What’s the Medicare Prescription Payment Plan?

The Medicare Prescription Payment Plan is a new payment option in the prescription drug law that works with your current drug coverage to help you manage your out-of-pocket costs for drugs covered by your plan by spreading them across the calendar year (January–December).

Starting in 2025, anyone with a Medicare drug plan or Medicare health plan with drug coverage (like a Medicare Advantage Plan with drug coverage) can use this payment option.

All plans offer this payment option, and participation is voluntary.

This payment option might help you manage your monthly expenses, but it doesn’t save you money or lower your drug costs.

Questions: Before signing up, please contact the Hartsville pharmacy staff at 843-339-5530 to speak with someone directly.

Caring for Someone Sick

The CDC estimates that so far this season there have been at least 26 million flu illnesses, 250,000 hospitalizations and 14,000 deaths from flu.

Flu is a contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses that infect the nose, throat, and sometimes the lungs. It can cause mild to severe illness, and at times can lead to death. The best way to prevent flu is by getting a flu vaccine each year.

Steps to take if you get the flu

(According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)

If you get very sick, are pregnant, or are 65 years or older, or are otherwise at high risk of flu-related complications, call your doctor. You might need antiviral drugs to treat flu.
Stay at home and rest.
Avoid close contact with well people in your house so you won’t make them sick.
Drink plenty of water and other clear liquids to prevent fluid loss (dehydration).

When caring for people who have the flu:

Avoid being face to face with the sick person. If possible, it is best to spend the least amount of time in close contact with a sick person.
When holding sick children, place their chin on your shoulder so they will not cough in your face.
Wash your hands often and right way.
If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand rub.
Make sure to wash your hands after touching the sick person. Wash after handling their tissues or laundry.

Get immediate medical care if the sick person experiences:

In children

Fast breathing or trouble breathing
Bluish lips or face
Ribs pulling in with each breath
Chest pain
Severe muscle pain (child refuses to walk)
Dehydration (no urine for 8 hours, dry mouth, no tears when crying)
Not alert or interacting when awake
Seizures
Fever above 104°F
In children less than 12 weeks, any fever
Fever or cough that improves but then returns or worsen
Worsening of chronic medical conditions

In adults

Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
Persistent pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen
Persistent dizziness, confusion, inability to arouse
Seizures
Not urinating
Severe muscle pain
Severe weakness or unsteadiness
Fever or cough that improves but then returns or worsen
Worsening of chronic medical conditions

These lists are not all-inclusive. Please consult your medical provider for any other symptom that is severe or concerning.