Looking for Low Cost Generic Prescriptions? Echo Pharmacy Has You Covered!

 

Echo Care Generic Prescription Program

Does it sometimes feel as if you need to be a doctor to understand your own health care or an insurance executive to understand your healthcare coverage? Well, healthcare does NOT have to be so difficult and confusing. At Echo Pharmacy we pride ourselves on the individual care we offer each of our customers and we always look for ways to help.

When you choose Echo Pharmacy, you choose a place where the staff will take the time to get to know you and offer sincere help and guidance with your healthcare. It is important to have a full understanding of the medication you take including what it is used for, possible side effects, and possible contraindications. The pharmacists at Echo Pharmacy will ensure that all of your medications are safe to take together and will educate you so that you get the best result from them.

That's not all you get when you choose Echo Pharmacy. In response to the confusion, expense and hardship many of customers face with their insurance coverage, or lack of coverage, we are now proud to offer the Echo Care Generic Prescription Program!  Our program provides over 100 generic prescriptions for very low prices and with no hassles. There are no premiums to pay, no membership fees, no deductibles to meet, no donut holes, no need for prior approvals or insurance authorizations. Just generic medications for very low cost! 

• 90 day supply -     $20
• 6 month supply -   $37
• 9 month supply -   $55
• 12 month supply - $70

We are your neighbors and we want to help. When you are feeling ill, your energy should be on recovery, not worry over medication. We welcome you to stop by and meet our staff and to learn more about our Echo Care Generic Prescription Program. We look forward to seeing you!

Do You Want the Right to Choose Your Pharmacy?

There has been an abundance of talk about healthcare over the past few years. Most people seem to focus on the cost of coverage and the type of care they will receive from hospitals and physicians. But discussion about access to pharmacies and the cost of medications should take place also.

Echo Pharmacy has been vocal in support of small business and the positive impact it has on local communities and the savings it can provide the consumer. Unfortunately, health plans may limit your access to independent pharmacies resulting in higher costs and less personal care.

Insurance companies and their Pharmacy Business Managers may force patients to utilize stores in their Preferred Pharmacy Network which is typically one of the large national chains. In fact, independent pharmacies are not allowed to become part of a preferred network. Many Pharmacy Business Managers are either owned by or have a heavy interest in big chain pharmacies.

Recently, U.S. Representative Tim Ryan (D-Ohio) penned a letter to Medicare over concerns about "preferred network" drug plans in Medicare Part B benefits.

“Over the last few months I have been hearing increasing concerns from Medicare beneficiaries and small business owners in my congressional district regarding Medicare Part D plans that feature preferred pharmacy networks,” Rep. Ryan wrote. “As these networks grow and expand in number, I am concerned that they could lead to a decrease in access to quality care and threaten the survival of small business pharmacies that play a vital role in our communities.”

Representative Ryan further cited Medicare's own publication which suggested that costs may be higher in preferred networks versus non-preferred networks as well as cases where patients had to travel outside of their county to find a participating pharmacy. For the elderly or infirm, such travel may be impossible not to mention cost prohibitive.

If you would like to add your support in being able to choose your pharmacy, please follow this link and sign the petition. 

Being your hometown pharmacy is important to us and we always strive to offer you the best. To this end, we have introduced the "Echo Care Generic Prescription Program" to help you save on the cost of generic prescriptions. No insurance is necessary to save on over 100 generic prescriptions! No membership fees, no deductibles, no premiums. Just the medication you need at prices you can afford. Please stop by to learn how we can save YOU money!

Competition in the marketplace should be allowed. Let patients shop around and choose the pharmacy which is best for them. It could be the closest pharmacy, the least expensive, or the one where the pharmacists offer personal care and services. If the patient is really fortunate, they might just find a pharmacy that encompasses it all just like Echo Pharmacy does for our Miller Place neighbors!

Are You at Risk for Diabetes?

November is National Diabetes Awareness Month and a great opportunity to discuss the risk factors of the disease.  Diabetes affects 26 million Americans with an estimated 79 million American adults aged 20 years or older having prediabetes, which puts them at high risk for developing the disease. With these numbers, you can see the importance of knowing the risk factors!

Type 2 diabetes accounts for approximately 90 -95% of all diagnosed cases. The risk factors include:

• Family history of type 2 diabetes
• Being overweight
• Aged 45 or older
• Being physically active less than 3X/week
• Having given birth to a baby that weighed over 9 pounds
• Had gestational diabetes

So now that you know the risk factors, what can you do about it? With type 2 diabetes being associated with obesity, physical activity and a healthy diet are important. The Center for Disease Control has created the National Diabetes Prevention Program which is an evidence based lifestyle change program for preventing type 2 diabetes. Participating in the program can reduce the risk of developing type 2 diabetes in half!

The pharmacists and staff at Echo Pharmacy are here to help and provide support. We have a Certified Diabetes Educator on staff who can provide comprehensive individual assistance with glucometers, strips, lancets, insulin, syringes, medications, diet and exercise. Come in and see us or give us a call at 631-642-8175 to learn how we can help!

Common Questions to Ask the Pharmacist

When your child is sick, you probably have a list of questions for the doctor to help you provide the best care. Do you also have a list of questions for the pharmacist? 

Pharmacists can provide a wealth of information to help you care for your child. Be sure to inform the pharmacist of any pertinent information such as allergies and current medications. This will help the pharmacist protect against possible interactions.  Common questions for the pharmacist are:

• Does the medication need to be refrigerated?

• Should the medication be given with food?

• Can the pills be cut in half or crushed and mixed into foods?

• Will herbal remedies or over the counter medicines affect the prescription?

• Are there any special precautions to be taken such as avoiding sunlight?

• What should I do if a dose is skipped?

• Is there a best time of day to give the medicine?

• Are there any foods to be avoided while taking the medicine?

• What are the possible side effects and what can be done to relieve them?

• When should I contact the doctor if I do not see improvement?

The pharmacists at Echo Pharmacy are always happy to answer questions and provide support. Our staff receives continuing education to ensure we are always up to date with drug therapy.  At our hometown pharmacy, our staff is always available and will treat you with respect and privacy. Come down and get to know us!

Are You Feeling the Pressure? Be Sure to Monitor Your Blood Pressure!

Did you know that one of three adults in America have high blood pressure, also known as hypertension? With such a large percentage of the population affected by hypertension, it is important to know some basic information. In honor of National Blood Pressure Awareness Education Month, Echo Pharmacy would like to share some facts with you.

Blood pressure is a term most people have heard before, but what exactly is it? Blood pressure is the force of blood on the walls of your blood vessels as your blood flows through them. Blood pressure has two numbers, systolic and diastolic. Systolic pressure is the force on the blood vessel walls when the heart beats and pumps blood out of the heart. Diastolic pressure is the force that occurs when the heart relaxes in between beats.

Why is it important to have your blood pressure checked on a regular basis? One scary fact about high blood pressure is that it can damage your body for years before symptoms develop! High blood pressure can damage the arteries, heart, brain, and kidneys. The good news is that high blood pressure can be controlled with treatment and life style changes.

Monitoring your blood pressure, having the correct medications prescribed, and taking the medication correctly are important steps in staying healthy. The pharmacists at Echo Pharmacy will be happy to answer any questions you may have regarding the medications, cost of medications, side effects, and dosage. Blood pressure monitors and accessories are also available.

The Benefits of Compounding Medications for People with Autism

Autism presents a multitude of challenges for those who have been diagnosed as well as those who care for them. One challenge of particular concern is the ability to administer medication when needed. People with autism are often sensitive to certain textures, colors, and tastes. In addition, many follow strict dietary guidelines.

Echo Pharmacy has solutions which have proven to ease the administration of medication to people with autism. Unlike most pharmacy's, Echo Pharmacy has the ability to compound medications to the specific need of the patient. Medications can be made into topical creams which are absorbed into the skin and then absorbed into the bloodstream. This is an ideal solution for a person who can not swallow a pill or refuses to do so. To address the dietary concerns, Echo Pharmacy can make the medications sugar free, dye free, preservative free, and gluten free. Flavoring may also be used to tailor the medication to the patient's taste. 

At Echo Pharmacy, we work closely with doctors and the patient's family to ensure therapeutic effects are reached.  In some instances, we can combine medications to enhance compliance.  We always work to provide solutions to meet individual needs.

Daily life is filled with enough challenges. Let us help make one part of the day easier! Come into Echo Pharmacy and speak with one of our pharmacist's to learn more about compounding medications for a person with autism.

What Is a Compounding Pharmacy?

Before the mass production of medications as we know it today, compounding medicine was a daily activity in pharmacies.

Pharmaceutical compounding has ancient roots. Hunter-gatherer societies had some knowledge of the medicinal properties of animals, plants, fungus and bacteria as well as inorganic materials in their environment.

Ancient civilizations used compounding for religion, grooming, keeping the healthy well and treating the ill. These ancient compounders produced the first oils from plants and animals. They discovered poisons and their antidotes. They made ointments for the wounded as well as perfumes for customers.

Pharmacists continued to compound most prescriptions until the early 1950ʼs, when most of the dispensed drugs came directly from large pharmaceutical companies. The science and practice of compounding gradually disappeared. Most pharmacists were no longer trained to compound medications. However, the specialized needs of patients could not be addressed by mass-produced medications.

Here at Echo Pharmacy we believe that pharmacy compounding is an art. A compounding pharmacist takes the base ingredients of a medication, usually in a powder form, and mixes it to make a medications at the appropriate dose and strength for the patient. The compounder, then, has the ability- for animals or humans- to turn that compound into a cream, liquid, lotion, injection, suppository, lollipop, troche, lozenge or pill in any flavor under the sun!

Compounding medications is experiencing a resurgence of popularity. Itʼs applications are endless! At Echo Pharmacy, we continue to step back in time. We are very excited to be able to serve the unique needs of people. We continue to dedicate ourselves to practice the old- fashioned philosophy of maintaining personal relationships with our customers by listening, caring and helping!