Pharmacy board could make it easier to legally get pain pills
Tampa, Florida — It’s been an agonizing battle that’s lasted five years.
People who have legitimate needs for painkillers struggling to get their prescriptions filled.
The folks who need their pain medication may have hope after a meeting Monday with a committee for the Florida Board of Pharmacy.
Imagine being in excruciating pain, getting a prescription for pain medication from your doctor, and having to go to dozens upon dozens of pharmacies to try and get it filled.
That’s a reality for thousands of people in Florida including James Harvey in Spring Hill.
Getting painkillers to those who need them WTSP
“I went to every pharmacy in Hernando County. And they tell you either they do not have them, or they won’t fill them,” Harvey said.
Harvey can walk for about 15 minutes on a good day.
“I can’t do anything anymore. I can’t walk down the street, I can’t walk around the yard.”
He’s in excruciating pain every moment of every day after he broke a spinal disc in his back.
“It hurts from the center of my back to the tips of my toes.”
And Harvey says he’s at the end of his rope.
What do you think? Join the conversation about pain meds on Facebook
“I’m about ready to eat a 9 mm or something. I just can’t take it anymore. This is not life to me,” he said.
Even with a valid doctor’s prescription, Harvey is one of thousands in Florida who can’t get their legal pain medication.
While bringing us into his home, Harvey nearly tripped and fell because of his pain.
“I just don’t want to hurt anymore. I’m tired of it,” he said.
It’s the many cases just like Harvey’s, or worse, that have brought the Florida Board of Pharmacy Controlled Substance Committee to Tampa.
It’s discussing new language to make it easier for pharmacists to prescribe pain meds emphasizing “it’s unacceptable not to fill as well,” said Committee Chair Gavin Meshad.
Now, it’s up to the pharmacy board to approve the new language emphasizing that pharmacists have to use their professional judgment, not just fear sanctions from the board or the Attorney General’s office.
Attorney General Pam Bondi’s office issued this statement on the pharmacy board changes: “No one wants to see anyone suffer; and we are encouraged that the Board of Pharmacy is bringing together state and federal government agencies, as well as, pharmacies and distributors to address this critical healthcare issue.”
How did we get this point?
It started about 5 years ago with the massive crackdown on pill mills in Florida. There were restrictions on how many times doctors could prescribe pain pills and how often they could be dispensed without government oversight or even sanctions.
We talked to 10 News health care expert Jay Wolfson to find out what folks are up against for change.
“I think they’re up against the illegitimate uses which are extraordinary and substantial in this state,” Wolfson said. “The problem is for those people who have legitimate needs who are not able to get it. Finding that balance is a tough policy and social decision.”
We’re going stay with this story and keep you update on any action taken to make it easier for you to get your pain pills.
Click here to contact the Florida Board of Pharmacy.
Filed under: General Problems
What we need to do is to get a law made that would make it illegal or a violation for a pharmacist to refuse to fill a LEGIT. VALID RX for a LEGIT, VERIFIED & COMPLIANT patient unless they can show Proof
of a good & VALID reason not to. Also, if they are actually out of the med. then they should have to do all they can in order to help the patient find it, especially if it is for a long time reg. patient!
1 thing I have not heard anyone address is the price gouging and/or “bundling” that many small pharms are doing! Charging as much as $675 for 54 30mg. of oxycodone that used to cost $20 w/ins.! Or they will make you have 3 non controlled for every 1 controlled & only accepting cash for the pain meds. while allowing you to still use your ins. for the rest!!
I thought price gouging was illegal especially during a crisis, yet no one is doing ANYTHING!!!
Pain meds are hardly overused in Fl, as most legit cannot even get. What IS in overuse in Florida, is Flakka, heroin, and other deadly street and club drugs. All this has created is more dangerous drugs, and violent crimes.
This situation is literally sickening to me. It is unjust, inhumane, and illegal! I just emailed the Florida Board of Pharmacy and demanded immediate change. I hope others will, too. Thank you, Steve, for sharing this, and giving people the link to do something about it!
I suspect that the clause, “…easier for pharmacists to prescribe pain meds…” is an editorial error. I’m pretty sure that pharmacists in Florida have pretty much the same duties as I do as a California pharmacist. Prescribing, especially DEA Scheduled meds, is far outside the legal purview and scope of practice of a pharmacist most anywhere in the USA.
From the article: ‘It’s discussing new language to make it easier for pharmacists to prescribe pain meds emphasizing “it’s unacceptable not to fill as well,” said Committee Chair Gavin Meshad.”
I have a real problem with this statement – since when is is legal for pharmacists to be the ones prescribing the pain meds? Are they now the medical doctors who write the prescriptions for and decide the medical need for the patient too? This really bothers me as a pain patient that these pharmacists not only want to control what medications I get at the pharmacy window but they also want to write the prescriptions as if they are my physician now too.