Ordering Embrace2 in the U.S.: How to get the prescription approved
Please note that the below pertains only to U.S. residents.
Recently, we've been receiving many questions from people in the U.S. around prescriptions for our seizure monitoring smartband, Embrace2. When do I upload the prescription? Who can I get my prescription from?Where do I upload it? What has to be on the prescription? We'd like to clear up the confusion and address all of these questions here. The prescription process is actually quite simple, once you know how it works, and what the necessary criteria is to get the prescription approved.
As you may know, Embrace2 is now an FDA-cleared medical device, which means that for people in the US it's necessary that your doctor (doesn't have to be a neurologist, any healthcare practitioner is fine), who understands your medical history and seizure types, agrees that it's a suitable fit for you.
Should I get the prescription before or after I purchase Embrace2?
It's up to you. You can visit your doctor before or after purchasing. To facilitate the conversation, you can direct your doctor to our special page dedicated for doctors. Here, they can learn how Embrace works, download a prescription template, and request to receive a guide with the most pertinent information they need to know about Embrace.
If possible, you might want to send this link to the doctor’s office prior to your visit as a reference. You can also show your health practitioner our doctors’ page from your cellphone. In fact, the webpage is optimized to fit a small screen, so it’ll look great from your smartphone too.
Who can I get my prescription from?
Most of our users have gotten their prescription for Embrace2 from their usual primary care physician (PCP), neurologist, or nurse practitioner. However, nowadays, it is also possible to find a physician or other healthcare practitioner nearby in your network in just a few clicks on websites like www.zocdoc.com, through your health insurance, or healthcare provider web portals. Some of these alternatives might be helpful if you live far away from your usual healthcare practitioner or if it is difficult to schedule an appointment with them.
What must be on the prescription for it to be considered valid?
Your healthcare practitioner can use our prescription (Rx) template or use their own, standard one.
We cannot ship Embrace unless all of the above information is indicated on the actual prescription. Remember, no field should be left blank:
- National Provider Identifier Number (NPI) of the healthcare practitioner who issued the prescription.
- Full name of the healthcare practitioner.
- Address and phone number of the healthcare practitioner.
- Embrace2 listed as the prescribed item.
- Patient's full name.
- Patient's date of birth.
- Doctor's signature (hand-written or digital - note that digital signatures need to have a time stamp).
- Date of issue.
The NPI number is not substitutable with your doctor's license number or DEA number, so please make sure to ask them specifically for the NPI number. It's a 10-digit unique identifier that all covered health care providers must have.
Here's a correct prescription example:
Here's an example of an invalid prescription. In this example, both doctor's NPI and patient's Date of Birth are missing:
How do I upload the prescription?
If you haven't placed an order yet, you'll have to first take care of this part.
We understand that living with epilepsy can be financially difficult, so we’ve made Embrace2 an FSA/HSA eligible purchase. We have also teamed up with some of the biggest charity organizations in the US (and other countries) who may be able to help you get an Embrace. We have created a tool here that will help you find a local charity near you.
A few minutes after placing the order, you'll receive an email with the link to set up your Empatica Account.
After creating your Empatica account, you can upload your prescription following these steps:
- Log in to your account.
- Go to the Account section on the top bar.
- In the Orders section, you’ll see your order number and underneath a message that says Prescription Required. Click on this message. This will take you to your orders page.
- Scroll down to Prescription and click on Upload a prescription for your Embrace.
- Fill in the form with the required information.
- Choose a file directly from your computer or take a picture with your mobile phone.
- Please make sure that the information you’ve entered matches the information on the prescription.
- Click on submit.
Please make sure that the information you enter in the provided fields matches what is on the prescription. For example, if Embrace is intended for someone else, the information you enter should reflect this person, not yourself.
What happens after I upload my prescription?
Within 5 business days, you’ll receive an email from us letting you know whether your prescription has been approved. If so, we’ll proceed with the shipment process. We ship twice a week, and it generally takes 1 to 3 days to arrive once it's been shipped. You can check your Empatica Account for the status of your shipment. Once Embrace is on its way to you, you'll receive an email with the tracking number.
What do I do if my prescription wasn't approved?
If your prescription wasn't approved, we'll email you letting you know why. You can then make the necessary changes and upload it again. If anything is unclear, our team is ready to help you get the prescription right, so we can quickly proceed with shipping. Simply email us at support@empatica.com, or give us a call Monday through Friday 9am to 5pm EST at +1 (866) 739-2049.
We hope that now all of your questions around the prescription process have been answered. If you still have any remaining questions or feedback on how to make the process easier to understand, please don't hesitate to reach out.
