Hello Steve
I am being denied my medication I have been on for years and go to the same pharmacy for years all because I have a new doctor. What can I do about this?
Because I switched doctors they said they didn’t fell comfortable doing it I’ve been on same medication for cpl years and have always used there pharmacy and here I am days later with no meds bc they are denying me my medication.
Personally, I REFUSE to patronize any business that wants me to jump thru hoops and hurdles or BEG THEM… in order to give them my money…
While pts have told me that when they call corporate HQ to file a complaint they typically get ” we cannot force a pharmacist to fill a prescription”.. which is true because the corporation does not have a pharmacist’s license just a permit to operate a prescription dept.
I have been told by some of these chain pharmacists that the chains put policies and procedures in place that actually discourages them from filling controlled prescriptions. The Pharmacists get paid weekly… doesn’t matter if they fill your controlled prescriptions or not.
Going to a independent pharmacy and you will be dealing with the Pharmacist/owner who is in business to fill legit/on time/medically necessary prescriptions… That is how they get PAID.. they don’t start looking for a reason not to fill a prescription presented to them. Believe me, if a Pharmacist starts looking for a reason not to fill a prescription they will find one.
I suspect in the above case, the Pharmacist looked at the PMP (Prescription Monitoring Program) and it showed that this pt had received controlled medications from TWO DIFFERENT PRESCRIBERS… didn’t make any difference that she was in the process of changing doctors, nor were getting them at the same time. So this very common circumstance, pts changing doctors… was “enough evidence” for this Pharmacist to “see a RED FLAG” and become “uncomfortable”… and deny care… throwing a pt into cold turkey withdrawal… I bet that the pt ended up being more UNCOMFORTABLE – being in cold turkey withdrawal – than the Pharmacist did.
Filed under: General Problems
How can we help patients going through change if doctors?
I just had my oncologist/hematologist retire after being him since 1997 first with my Mom’s Leukemia and then with my stroke and cancer.
Steve, would it help patients if they had a letter from the new doctor (it could be a short form letter) to present the to the pharmacists?
If not, what in your experience would make a good difference in this situation instead of the red flag alert?
I WILL find a way to help!
Lisa Davis Budzinski