Final answer:
Medicare considers the date of service as the day the patient picks up the prescription and is billed by the pharmacy. If a prescription is refilled too soon, Medicare may reject it to prevent overutilization.
Step-by-step explanation:
The date that Medicare considers as the date of service, which can affect refill too soon rejections, is the date on which the patient picks up the prescription and the pharmacy bills Medicare. This is the date that the medication is considered 'dispensed' by the pharmacy. If a patient attempts to refill a prescription before a certain amount of time has passed, Medicare's system may reject the claim, citing a 'refill too soon' error. This is a measure to prevent overutilization and ensure appropriate use of medications.
Pharmacies must adhere to the Medicare coverage rules, which might include duration between refills based on the prescribed usage, supply given on the last fill, and other factors determined by the patient's plan specifics. It is crucial for beneficiaries to understand these limitations to avoid the inconvenience of being denied medication when needed.