New change at my SC CVS drugstore about Fentanyl Patches

Been going to the same CVS drugstore here in SC for 12 plus years.  I am known by sight and first name.

Today, when I turned in my new script for my Fentanyl patches, a new change was enacted, they said it was being enforced by DHEC.

I had to show my driver's license (had to be a picture ID) with the prescription, they wrote down the number right on the prescription itself.

A few hours when I went back to pick it up, had to show my license again, and they had to compare the two.

Didn't bother me, I don't mind the hassles involved getting my pain meds, and understand the drug seekers are making it harder on us legitimate patients, but was surprised by this new action.

Pharmacist said in my case, only involves the Fentanyl prescriptions.

David in SC

A FYI: DHEC is a South Carolina state agency Department of Health and Environmental Control.

Beyond that though it would not surprise me if everyone who used CVS regardless of state they are in has not or does not in the near future start seeing increased scrutiny and security when it comes to narcotics. They have been having some problems and been under close scrutiny at some of the Florida locations simply because of having a higher than average base of customers who are on narcotic pain meds than other pharmacies in the same general area.

That has been the procedure here I FL at Walgreens for many months now and was started along with the new paperwork and fill times required for any scheduled. II or more Med.

Must present id when handing it to them and picking it up even if you never left the store.

I wonder if those governing agencies look at the how's and why's one pharmacy may be filling more scripts then the surrounding pharmacys?

For example I live on beachside and on the stretch of A1 there are 4 Walgreens and 3 CVS. Out of those only 1 of them stock or will stock methadone. Its not a 24hr and the pharmacy hours are really limited. 9-7 weekdays and 10-6 weekend, closed 1-2 for lunch.

They never have mine when I need it so I go over to mainland. So if looking at that then they naturally fill more then their neighbors.

The laws being what they are here I use to be asked routinely why I wasn't filling at my neighborhood store. Its one of the regs here,a flag if your running from store store with a script. They finally know why and don't ask me anymore.

I would love to be able to use the Walgreens right across the street but the potential for robberies on coastal side is greater they say?

Also the one I use is a 24 he and next to the teaching hospital so I imagine all those contribute to why they may be on the higher side of dispensing narcotics.

Lots of variables in there even some Drs preferring a certain pharmacy.,the type insurance folks have right?

Just wondering if they take all of those variables into account before suggesting they are doing anything outta sorts.

Well all states have something similar but they are a wide arrange of things that they are called...Department of Health, Department of Human Services, etc. Also the Federal Government is all the time renaming their agencies and creating new ones or creating sub agencies within agencies it gets hard to keep up knowing who is who and whether or not it is a federal, state, or local deal.

She did say on the Fentanyl only, but not the Loratabs, I get 180 per month, and I believe they are a schedule II medication.

They know what I am on, on a regular basis, so they always have in stock, my meds, on hand when it's time to re-fill. Which is a comfort to me as a patient.

It's not that I have any particular love for CVS in general, I think they are a rip off on most of their other products, but it helps to be well known as I am by the pharmacy staff, and they have talked to my oncologist several times by phone, so they know there is no monkey business going on. That's half the battle as far as I am concerned.

David

SC is a strange and backward state in many ways, lol. They march to a different drum here.

david

same with the Walgreens around Hampton Roads VA. the fact they filled it within 6hrs. is good. this is overkill but the only people left that should be able to fill their scripts are legitimate patients. like us. hear they want the doctor to put the diagnosis code number on opioid analgesics. don't let the DEA make anyone feel they are in the wrong. chronic intractable pain patients need opioids like diabetics need insulin.

SS....I think quite a few of us who live in VA talked about this on your other thread but are not running into any specific problems getting meds filled.

I look at each and every incident or even new law, (when there actually is one), individually to see whether it's something that is truly "overreaching".

I have had to show my license in VA at my Sam's club for years now and I don't find this an issue for any legitimate chronic pain patient.

If you are being made to "feel bad" by a Dr. or Pharmacist then it's time to look someplace else. I am very thankful that I found the PM I have now (1st one was horrible) as well as I've been going to the same Pharmacy for 12 years now without a single problem filling my meds.

There shouldn't be any reason they are taking 6 hours to fill your meds and I would speak with the head Pharmacist and find out what is going on or change Pharmacies....

Just like with everything there is a good middle ground. I am all for the Prescription Monitoring Program that is in 42 states so far, and I am all for requiring ID to pick up my Schedule II meds. Neither of these things should cause a real problem for us. They are two things that actually help "catch" those who are abusing medications.

There are many things that I disagree with that government gets involved in but the CSA has been around since 1970 and the DEA is not "all" bad with having to work 24/7 at trying to shut down those rogue Drs/Pharmacists and find those who are doing things illegally.

I can say for myself that I am willing to have to jump through a few extra hoops like the things listed as well as a random pill count or yearly urine test if it helps my Dr./Pharmacist spend more time and focus on those who are true chronic pain patients.

Again...I take one issue at a time and showing ID which this thread is about is no biggie.

LOL about CVS. I actually agree about the other items in their stores being a bit of a rip off. The only 2 things I ever get from my local CVS is my medications and milk when it is on sale as they have good ones when they do put it on sale.

Don't know about elsewhere but store brand (generic) milk runs around $3.60-$3.90 a gallon on average and name brand is well over $4.00 most of the time. when CVS goes on sale it is usually for around $2.69-$2.79 gallon name brand, not that I care about brand as milk is milk to me.

Here in FL the pharmacy's themselves implemented many rules that are not necessarily laws but you have to abide by them all the same.

Most require a state or federal picture Id and will not accept anything else even though the DEA website offers several other options they can accept to fill scheduled meds.

It certainly may not be a problem for folks in most states to have or obtain a DL or state issued Id but that's one of the first things they tightened up in FL drug war.

You must have not only a lease but mail to you at this address, rental receipts or mortgage receipts. Utility bill for that address in your name only,not your spouse. Birth certificate and all certified original documents that changed your name since the day you were born. Your previous FL from another state is OK for them as id purpose only but you still have to have the rest and a SS card and it all has to have the same name on it.

This is to be issued a FL or just an state Id card. Also costs $45 which they are trying to get lowered and even duplicate is $25 making it impossible for homeless to pay for one and they can't rent or apply for F's without it.

I no longer drive,have been here in FL 5 years and cannot get even an Id. When I was 18 I married in OK under tribal law which was later accepted under common law in most states but it was legal in everyway in OK and I changed my name with SS,and the DMV.

I cannot provide any type of certified paperwork on a tribal marriage to support the name change so FL will not issue me an Id. I have battled them for all this time. I'm missing 2,the marriage and divorce documentation as none exists and they have tunnel vision when it comes to this.

I use the same pharmacy and they know me but its caused problems in the past and is going to get worse. So yes it does effect legitimate pain patients

My son in Ky knows people there who were coming here during the pill rush who actually have a fl id. I'm a US citizen and can't get an Id but the folks who bombed Boston had one.

I can vote for the president of the US but can't fill my meds?

Vickie...What did you provide at the polls when you voted? I see that they require a photo id with signature and these things are listed as acceptable items:

Florida driver’s license
Florida identification card issued by the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles
United States passport
Debit or credit card
Military identification
Student identification
Retirement center identification
Neighborhood association identification
Public assistance identification.


I would think that whatever you provided for them, as well as talking with the head Pharmacist about this as well as your Dr. They can find a way to help you.

My PM takes their own photo now that is stored in the computer with my electronic files. I would think that your Dr. could do this and could print it out along with speaking to the Pharmacy to make sure you have a way to identify you.

Thanks for sharing more info....if you can get refills on a med then it is a Schedule III or higher. Schedule II meds do not allow this, (minus extreme circumstances). That is the main reason that NY and a few other states have decided on their own to pass a law that moved Hydrocodone up from III to II so that it now has tighter controls over it.

There is legislation (HR 1285) that was introduced on March 20, 2013, along with a companion bill into the Senate, which is wanting to change the Federal Schedule of Hydrocodone from a III to a II nationwide so many of us are watching this carefully.

Now all this being said, that doesn't preclude certain Drs. or Pharmacists who make their own choices to not offer refills or treat a med more like a Schedule II if they have concerns with a patient or have had issues in the past.

Again, just like you follow all the details of PC and all the new recommendations, treatments, and medications....I try to do this for things that pertain to CP. Obviously as I mentioned, I am not perfect with all my information..lol..And I am learning new things every day.....but the professional websites that I peruse daily/weekly about new legislation I try to follow these things carefully and that is why it would be surprising to not have a .gov link for SC to the law showing that Hydro changed to a Schedule II.

Post Edited (Snowbunny21) : 5/6/2013 10:27:35 AM (GMT-6)

Vickie...I would talk with your Dr. and the head Pharmacist...Hopefully you know the latter and have been going there for a long time. Between the two of them I think they would find a way to help you out.