Intermountain Health announced Monday the expansion of its virtual care services, offering patients in Utah, Colorado, Idaho, Wyoming, Montana, and Nevada more convenient access to naloxone for opioid overdose reversal and various birth control methods. The new services allow individuals to complete online health assessments and consult with pharmacists via telephone to have medications shipped directly to their homes.
Naloxone program details
The naloxone program is designed to provide immediate access to medication that reverses the effects of an opioid overdose. According to Intermountain Health, the service does not charge a service fee, though patients are responsible for the cost of the medication itself after any applicable insurance coverage. For those choosing the over-the-counter option, Intermountain noted that users will pay upfront for the medication.
Eligibility and opioid information
The naloxone service is available to anyone interested in carrying the medication; patients do not need to be currently taking opioid medications to qualify. Intermountain Health emphasized that while naloxone is life-saving, it only affects opioid medications and cannot reverse overdoses caused by other drugs. Common opioids covered by this service include hydrocodone (brand names Vicodin, Norco, or Lortrans), oxycodone (Percocet or OxyContin), morphine, codeine, fentanyl, hydromorphone, and buprenorphine.
Identifying an overdose
Intermountain Health provided specific guidance on identifying an opioid overdose using the acronym SMELL: Not SPEAKING (inability to arouse or respond), Not MOVING (unresponsiveness), Eyes (pinpoint pupils), Lips (blue or gray color), and Lungs (respiratory depression or gurgling breathing). In such an event, the organization instructs individuals to call 911 immediately, administer naloxone, and provide rescue breathing until help arrives.
Medication delivery process
The naloxone delivery process involves a request form and an intake period. Once the form is submitted, a clinical pharmacist may contact the patient depending on the selected product. Medications are delivered via the Intermountain Home Delivery pharmacy, typically arriving at the patient's door within four to five business days. The organization noted that naloxone is not covered by most Select Health plans, advising those members to utilize the over-the-counter option for the best pricing.
Birth control service details
In a separate virtual care initiative announced Monday, Intermountain Health is also providing faster access to birth control through online assessments. This service is available to women 18 and enough older who meet specific health criteria, including being premenopausal between the ages of 18 and 55, having no history of cancer in the breast, cervix, or uterus, and maintaining a blood pressure reading lower than 140/90.
The birth control service requires a $20 consultation fee in addition to the cost of the prescription medication. While some insurance companies may cover this consultation fee, patients are responsible for the medication costs after insurance. If a patient does not meet the clinical requirements during the pharmacist consultation, Intermountain Health will provide a referral to an Intermountain provider for further evaluation without charging the service fee.
Patients using the birth control service can access several self-administered contraception options, including birth control pills (both combination and progestin-only), vaginal rings such as NuvaRing or EluRyng, and hormonal patches like Xulane or Twirla. To qualify, patients must provide a blood pressure reading from within the last 12 months, as well as their height and weight, during the online intake process.
