A Small Rant about RX Home Delivery...

[peg2001]

Where are people going that they get "personal" service at the pharmacy?!? We receive plenty of hassle but no personal service at the B&M pharmacies with the ill-trained and overworked pharmacy techs. We go to the same place with each perscription but they do not know us. It's a different tech each time.

We have never received personal counciling from the pharmacist. They just shove the clipboard at us and have us sign that we had or that we turned counciling down.

As for regular pet meds, it's mail order all the way. The difference in cost is tremendous. Our vet asked us what we were paying to mail order as she might be able to match it. When we brought in the catalog, she told us to continue mail ordering because the price was less than SHE paid. We've had as many as 7 dogs and cats at a time so the savings are significant.

Peggy

 

[CJMickeyMouse]

Originally posted by always quiet
The only time it takes about 2 weeks to fill an order is when it is the initial prescription. In that case, we have the doctor give him 2 scripts. One for a 30 day supply to be filled locally and the other for the 90 day.

The problem is.... (as I believe Doc Rafiki said earlier), eventually the place you are filling the 30 day scrip locally will be run out of business. Then what?

 

[my3kids]

Our insurance also has a mail order pharmacy, but they also negotiated with local drug stores to fill prescriptions at the same rates. One independant signed on with the drug plan, agreeing to accept what the insurance company dictated. Another did not. I like using local merchants and prefer it to national chains or mail order, when reasonable. I get everything filled at our local, independantly owned pharmacy and pay what I would have for mail order. I've done the mail thing before....and I agree, once it is set up, it usually goes okay. The inital period is frustrating.

Speak to your employers and ask about local filling of 90 day supplies. It may be an additional benefit my DH's employer negotiated in the insurance bidding. If enough workers request it, perhaps local 90 day supplies could be written in the next health insurance contract.

 

[peg2001]

Originally posted by CJMickeyMouse
The problem is.... (as I believe Doc Rafiki said earlier), eventually the place you are filling the 30 day scrip locally will be run out of business. Then what?

That won't happen, IMHO. Mail order is only condusive to long-term maintenance drugs. Short-term scripts need to be filled locally.

Peggy

 

[CJMickeyMouse]

Originally posted by my3kids
Our insurance also has a mail order pharmacy, but they also negotiated with local drug stores to fill prescriptions at the same rates. One independant signed on with the drug plan, agreeing to accept what the insurance company dictated. Another did not. I like using local merchants and prefer it to national chains or mail order, when reasonable. I get everything filled at our local, independantly owned pharmacy and pay what I would have for mail order.

There are several insurance plans out there that pay very little above the acquisition cost of the meds. That is why they are turned down. If a pharmacy accepts all insurance cards, they will either go under really fast, or tap their cash paying customers to make up the difference. You may pay more for OTC as well. It all depends on the customer base - whether or not the pharmacy can survive.

Somebody has to pay for the bag, bottle, lights, heat, labor etc.

 

[CJMickeyMouse]

Originally posted by peg2001
That won't happen, IMHO. Mail order is only condusive to long-term maintenance drugs. Short-term scripts need to be filled locally.

Peggy

Again, it all depends on the customer base. If there are not enough short term scrips to keep the pharmacy running... then I guess everyone will just have to rely on Mr. Postman when they are sick.

 

[Dax]

Ok first off , I want to get one thing clear...

The I get what I pay for comment really ticked me off. I am getting the EXACT same medication that I would get from the local place, but I will be saving close to 300 a year doing it mail order. This is a lot of money to someone who doesnt have a lot of it to spend. I found that comment very rude. I wasnt buying some cheap generic from Mexico or something.

As for the many comments about mail order pushing locals out of business, it will never happen. Too many people still go to the local places. I still go to the local 24hr Walgreens for the meds I need right away, like the cough medicine and antibiotics. Its the mainteneance meds that I mail order. I also made the local pharmacy aware that I was on the B/C patch and they noted it to my info incase I was to get something filled.

The whole reason for my thread was mainly for the lack of communication from the RX comapany. It is run by my insurance, but I wasnt happy that they had everything fixed by the 21st, ans chose to not mail it out until the 30th.

 

[my3kids]

CJMickeyMouse: I'm not sure what you were saying? Are you implying it is wrong to use my insurance at my local pharmacy? I'd rather the people who live in my town make the profit, however small, than someone else. The local pharmacy signed onto the plan, and I am assuming my husband's employer might pay a little more for the privilege of employees keeping their business local instead of mail order. It is too bad insurance companies can dictate that much power over the medical system, but it seems that is here to stay. Things certainly have changed over the years. I'm thankful that the company now does allow us to use the neighborhood pharmacies. As I said, I did use the mail order when required. It was fine, but I feel better about the store down the street.

The amount of reimbursement really is astounding. I paid $15.00 for my flu shot and received the approved cost back as a check from my insurance company. The amount of the contractual amount for flu shots by my insuance company this year was $2.71. That is how much the doctor's offices in my plan made on each shot administered.

What are consumers to do? We pay for health insurance, and to not use it would be foolish. Pharmacies sign on to accept plans...if they didn't, they'd go out of business. Sounds like if they do, they might go out of business also.

What is right for our family is to keep going to our local store. If they charge more for Tylenol because they will fill 90 day prescriptions at a predetermined price, then I'll just pay more for Tylenol, I guess.

 

[Dan Murphy]

Just looked back on this as it still has a life here. I take four ongoing meds, one choslesterol, on thyroid, one arthritis and one diuretic, all from the mail order, all 90 day supplies. I pay the co-pay on each (significantly incresed the past 2 years from $5/12 to $20/40/60, but that is okay with me when I see the part I am notpaying ) and the ordering and delivery is flawless. I get an email from them reminding me about 6 weeks early that I need to reorder. I click a few times with the mouse and my scrips come in the mail about 5 days later, always. I have a doc/nurse/pharmacist I can email or call. When the one year scrip is up, I click and they call the doc to renew.

For short term needs, antibiotics and the like, the local guys, (chains--Walgreens, Osco, WalMart as no mom/pops anywhere that I know of) do an efficient, drive through job.

As for pet meds, only one we have is heart worm for Vince's doc, and the vet told us we would do best online, so we have.

All seems fine by us.

Oh, one more thing. When Marie was in chemo 5 years ago, she needed a shot post each chemo session, 5 shots, 8 sessions. If she went to doctor for the shots, the cost was $485 per shot (5X8=40X$485=$19,400). Our cost would have been $1,000. Mailorder, self administered, like an insulin shot, our cost was $20. And Marie was fine with it, worked flawlessly. Injection stuff was all sent, FedEx to house in strofoam cooler and dry ice, enough hypos, simple directions, 24 hour help if needed. System seems to work for us. And true, the mom and pop places do not exist any longer by us, but then again my doctor does not make house calls any longer either.

 

[always quiet]

AHHH!! I must of cursed myself, saying how the mail order program worked great for us! Just got a letter in the mail....they are changing my DH's prescription plan!! New mail order company (walgreens??) and now the co-pay is $20/50/90!! Geez, we used to pay $25 for 3 months (name brand), then it went to $30, then $40, and now, at least $50 as there is no generic for what he takes. I'm also going to have to get a hold of scripts for all his meds and mail them in.
God forbid, health insurance companies make life easy!!

Anyone have any experience with Walgreens prescription plan??
I called them and seeing how the policy doesn't start til tomorrow, they can't help me til then. All I wanted to know is whether DH's med is "Preferred" or "Nonpreferred"!!

 

[janette]

Originally posted by always quiet
Anyone have any experience with Walgreens prescription plan??

That is the mail-order we are using now. The coverage and co-pay is specified by the insurance company not the mail-order so it would depend on your plan. Each seem to have their own list of drugs they cover and at what rate.

They will allow a fax from the Drs office and that will get them there quicker. They also have a website that you can order refills on once you get them set up.

 

[anniet]

Originally posted by always quiet

God forbid, health insurance companies make life easy!!

They could make it easier for all, but that would result in a larger increase in your premium than you already got this year.

These drugs aren't free. They have to be paid for somehow. I work in healthcare sales and have former coworkers who have left here to sell for pharmaceutical companies where they increase their base salaries and commissions substantially. And why can a prescription drug that only your doctor can decide whether or not it is right for you be advertised on TV yet cigarettes that anyone of age can purchase can't be? Your insurance company is more than likely doing what they can to keep the costs of your premiums down for both you and your employer.

Until something is done to control the rate at which the cost for pharmaceuticals is increasing, you'll see higher RX copayments and higher health care premiums. And when your drug does come out with a generic, the brand will come out with a "new and improved" version that your doc will prescribe that will have you paying the higher copay again.

It's a mess.

 

[always quiet]

...Hopefully, within the next couple months, DH will be off this medication NEVER to need it again!!

 

[CJMickeyMouse]

Originally posted by my3kids
CJMickeyMouse: I'm not sure what you were saying? Are you implying it is wrong to use my insurance at my local pharmacy?


What is right for our family is to keep going to our local store.

NO NO NO! LOL!

IMO, it is great for you to use your local pharmacy!! I was just trying to explain why one accepted it and one did not... it's likely that the reimbursement rate is low.

When you go to your local store, you do your part to try to keep that store alive and well in your community.

Sorry if I was unclear!

 

[my3kids]

Thanks, CJ. I just wasn't sure!

 

[CJMickeyMouse]

Originally posted by anniet


Until something is done to control the rate at which the cost for pharmaceuticals is increasing, you'll see higher RX copayments and higher health care premiums. And when your drug does come out with a generic, the brand will come out with a "new and improved" version that your doc will prescribe that will have you paying the higher copay again.

It's a mess.

EXACTLY! As well as higher cash prices for those without insurance. Our acquisition price goes up, insurance/welfare payment goes down....... It's a mess is right!

Lucky for our patients, the doctors in our area are very willing to work with us to reduce customer out of pocket by using generics and OTC products whenever possible.

This is one advantage to being a 'mom and pop' in a rural area, it seems. We refuse to accept insurance that pays us nothing to fill a scrip. This keeps the cost down for our cash paying customers as well.

 

[cassie]

I have 3 maintence drugs and have been using mail order for 4 years now. Service has been outstanding, no shipping costs, and for every 90 day supply I only pay for 60. My co-pay is the same whether I use mail order or the local pharmacy. Why would I use local when I get a free month with mail order? That's a no brainer. I count every pill in the bottle when it arrives, and once I was short 5 pills in one. It seems stupid that I called them to report the shortage, but lately the news have reported on pharmacies shorting peoples prescriptions, so I felt it was right to call. No problem, they sent me the 5 short pills in 3 days.

As for pet meds....my dog is on Proin..for urinairy incontinance. Not expensive, a little over $8 a month which I bought from the vet. In one month the price jumped to $23!!! Almost tripled. They said the manufacture suddenly went up..Ya, I'll say. I asked for a prescription and now buy it online for the old price of $8.

 

[Bojangles]

Originally posted by cassie
I have 3 maintence drugs and have been using mail order for 4 years now. Service has been outstanding, no shipping costs, and for every 90 day supply I only pay for 60.

Our insurance company requires that we mail order maintenence drugs. Never had a problem. Prescription counseling? Is that the part where they staple the sheet of warnings to the paper bag?

Luckily our vet charges the same price for medications as the online places.

 

[DocRafiki]

OK, keep on buying your vet meds online. We are so tired of wasting our time explaining how they're inferior that we just gave in and will ok the Rx's w/no questions asked. Of course, or office visit fee went up 20% this year as well. But that's not your problem.

ETA: sorry for going a little OT here; we seem to have 2 separate issues being discussed here.

 

[cassie]

DocRafiki

Why do you say the online pet meds are inferior??