Climate-related emergencies and medication access: why preparedness matters
Plan ahead before a severe weather event strikes to protect patients
Daniel Knecht, MD, MBA, Vice President & Chief Clinical Innovation Officer
Hurricanes, wildfires, winter storms, and heat waves are becoming more frequent and intense in our changing climate. Not only are these events dangerous by themselves but they also put plan members’ health at risk.
Many specialty medications are expensive and sensitive – both in shelf life and storage conditions. During extreme weather, it’s crucial to keep specialty medications safe. Missed doses for members on life-sustaining drugs or daily maintenance medications could lead to life-threatening complications. Meanwhile, the environmental impact of exposure to temperature changes, flooding, pollen, or poor air quality could cause symptom flare-ups for people with certain specialty conditions.
Anticipating severe weather and climate events
Other pharmacies may operate reactively, but we know plan members with specialty medications can’t wait. Our enterprise resiliency policy and severe weather plan kicks in before a storm hits. This means we don’t ship medications without first checking for impending weather.
Real-time data: It starts with gathering and analyzing geospatial data, weather patterns, and relevant information on evacuation and sheltering. This advanced technology provides up to 14 days’ notice to prepare for potential impacts.
Predictive analytics: Before a storm hits, we use the latest weather forecasts to plan for dispensing and transportation before, during, and after the predicted path. Carrier, ship mode, and ZIP code-level adjustments may be made to prevent medication spoilage due to power outages or hazardous conditions. Predictive models also enable us reach out to members proactively about the need to refill medications early, locate an alternate pharmacy, or provide an additional address in the event of an evacuation.
Going above and beyond: When snowstorms made roads impassable in the Northeast, pharmacy teams hopped on snowmobiles to deliver medicine.
Public–private partnerships: This collaboration is critical to making sure members in impacted areas have the medications they need when they need them. Following Hurricane Ian, we worked with the State of Florida to implement mobile pharmacies and used local courier services to reach members in shelters.
Extreme weather events can turn communities into instant health care deserts. Being prepared and proactive, we help reduce community reliance on the emergency room for primary and pharmacy care.
Finding the best route for the member and the environment
For the past several years, we’ve configured temperature-sensitive shipping down to the ZIP code level for shipping and dispensing. Our validated packaging designs are designed to protect our medication even in extreme cold and hot temperatures.
Our integrated systems allow us to leverage our 14 Specialty Pharmacies to dispense and ship medication as close as possible to our patients. This lessens the environmental impact of the shipments, while also supporting contingency capabilities to ship from alternate pharmacies during significant weather events. Ultimately, Specialty medications can reach members with fewer miles traveled and less assets used (airplanes, trucks) and therefore lower emissions. In addition, we’re investing in sustainable packaging materials and have piloted alternate solutions across many pharmacies.
98% of CVS Specialty orders dispensed with Environmental Protection Agency-recognized environmentally responsible carriers
In addition to arriving on time, at the right temperature, many CVS Specialty members receive medications in eco-friendly packaging: biodegradable, recyclable, and reusable components are used. Sustainable packaging helps deliver on our commitment to protect sensitive medications and the planet, one that we seek continuously to improve.
Stepping up ahead of Hurricane Ian
In September 2022, as Hurricane Ian bore down on Florida, CVS Health Customer Care Center staff identified 750 Transform Diabetes Care members in the storm’s path. They were on hand to offer one-on-one support with medication delivery — including special delivery needs and location changes for medication pick up.
173 members reached and 11 members assisted:
- Locating pharmacy resources
- Assisting with Red Cross or FEMA resources
- Providing post-disaster safety interventions
- Locating temporary shelter
Interruptions in drug therapy during climate emergencies or disaster situations can lead to non-adherence. Non-adherence is linked with poorer health outcomes and ultimately higher downstream costs.1 For members with chronic conditions, continuity of care during times of disaster is critical to preventing exacerbations and reducing health care costs.
Whether during storms or blue skies, we continue to focus on innovative solutions to keep our members healthy and their medications safe.
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