ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) - Maryland insurance officials have activated emergency regulations to require health insurance carriers to waive timing restrictions on coverage for renewal of prescription medications.

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Therese Goldsmith, the state insurance commissioner, said Monday at a news conference of state officials that the regulations would apply, for example, to people who have prescriptions requiring refrigeration. The regulations also would apply if someone has been temporarily relocated and forced to leave a prescription behind.

The regulations were activated on Sunday.

Meanwhile, people concerned about storing medicine without air conditioning may considering storing it in a cabinet away from children and outside of the bathroom.

Bruce Anderson, director of the Maryland Poison Center at the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy, says light, heat and moisture can accelerate the breakdown process of some medicines.