FROM MY INBOX
Good morning Steve. First of all I too would like to thank you for the work you’re doing and your efforts to assist those of us who fall victim to bias pharmacies and their employees. I am a registered nurse and I’m currently on Suboxone for dependency. It has, in short, save my life and help me to move forward to better myself in my career and family. My question is, whenever there is a floating pharmacist (much of time) at my Pharmacy, I am constantly given a hard time. They go back and count the months where I should have had extra and add it to current strips. Is this even allowed? My doctor has suggested that I fill when it is possible at 28 days so that I will have a few days Surplus. In the event that the pharmacy is out of the medication and the doctor’s office is closed, I will not be in distress and my recovery will not be hindered. Although I have explained this to many of the pharmacists, they don’t seem to listen. Upon turning in a prescription yesterday, I was told it was too early and would have to wait 2 more days. They said that would be 28 days. When I counted on the calendar 28 days was the day I turned it in. I’m tired of doing this and would like something to back me up when turning my prescriptions in. Can you help? Specifically, can you answer my question about adding previous overtures to current strips that I have or don’t have?
I was once told of a Pharmacist that went back FOUR YEARS and calculated that the pt should still have several days of his controlled medication and refused to fill the pt’s current prescription.
It would seem that some healthcare professionals (doctors, pharmacists, nurses) seem to believe that pts live in a perfect world… Pharmacies are never out of stock, prescribers never takes vacations or fail to return pts calls and/or refill requests from the pharmacy, there are natural disasters and untold number of other unknown… unanticipated situation that could cause a pt to run out of their medication… thru no fault of the pt.
A pt can call the corporate HQ to file a complaint and almost 100% of the time.. they will get a response they they cannot force the pharmacist to fill a prescription and if the pt files a complaint with the Board of Pharmacy… they are going to take the same position… So untold number of Pharmacists understand that they are in a “safe zone” where they can do as they damn please and the chances of them suffering some consequences is between slim and none. Any consequences to the pt for failing to have their medically necessary medication is just too bad… They shouldn’t have abused/ become addicted/dependent to a controlled substance.. In their “small minds” addiction is a personal failure and “pain never killed anyone”… just take some Motrin or Advil…
Personally, I refused to BEG anyone to allow me to give them my money and/or allow me to do business with them.
Independent pharmacies… you are dealing with the Pharmacist/owner.. and generally you will not be forced to deal with a different “floater” every time you come in… Unlike the chain pharmacist.. the independent doesn’t get paid every two weeks… if he/she fills your prescriptions or not.. they are in business to fill prescriptions… to be healthcare PROVIDERS… Typically they do not start looking for a reason to refuse to fill a prescription… because if you start looking for a reason not to fill one… generally you will find one.
Here is a website that will help anyone find a independent pharmacy by zip code
http://www.ncpanet.org/home/find-your-local-pharmacy
I have seldom heard of a pt that has changed to a independent pharmacy regretting their decision.
Filed under: General Problems
I miss the little pharmacy I used in Georgia but am lucky that for the most part the grocery store pharmacy I use is wonderful
I’ve been with the same independent pharmacy since I was 17 (43 now). (Small towns thrive on local, small businesses such as their’s). They’ve been taking care of me and my entire family (including my dad, who was chronically ill and completely disabled, when he was alive). When he would hit his “donut hole” (or whatever they call it) and did not have the $$ to pay for his medication, they allowed us to charge his med to his account and slowly pay it off (without interest).
The pharmacist who owned the pharmacy (up until about 4 years ago) was somewhat disabled from polio, so I think that was one reason he was very understanding to my dad’s situation. The new owners also allowed this. My son is on two expensive medications (Vyvanse & Straterra). His co-pay would be $90 for each medication (each month) prior to the savings cards.
They told me to go to the pharm co’s website to apply for the savings card, e-mail them a screenshot of the newly downloaded card, so they could apply the credits to our account. Many times those cards expired (which I would not find out about until I was picking up the meds) . Instead of making me wait (or make a special trip back) until I applied for another card with another number, they allow me to pick the med up, then just e-mail them a SS of the new card within the next couple of days so they could apply those credits (co-pays with cards are $30 and $25).
When my insurance refuses to pay for my 240 tramadol each month (quantity limit 120 – once in a while they’ll pay – go figure), they cash it out at the contracted insurance amount (MUCH cheaper than regular – $39.95 compared to over $100). I have no clue if they’re forced to do this due to state insurance laws (Arkansas) or if they choose to do this to help us out, but I’m always thankful. I can’t see any corporate, retail pharmacies doing any of the above.
I love our independent pharmacy! They work with us on so many levels and once they get to know you and what your medications are for, they help in any possible. The trouble I run into is with the help at the doctors office determining whether I should have my meds or not. This happened over the long Thanksgiving holiday weekend when the doctor was taking days off as well, leaving me 6 days without medication in pain from withdrawals and no sleep. If we have years of “acting right” with scripts and meds, why must we endure the hired help’s denials of needed medications?
Lisa Davis Budzinski
VP of CPSFoundation
Advocate for US Pain
Advocate for Power of Pain