Amid COVID-19 `cure’ claims, relief for those with lupus, RA

Here’s a big dose of good news for the estimated 65,000 Washingtonians who suffer from lupus or rheumatoid arthritis: when it comes to accessing hydroxychloroquine, significant help has arrived.

In response to a national push to get hydroxychloroquine as a possible COVID-19 cure, HealthWarehouse.com has moved forcefully to ensure that all who have a demonstrated need for the drug are able to get it—and at a 15-percent discount.

That includes those suffering with lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, autoimmune disorders, and other health problems, as HealthWarehouse.com is currently filling hydroxychloroquine in record numbers. On March 18th, HealthWarehouse.com began limiting supply to prevent stockpiling of the drug; days later, the company began confirming that its patients are taking the medication for a chronic condition, rather than ordering it speculatively.

After encountering numerous prescribers falsifying information for new patients, HealthWarehouse.com’s primary confirmation method has been requiring records that prove prior fills of hydroxychloroquine at another pharmacy.

"We have shared our information with organizations like the Lupus Foundation of America, which is working with people with lupus every day and leading the fight to ensure access to critical medications," said HealthWarehouse.com CEO Joseph Peters. “There are an estimated 1.5 million Americans with lupus, and millions more who have other conditions that hydroxychloroquine alleviates. We are committed to serving people with legitimate, ongoing medical needs.”

On March 21st, the Lupus Foundation of America urged Congress to maintain a supply of hydroxychloroquine for people with lupus. The day before, one of the largest manufacturers of the drug, Amneal, announced that it was accelerating its manufacture and distribution of hydroxychloroquine to meet the needs of current patients with autoimmune disorders, as well as the potential needs of COVID-19 patients.

At the end of March, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration reported a shortage of the drug.

Bolstered by a supply-chain system that has taken shape since its 2008 inception, HealthWarehouse.com has secured enough of the medication to ensure access to hydroxychloroquine for all Americans who suffer from conditions that benefit from its use.

“We are thrilled that, through relationships we have built over the years, we are a clear and reliable solution in a time of great need for people,” Peters said. “We also applaud companies like Amneal that have stepped up during this critical period.”

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, the company’s provision for patients goes well beyond hydroxychloroquine. Limited by stay-at-home and social-distancing advisories, Americans have found in HealthWarehouse.com a lifeline for a myriad of other prescription needs.

Two years ago, 11% of U.S. adult pharmacy customers got their prescription from an online pharmacy, based on a survey conducted by market research firm CivicScience. That figure has been steadily rising over the years, according to Statista.com, an online statistics portal, and the upward trajectory is certain to accelerate in 2020.

In March, visits to HealthWarehouse.com nearly quadrupled over the previous month, to more than 1.2 million—easily a record-shattering volume in the company’s 12-year history.

Amid that surge in digital healthcare consumption, HealthWarehouse has shifted 60 percent of its 115 employees to work from home, with an eventual goal of having 75 percent perform all of their functions from outside the 28,000-square-foot facility in Florence, Kentucky.

All of those who are on-site are essential for fulfillment and shipping. The smaller on-site workforce helps foster safe social distancing within the facility as well as operational workflow, said Peters. Their efforts are supported by deep cleaning and hospital-grade disinfection services.

HealthWarehouse.com is also teaming up with telemedicine groups such as DocTalkGo.com and OurDoctor.com to help people navigate their health needs remotely. Those needs and conditions include a range of chronic conditions, such as diabetes, men’s health, hypertension, thyroid problems, cholesterol issues, and birth control.

Peters urged consumers to assert their power by shopping around, asking questions, and insisting on pricing transparency. In mid-March, as COVID-19 grew in scope nationally, HealthWarehouse.com issued a news release offering insights and recommendations to empower consumers.

Peters predicted the rise in digital pharmacy shopping is likely to continue well beyond the as-yet unclear length of time required to halt the COVID-19 crisis. The longest-running American online pharmacy and the first to be nationally licensed, HealthWarehouse.com holds market advantages, such as pricing transparency, that uniquely position the company to serve this paradigm shift.

“One byproduct of this unprecedented time is that more people will be drawn to the savings, convenience and safety of online services to fill their healthcare needs,” Peters said. “These historic circumstances have prompted the public to catch up with where our business and service models have been for years.”

Matt Baron is a writer for HealthWarehouse.com.