About the Emergency Prescription Assistance Program

The Emergency Prescription Assistance Program, or EPAP, allows enrolled pharmacies to process claims for prescription medications, certain medical supplies, vaccinations, and some forms of medical equipment for eligible people who live a federally identified disaster area.

EPAP is only available when it is activated.

EPAP helps people affected by a disaster who do not have health insurance. The program provides access to:

Prescription Medicine

Medical Equipment

Medical
Supplies

Vaccinations

Nearly 50 percent of Americans take at least one prescription drug, and nearly a quarter take three or more. Many of these people rely on their medications to control chronic conditions like heart disease and diabetes, manage depression, and control pain. When a disaster strikes, medications can get lost or damaged, putting people’s health and well-being at risk and straining local healthcare systems.

Eligible people can receive a free 30-day supply of their medications when EPAP is activated. Prescriptions can be renewed under EPAP for free every 30 days for as long as EPAP is active. People can also use the program to receive vaccinations or to replace certain medical supplies or some forms of medical equipment that were lost or damaged because of the emergency or while evacuating. EPAP only covers items prescribed by a licensed healthcare provider.

EPAP is authorized in Sections 403 and 502(a) of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (Stafford Act), 42 USC 5170b and 5192(a) or under the authorities of the National Disaster Medical System to provide emergency medical care to individuals affected by public health emergencies and catastrophic events that overwhelm the response capacity of state and local emergency medical systems.