BETHLEHEM, Pa. — COVID-19 is a very different illness than it was when the pandemic first began, according to a Lehigh Valley infectious disease expert.
And many of the medications and mitigation tools to fight off COVID-19 are no longer covered by government funding. But that doesn’t mean the money is coming out of patients’ pockets.
"COVID is very much with us right now."Dr. Jeffrey Jahre, St. Luke’s University Health Network
"The point of the matter is that Paxlovid is a very underused drug,” Dr. Jeffrey Jahre with St. Luke’s University Health Network said.
"At one time, it was covered under the EUA, or emergency usage act and so it was totally free. It is no longer free right now, but it is covered by most insurances.
"So that's one thing that people need to be aware of."
Jahre said, "COVID is very much with us right now.
“The symptoms of COVID-19 can be kind of a bad cold and they may not lose their sense of smell or taste, they may not have very high temperatures, which we used to see fairly often.”
'Open to any pharmacy'
Paxlovid is a series of three pills that are taken twice a day for up to five days after coming down with the coronavirus.
Jahre said some people may not know the treatment is available and covered by most insurances.
Robert Schaffer is a pharmacist at the newly opened We Care 2 pharmacy in Bethlehem. He explained the change in funding through a pharmacy perspective.
“You really want to try and take this within the first couple of days in order to get the major effect. And it is primarily indicated for people who would have the worst outcomes or who are the weakest when they end up with COVID-19.”Dr. Jeffrey Jahre, St. Luke’s University Health Network
"What happened before, the government provided and would actually pay and ship the drug to the pharmacies that qualified to dispense the Paxlovid. It was just a select network of pharmacies,” he said.
"Now, it's open to any pharmacy that has the main wholesalers.”
Schaffer said no prior authorization should be required because of the urgency at which patients need to get the drug and begin taking it.
"The pharmacy now has to buy the drug, which is, like, around $1,400 per box," Schaffer said. "So then the pharmacy has to get paid by the insurance and hopefully there shouldn't be any remaining copay for the patient.”
Jahre also said, “You really want to try and take this within the first couple of days in order to get the major effect.
"And it is primarily indicated for people who would have the worst outcomes or who are the weakest when they end up with COVID-19.”
Jahre said after the fifth day of symptoms, Paxlovid is ineffective. There are some side effects, but the physician said most of those side effects can be overcome.
"Test thoroughly, test repetitively if it's negative, and consider taking Paxlovid with the advice of your physician,” he said.
Jahre also reminded people that COVID-19 tests still are free and available through the federal government through today, March 8.
