Medicare Part D beneficiaries can now tap into Amazon Pharmacy's PillPack for pre-sorted medication packets, the retail giant announced on Tuesday.
PillPack sorts a patient's medications into personalized, tear-away packets that are labeled by date and time, which can make it easier to follow prescribed regimens. The expansion brings this service to more than 50 million Part D enrollees who take daily medications, Amazon said.
Once eligible customers sign up for packets through PillPack, Amazon Pharmacy will coordinate needed refills to ensure prescriptions arrive on time.
In addition to growing its reach in the Part D market, Amazon announced that it will roll out new services to support caregivers in managing medications for a family member or loved one.
Amazon Pharmacy customers can invite trusted individuals that will be verified, and then able to manage their medications through their account on their behalf, according to the announcement.
Customers can input their caregiver's cellphone number into their account, and then Amazon will send them a link to verify their identity. Once this process is complete, the caregiver will be able to manage medications through their own Amazon account, according to the announcement.
Data from AARP suggests that about 53 million people, or one in five, are taking care of an aging family member. Managing medications is often one of the more complex tasks for family caregivers.
The goal of both new initiatives, Amazon said, is to continue growing its 24/7 access to prescriptions for customers.