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cut myself short on pain meds.

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Posted 1/6/2014 9:47 PM (GMT 0)
well back on dec.23rd, i had an appt. with my pm and received my normal monthly scripts and took them to my pharmacy. thinks are going ok til...the pharmacist tells me they only have 60 pills in stock. and wouldn't get any more for who knows how long. so they ask if i want the 60 pills now. sinse i'm out i say ok. well now i'm out again and at the docs office they say the pharmacy owes me 30 pills which i said thats fine that will get me til it's time for a refill. nowi mention this to the pharmacy and they say i need a new script. ok, headache is starting to brew. but since i have my appt. tomorrow, no big deal. so i'll mention this now to the doctor. long story short, learned my lesson, FILL THE WHOLE script.......
nono
Posted 1/6/2014 9:49 PM (GMT 0)
Yep! As you said, lesson learned.

Pharmacies cannot fill partial scripts. If they don't have the full amount, out choices are to accept what they have and "lose" the rest (meaning, we need a brand new Rx for the remaining pills they were out of), or go to a different pharmacy (which gets tricky if we're under PM care).

Good thing you have your appointment tomorrow!



M.
Posted 1/6/2014 11:53 PM (GMT 0)
Pharmacies can split the rx if you have a very good relationship with the pharmacist and they will be getting the rest in a day or 2. Not common but some will. But you're right. Most times you're sol. Gotta find another pharmacy Thst has the whole rx in stock.
Posted 1/7/2014 12:02 AM (GMT 0)
I've been reading stories about pharmacies "shorting" class II scripts on these boards for awhile & something that really catches my attention is the "take it or leave it" theme with pharmacies. I understand if they don't have the entire amount of a particular med, but is there a law that prevents them from "owing" you the shorted amount & then giving you the rest when they get their next shipment?

The reason I ask if there is a law is because I'm curious about payment for the partially filled scripts. Does the pharmacy charge for the entire amount, or just for what was dispensed? If they are charging for the full amount, this seems a little unfair, at the very least. Kind of like paying for 10 oranges but only getting 5. Just wondering.
Posted 1/7/2014 12:34 AM (GMT 0)
Gosh, you know, that's a good question.

With my insurance coverage, I have a flat deductible, regardless of how many pills are dispensed. But that's a darn good point for people who self pay or have copays that are a % of the total cost.

I never thought about that aspect before....



M.
Posted 1/7/2014 1:32 AM (GMT 0)
You pay for what you receive...... (meaning, if you only get 23 pills on a 40 pill script - you only pay for 23).

Also.... legally, you can fill the remainder on the script within 72 hours. After that -- you do need a new script.

--T
Posted 1/7/2014 2:10 AM (GMT 0)
Thank you Tina.

This makes me wonder,....why then, do the pharms make a very clear message that "if" we choose to accept a partial script, we "will lose the remainder?"

As I can recall, (at least of late), no pharmacist has ever even offered this or been receptive to it.

Back in the 1980's, I do recall things were a little more flexible.

This is very interesting information.

I think a part of me feels self-conscious to mention this to the pharm, even with it being correct, for fear of some type of retribution (it's already made tough on we CP'ers as it is).

Any thoughts or advice?



M.
Posted 1/7/2014 3:08 AM (GMT 0)
Which is why I was wondering if u choose to take the partial script, per the pharmacy, do they charge the insurance for the whole thing? Then u have to go back to get a new script for the remainder, pay the same copay, and the pharmacy charges the insurance for the full amount again?
Posted 1/7/2014 2:52 PM (GMT 0)
I remember something similar happening, and they gave me a partial. (Thought they weren't allowed to do partials on narcotics?) Anyways, when they got the rest in they called me and usually it's the next day. I worked in three pharmacies back when I was a pre-pharm student at school. The drugs always came in the next day as long as you ordered them before 2 pm. I am sorry you are having to go through this!
Posted 1/7/2014 2:53 PM (GMT 0)

1 day at a time said...
Which is why I was wondering if u choose to take the partial script, per the pharmacy, do they charge the insurance for the whole thing? Then u have to go back to get a new script for the remainder, pay the same copay, and the pharmacy charges the insurance for the full amount again?

I worked at popular chain (forever ago) and they would charge the entire co-pay for whatever they had, then just put the remaining that they ordered for the patient in a bottle with another label, and staple the bag and give it to you. I don't know if all of them do this, but the one I go to now does as well as the one I worked at (different chain).

Edited to clarify.
Posted 1/8/2014 4:09 AM (GMT 0)
This happened to me as well. I went in and they only had part of the prescription. With it being narcotics, if you take what they have they will NOT give you the rest. I ended up going to a different location of the same pharmacy (CVS) that I use, then I called my PM doctor and explained to them what happened so they knew I wasn't trying to scam them. I was just trying to get the pain meds to control my pain. They allowed it seeing as it's not an every month thing. Plus, all they had to do was call the pharmacy location that I have on my contract and confirm it. Now my pharmacy usually has what I need in stock each month. I hope you don't continue to have any more problems. Good luck!
Posted 1/8/2014 5:21 AM (GMT 0)
I've never had a problem getting the rest of a script of pain meds if the pharmacy runs out of meds and can only fill part of my script that day. They just give me what they have & I pay for the whole script (but on the bottle they cross out 30/30 and write 16/30, or whatever), and then I pick up the rest of what they "owe me" the next day, or whenever it comes in.

But this isn't the first time I've heard of someone here saying the opposite. Maybe it's just because I've always used a small pharmacy and everyone there knows me? I don't know. When I am at school sometimes I have to fill my prescription at a different pharmacy (one at school vs. at home). When that is the case, I try to alert the pharmacy a few days before so that they will have enough meds in stock for me when my script is due, seeing as I get a lot of pills and don't always fill my script there month after month. I know they appreciate the heads up. So I really don't know what they would do if they only had enough to fill part of the script.

Maybe the laws vary by state?

Skeye
Posted 1/8/2014 6:51 PM (GMT 0)
This is all very interesting to me. I live in Canada and have never had a problem with splitting scripts if they didn't have enough to fill the whole thing at first. They just cross out the amount and put what they did give me and then call me when the rest is in. I can also call them when I need my refills and tell them I only want two weeks worth or whatever. I guess the laws are all different. I would really hate only getting some of my pills and then not be able to get the remainder. I really hope this gets straightened out.
Posted 1/11/2014 1:22 AM (GMT 0)
I've always been told when my pharmacy is short on my meds... that if I were to fill a CII script partially, I would lose the remainder of the script and would have to get a new one for the remaineder from my doc.

So I think how much info you get, really depends on your relationship with that particular pharmacy. Sad, but true.

My general rule of thumb is to always ask questions. If I don't understand a particular policy, I ask. If I'm curious about anything, I ask.

It seems to serve me well, when dealing with both my doc and the pharmacy. I've been told multiple times "I appreciate that you're willing to take such an active role in your care". Which at first seemed silly to me, but I guess some people really just don't take an interest.
Posted 1/11/2014 7:02 AM (GMT 0)
www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/21cfr/cfr/1306/1306_13.htm

"The remaining portion of the prescription may be filled within 72 hours of the first partial filling; however, if the remaining portion is not or cannot be filled within the 72-hour period, the pharmacist shall notify the prescribing individual practitioner. No further quantity may be supplied beyond 72 hours without a new prescription"
Posted 1/11/2014 1:33 PM (GMT 0)
Tina,

Thank you for that info! I was completely unaware of that, and more importantly, that is most definitely not the impression any pharmacist has ever given me in the past.

Good to know.


M.
Posted 1/11/2014 7:03 PM (GMT 0)
If it's a Schedule III med, they sometimes will charge your insurance company for the whole amount because when it comes in, the rx can be completed. But, when it is a Schedule II, if something happens and they don't get the med it within 72 hrs, it can't be filled. If you have to get a partial on a Schedule II med, you need to take or mail the proof of the amount of you actually go to the drs office before contacting them and asking for the difference in a new rx. Put a note in the envelope and ask the drs office to put the pharmacy receipt in you medical records.
Posted 1/12/2014 9:45 AM (GMT 0)
Most pharmacys's can't insure the 72hrs rule . They place orders but have no control over what comes in especially lately with all the problem getting schedule meds . Some don't bother filling partials for that reason .They're going to have to have you get a new script and notify the Dr and and the insurance deal if they happened to bill for the entire script and.

Let's face it not too many pharmacys these days take enough interest in anyone filling schedule meds to bother doing all that for us. Easier to say no.
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