies, health care providers, and families to prevent interruptions in treatment. It directs companies to utilize exception processes to quickly resolve issues involving replacement medications. Insurers must also exercise reasonable discretion and avoid unnecessary documentation requirements that could delay access to care.
Families experiencing issues while replacing medications are instructed to contact the Delaware Department of Insurance. The office can be reached at (302) 674-7300.
