The upcoming VA Medication Take Back Days are Oct. 28 and 29, and all 341 VA medical facilities across the country will be open for drop offs.

VA encourages all Americans to properly get rid of opioids and all unused or expired medications — in secure receptacles — to promote safe usage and help fight the nation’s opioid overdose epidemic.

Veterans and others should contact the local VA Medical Center in their area for event information.

“VA is opening our doors to the public for Medication Take Back Days because disposing of expired and unused medicine is critical to keeping Veterans and all Americans safe,” said VHA Under Secretary for Health Shereef Elnahal. M.D. “It’s important for each of us to go through our medications regularly and dispose of them appropriately. By taking this small but significant action, we are not only protecting ourselves, but we are also protecting our families, friends, and others from accidental poisoning or overdosing.”

This effort is in line with the Dispose Unused Medications and Prescription (DUMP) Opioids Act signed into law by President Joe Biden July 29, 2021. It couples alongside the Opioid Safety Initiative, VA Pharmacy Benefits Management Services and VA’s Opioid Overdose Education & Naloxone Distribution program.

VA is a national leader in reducing opioid prescribing and dependency. Since establishing the National Pain Management Strategy and Opioid Safety Initiative, the department has successfully reduced opioid prescribing overall by approximately 65%. 

Additionally, 379,400 Veterans have received more than 795,400 prescriptions for Naloxone from 42,700 VA health care professionals. Of that, 2,935 reported overdose reversals have been identified through August 2022.

VA’s Medication Take Back Days coincide with the Drug Enforcement Administration’s National Prescription Drug Take Back Days. DEA holds twice yearly National Prescription Take Back Days, in April and October. Individuals unable to participate in VA’s Medication Take Back Days can use DEA’ Public Disposal Locations Search Tool to find year-round authorized collection sites. 

Veterans enrolled in VA care can bring their expired or unused medications to their VA Medical Center site of care for disposal any time by contacting their local VA Police Service or VA Pharmacy.

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If you have Medicare and are looking for ways to save on the ever-increasing cost of medications next year, consider adding a prescription plan known as “Part D.” By making medications more affordable, Part D plans can help you stay on track to achieve your 2020 health goals.

Choosing the plan that’s best for you can seem daunting at first, so familiarizing yourself with how Part D plans work is essential. First, compare how much you can expect to pay as you go through the “four stages” of a plan’s coverage, as the cost of your prescriptions will increase or decrease depending on the phase you are in. Then, find experts that can help you make an informed decision about the plan that will work best for you and take time to learn how the changes happening in 2020 will impact your bottom line.

Read on for a brief summary of the changes that will affect each stage of coverage next year.

Deductible Stage

You may need to pay more before your plan kicks in. A deductible is the amount you need to pay before your plan starts paying its share of the cost. Next year, the deductible could be as high as $435. That’s an increase of $20 from 2019.

Initial Coverage Stage

Your plan may cover more of the cost before you reach the “Donut Hole.” During this stage, you pay a set amount for your medications. Your plan covers the difference. In 2020, the initial coverage limit is up to $4,020. That’s an increase of $200 from 2019.

Coverage Gap Stage

You will receive higher discounts for branded and generic medications. You will receive a 75 percent discount when purchasing a brand-name medication. For example, if your medication costs $100, you will only pay $25. If you need a generic, you will never pay more than 25 percent of the total cost of the drug. In 2020, you will remain in this stage until your total out of pocket costs of your covered medications is $6,350.

Catastrophic Stage

You will only have to pay a minimum amount. Once you reach this stage, your costs will remain the same through the year. During this stage, you pay $8.95 for brand-name drugs and $3.60 for generics, or 5 percent of retail costs, whichever is higher.

Next Steps

If you are currently enrolled in a Part D plan, be sure to check the Annual Notice of Changes (ANOC) mailed by your plan. The ANOC details how these and other 2020 changes may impact your wallet next year. You can also go to roadmapformedicare.com for more detailed information about these changes, where you’ll find a free easy-to-use tool that will help you compare plans and choose the one that works best for you.

Don’t let Open Enrollment pass you by. Compare plans now and choose the one that best fits your needs and budget – this may save you money next year.

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