The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act passed in 2010 outlines changes to Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) in 2011 and in how these accounts can be used. In the past, you could use the flexible spending account for any variety of over the counter (OTC) medications, including things like allergy medicine, cough syrup and band-aids. Starting on January 1, 2011, Flexible Spending Account participants will need a doctor’s prescription in order to use their FSA to pay for over-the-counter medications, ones that in the past have been okay to purchase with FSA funds without a prescription.
These OTC prescriptions will need to be handled as other prescriptions. As for most medications, a physician visit is needed so that your health and other medications can be reviewed to assure that this is an appropriate course of treatment. With the responsibility for prescribing an over the counter medication, we need to be sure that there are no interactions with other medications you may be taking.
We will not be able to accommodate phone, mail, or web requests for OTC medications. Please be sure to address these at you scheduled follow-ups and physicals. In most cases, if you require a prescription for a new medication, you will need to schedule an appointment with your physician by calling our office.
Thank you for your understanding and assistance in working through these changes with us.
Stay Healthyä