Hy-Vee implements controlled substance prescription policy
In an effort to assist in combatting the national opioid epidemic, Hy-Vee has implemented a new controlled substance prescription policy.
As of Jan. 1, 2019, Hy-Vee pharmacies will no longer allow a subsequent fill of a Schedule II controlled substance, or a refill of a Schedule III or Scheduled IV controlled substance more than 72 hours early without authorization from the prescriber.
Hy-Vee pharmacies also no longer accept GoodRx coupons for controlled substance prescriptions.
“The opioid epidemic in the United States claims the lives of more than 100 people every day, and Hy-Vee is continually working to assist in the fight,” Kristin Williams, Hy-Vee senior vice president and chief health officer, said. “Implementing this 72-hour policy is one more step toward combatting the opioid epidemic in communities throughout the eight states we serve.”
Hy-Vee already offers naloxone without a prescription in all eight states where it operates pharmacies: Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, South Dakota and Wisconsin.
Naloxone is available at Hy-Vee pharmacies in a nasal spray and injection forms (upon request), although, the nasal spray is the most commonly used form. The drug is stored behind the counter and cost varies, depending on the form and whether a customer goes through his or her insurance, or pays cash.
Filed under: General Problems
That’s a really good question. I’ve been discharged from hospital after major surgery. I had to go to the pharmacy myself to pick up pain meds. I wasn’t able to walk independently.
The statement is unclear. Does this mean customers on monthly pain mgmt can not use Hyvee? Or is it only saying there can’t be any subsequent fills any sooner than 72 hours,( 27 days on a 30 day supply) on schedule 2,3,&4 controlled medications? Is it because “refills” aren’t allowed on schedule 2 & require a new written prescription, so two sentences were necessary to be accurate in not calling a subsequent fill on 2, a refill? Cvs policy is 28 days and some places make us wait the full 30 days. So, 27 days isn’t that bad. If that’s all they are meaning. If not….. then they would lose a lot of customers on pain management.
So what happens in the case of a terminally-ill patient who is attempting to find pain relief? This happened to my father-in-law a few times while he was dying of bone cancer, a particularly painful type of cancer. (He actually had a very quick-growing tumor that grew out of his groin and attached itself to his pelvic bone. Men, can you even imagine the pain of trying to find a comfortable way to lie down to sit down with a tumor growing out of your groin and attaching itself to your pelvic bone?)
His pain would escalate at times (especially the first few months of his diagnosis), so one of the hospice doctors would prescribe a stronger pain medication (even if he’d just had one filled a day or two prior). (It took less than an hour for a hospice nurse to get the medication to him). If his pain was too extreme, he’d have to be admitted into the hospital until they had it back under control. (The same can happen with other horribly painful, incurable non-malignant conditions and inoperable injuries). I guess these people will be forced to suffer.
I admit I’m glad my father-in-law (and own dad) is not alive during this time. (Both of them had hospice). The hospice nurses’ and doctors’ number one objective was to keep their patient – my father-in-law – out of pain. Hospice nurses had never seen any patient require the amount of medication my father-in-law required. (I suspect that he also had malabsorption issues or possibly an enzyme defect). I can’t even imagine how badly these restrictions would have affected my father-in-law when he was already suffering too much. I hope who ever sets these ridiculous blanket policies gets to enjoy a very painful few months when it’s their time to go.
Yet another pharmacy to boycott..
Sky, it’s not just the pharmacy that we need to boycott. What if the patient is going out of town or someone else has to pick up the medication because they have no transportation?