Re: MAJOR C2 pharmacy f*** up...what to do?

"CatEyes" <CatEyes@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
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"Loose Cannon" <lambchop.lc@xxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
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I've been having trouble getting my break through meds approved by
Medi-Cal the past few days, never having them denied before, so I called
and found out why they were being rejected, and I am SHOCKED at the
reason. It shows a level of incompetence by my pharmacy that leaves me
dumbfounded and don't know how to handle it. Call the pharmacy board and
report them? Let it go and ignore that it happened? I'm really unsure
what to do.

Let me explain:The directions on my Schedule 2 break through meds read
"1-2 every 3 hours for breakthrough pain."

Last time I got them filled, without me noticing it, they were written as
"1 every 3 hours for breakthrough pain."

I always double, triple & quadruple check my written scripts, so I know
those weren't to blame, and have since verified it because the pharmacy
sheepishly admitted that, no, I do not have to call the doctor to get him
to fix it. They made the mistake. Twice now. First during the last
fill and this time again reporting it wrong, but also making it look like
I was asking for an early fill. The state is saying they don't even know
if they can go in and alter their records from the last fill, but I think
they will have to if faxed proof of it being the pharmacy's mistake.
They can't have the wrong info in there and hold me to it when neither me
or the doc made any mistake on this!

This is a long time pharmacy of mine. 18+ years, through a hand full of
head pharmacists and countless clerks. But misreporting Schedule 2
instructions TWICE IN A ROW, both in transcribing it for my label and
pharmacy records, plus sending this info to Medi-Cal, is gross
incompetence.

What would you guys do?


Stupidity never surprises me - especially in bureaucrats "just following
instructions" and never taking the imitative to change a mistake in a
computer (you know the old GIGO factor - garbage in, garbage out).

Three months ago I got a prescription for my Fentanyl and went to a
different pharmacy (a little "hole in the wall" place my PM doctor's PA
recommended). They gave me the ones made by Sandoz. After only a couple
of days on them I knew I wouldn't be able to take them - not only did the
adhesive cause me to breakout in a rash, but the "delivery system" of the
patches was unreliable to say the least). I called my doctor's office and
was told to bring in the remaining doses and they would write me out
another 'script for me to take to CVS to get my usually brand. Now I know
some people hate the big pharmacy chains, but this CVS I go to is right in
the middle of my community - everyone there knows my name, what
medications I'm taking, and they give me a "heads up" on OTC meds that
might interact with my prescribed medications. They even called, without
prompt, to let me know that my upcoming prescription of my meds was not in
stock and would not be for some time to come. Whenever I get a new
prescription, for something I haven't take before, I'll call and they'll
let me know whether or not they have it in sufficient quantities to fill
my 'script (my doctor was floored by this revelation, but I took it for
granted because I've been using them for so long every pharmacist and tech
know my voice on the phone before I can identify myself).

Anyway, when I took the new 'script to my pharmacist, my insurance company
said it wouldn't be covered for almost four weeks (because that is what
they paid for the same medication). The pharmacist tech, bless her heart,
called and argued with them for an hour before she finally got them to
approve the script (now, since I had to bring the leftovers to my doctor's
office, she had no way of knowing whether or not I'd REALLY given up those
drugs or not, but because she's been knowing me for so long she didn't
even consider the idea that I might be lying to her).

So, you'd think the mistake would be cleared up. But the next month I
brought in the script (30 days after I got the last one filled), the
insurance again denied the order and wanted me to wait for almost another
4 weeks. Again, the tech went to bat for me (BTW, I sent her a nice thank
you note and small gift of some stationary for all her efforts on my
behalf - the text said "Don't say it was nothing, it was *EVERYTHING* to
me"). So, again, things should have been all straightened out, right?
Except...

A month later (well, you know the story now). I called my insurance
company AGAIN and asked them what the heck was going on, and could they
PLEASE update their records in their computer. They said no, they
couldn't do that. I asked them if we would have to go through this
process every single time I got the prescription and the lady who answered
just said "yes"!!! She didn't even sound like she felt regretful over this
error and embarrassed by their inability to fix it. She sounded like she
was answering the question, "do you think the sun will rise in the
morning"? So my poor, beleaguered friend at the pharmacy has to call in
and argue with my insurance company every single time this prescription is
handed in. This on top of the enormous work-load they have to bear (I am
not, by far, the only one in my community who loves dealing with this
particular pharmacy (and I'm not saying that all CVS pharmacies are the
same - there is another just down the street whom I would never
patronize).

So, as I always say, you can NEVER overestimate the amount of stupidity of
98% of our population (with some industries having more than their fair
share of some of them.

Anyway, back to your question... I think I'd have to consider changing
pharmacies and have ALL your prescriptions moved over to them so you won't
have to deal with such mistakes in the future (these people either just
don't know or, more likely, just don't care how much agony they can put us
through with their "minor mistakes").

Hugs,

CatNipped

BTW, this is the same pharmacy that, when I counted my Ambien* when I got
home from having it filled and found it lacking 2 pills, told me to just
come on over and they would give me the missing pills - no questions asked.
Also, just minutes after I got home from having my Fentanyl patches filled,
the pharmacist called to tell me that they had shorted me a box (she found
it on the floor, half-way under the counter) and profusely apologized for
her mistake.

Upshot of the story, I *LURRRRVE* my pharmacy, but hate my insurance
company.

* It's probably the OCD kicking in, but I *always* count my pills when I get
home and then every few days after that just to keep track of and on top of
my supply and how long it needs to last. Those were the only two mistake
I've ever found, and I've never run out of pain medication between visits,
but OCD is what it is and sometimes it's just easier to give in to the
compulsion than it is to fight it and feel anxious all the time.

Hugs,

CatNipped


.

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