HEALTH INSURERS AND PHARMACY BENEFIT MANAGERS URGED TO ASSIST FAMILIES AFFECTED BY LULU M. ROSS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL FIRE

The following information was released by the State of Delaware:

State calls for swift, flexible action to help affected families replace essential medications

DOVER, Del. (October 30, 2026) This week, the Delaware Department of Insurance was notified by Secretary of Health and Social Services, Christen Linke Young and Secretary of Education Cindy Marten that the October 25 fire at Lulu M. Ross Elementary School in Milford destroyed medications maintained on-site for students. As a result, Delaware Insurance Commissioner Trinidad Navarro is urging health insurance carriers, pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs), managed care organizations, and other entities providing prescription drug coverage in Delaware to take immediate steps to help families.

As families work to obtain replacement medications, they may face obstacles such as refill timing restrictions, prior authorization requirements, quantity limits, or other utilization management practices. The Department issued a Domestic and Foreign Insurers Bulletin No. 168 in response.

Commissioner Navarro emphasized the importance of ensuring uninterrupted access to medically necessary treatments for affected students. "We are asking all entities involved in prescription drug coverage to respond with urgency, flexibility, and compassion. Families coping with this unexpected loss should not face unnecessary delays in obtaining critical medications their children need, said Trinidad Navarro, Insurance Commissioner.

Our shared goal is simple: no child should go without needed medication because it was destroyed in a school fire, Cindy Marten, Delaware Secretary of Education, agreed.

The Department is encouraging regulated entities to take all reasonable and appropriate measures to ensure timely access to replacement medications, including:

Expediting coverage determinations and claims processing.

Allowing early or out-of-cycle prescription refills when necessary, including overrides of refill timing restrictions.

Waiving or accelerating prior authorization requirements and quantity limits when appropriate.

Communicating processing instructions to pharmacies, help desks, and customer service representatives to ensure consistent handling of replacement medication requests.

Working collaboratively with pharmacies, health care providers, and families to prevent interruptions in treatment.

Utilizing exception processes to quickly resolve issues involving replacement medications.

Exercising reasonable discretion and avoiding unnecessary documentation requirements that could delay access to care.