Help Please /Important ?? About Refill

[sharonn]

I also go to CVS and have always been able to fill on my last day of meds so I don't wake up in pain and then have to drive to the pharmacy and wait. But....there is this one pharmacist who won't fill it. I was very polite and explained to him that this is why I use 1 pharmacy and they know me...etc...He came out from behind the counter and asked me why I get 18 tablets a day...that it was too much medication and I must be very constipated(people were staring) Then when I told him I always get it filled this way he said it was illegal and that insurance wouldn't cover it. He said a lot of things and I was livid, embarrassed, and made to feel like a criminal. I called my "old" CVS an hour away and spoke to the pharmacist. She said even if it WAS denied that day it can be overridden by the pharmacist. I went there and when she ran it through there was absolutely NO problem with the insurance. By that time I was in tears from stress and pain and she told me I should report him. There was another one who did the same thing. I never show up early...don't Dr. shop and I am so offended with how I was treated, She was so nice and told me it would be worth the drive to go there.So ridiculous!!! Anyway it pretty much ruined my day. He is going to be very sorry as HE broke a law if anything. Thank you all for your support...it helped so much. People who don't have CP have no idea what this means to us...no pills...pain and withdrawal...then you have to fight for your meds???? Arrrrgh!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Love, Sharonn BTW...the pharmacy had refused to order me the 15 mg. tabs so it is 18 5 mgs. a day!!

[conductor]

I use a Mom and Pop Pharmacy where they order the generic Actiq and the Sandoz patches just for me! The pharmacist, who has been my pharmacist for 12 years now, tells me to call in a week before they are due so he'll make sure to have them both in. My Dilaudid 8 mg (generic by Roxane) is due at a different time during the month, and he has me call him a week prior to that.

Sharonn, I'm so sorry you've been made to feel so raunchy--in addition to your physical condition. I hope you can find a place that will be reasonable with you. Take care, my friend.

Sincerely,
Jon (Conductor)

[Executor]

Originally Posted by conductor

I use a Mom and Pop Pharmacy where they order the generic Actiq and the Sandoz patches just for me!

That makes two of us! My independent guy order mine about a week ahead of when I'm due. I always call to make sure he hasn't forgotten, and to "knock on wood", he hasn't yet. I'm the only one he sells the sticks to.

Small world.....

Ex

[Executor]

Originally Posted by sharonn

I called my "old" CVS an hour away and spoke to the pharmacist. She said even if it WAS denied that day it can be overridden by the pharmacist. I went there and when she ran it through there was absolutely NO problem with the insurance.

Sharonn- I'm sooo sorry to hear your story....My heart started beating fast when I read it, and it wasn't even my script! I can only imagine how you felt!

Your example is just another one where there is a great variation in pharmacy to pharmacy, depending on the pharmacist. They wield such power that there seems to be a big latitude in customer experiences. Some are absolutely great to work with, while others are "J-e-r-k-s" with a capital "J."

I know it may be hard for some to believe, but my pharmacist actually gave me his home #....Because he is "off" on Wednesdays and he wanted me to have it case something ever happened when he wasn't there. Well....That day actually happened last month and I actually had to use it...When all the stuff happened with the patch re-call....I was notified on a Wednesday by his relief pharmacist of the re-call, and I had to get a plan in place ASAP since mine were effected and I couldn't wait 48 hours for an answer. Getting a hold of him was paramount and such a relief because we put a plan in place immediately for switching patches out & etc. I can't help but think if I had been with a chain, I would have been told to take the existing patches off, and contact my Doctor re: a substitute med (he's two hours round trip BTW), and god knows how long the whole process would have taken. Conversely, my guy ordered me new patches (from his home on his day off) to arrive fed-ex the next day. Now, that's service!

Again, I'm sorry for situation, but I'm glad you had the courage to share it so others can learn what happens at some of these chains.

Good luck.

Ex

[cmpgirl]

Hey Sharron: I don't know if you saw my post a week or so ago titled New Dispensing Laws for Class II's, but I am also in New York state and had a problem getting my refill on the 29th or 30th day. I had never had this problem before. My pharmacy changed hands recently and has an entirely new staff. The new guy told me it was because of a Federal law that I described in my previous thread.

I saw my PM doc on Thurs. and asked him about it. He concurred that it was indeed a Fed law, but most pharmacies follow insurance company guidelines or ther own policies instead. He also said that if you really read the law properly, it allows for fills on the 28th day. It's just very obscurely written.
Big surprise from the feds!!!!

I have concluded that it is this new policy at my current pharmacy and am in the process of changing to another.

Best of luck, cmpgirl