Anyone use a mail order pharmacy?

[disneyfor3boys]

Hi there. Haven't posted on here for a while, but just had to get in on this one.

Yes, I work in a pharmacy (tech, not a pharmacist).

My big concern is not bottom dollar for the pharmacy, but for the best care for the patient.

Many, many times there are serious interactions from taking multiple precriptions. I know of some "innocent antibiotics" that can cause serious health problems for folks on cholesterol meds. Birth control pills can lose effectiveness when combined with other antibiotics, etc...you get my point I'm sure...

It really is beneficial to see your patient face to face when filling a prescription. I know of several times a doc has written a med for a pregnant woman that was not recommended for use in pregnancy (very obvious that pt was preg...dr's are human too and make errors, and your pharmacist can be used as another "check" along the way). We've intervened many a time in various scenerios.

If a patient is getting "emergency" meds from their ER department filled at their local pharmacy, but regular meds from a mail order pharmacy (and family doc), no one really has a complete profile on that patient. This can prove very dangerous in many situations.

I agree that mail order pharmacies are less expensive short term, but if it causes bigger health concerns down the road, who really saves?

Insurance premiums are rising, benefits are decreasing, drug costs are increasing, and many patients have no choice but to opt for the mail order venue. I just wish patients had the choice... and in many cases they don't.

So, please, please, please, if you NEED to use mail order pharmacies, make sure both your local pharmacy AND mail order pharmacies have COMPLETE profiles to make informed decisions when filling your prescriptions.

Laurie

 

[iwaseeyore]

You mention costs going going up. Blame the drug companies and not the insurers for the cost of drugs. The US is the only country that can drug companies can pass R&D costs. And they get passed along for the world,

 

[Boots]

We do. DH's insurance won't pay anything on long term prescriptions anymore. So far no problems. Knock on wood!!! I still prefer doing mine at our local pharmacy, but I sure can't pay $400 a month since it is now only $55 every three months!

 

[katerkat]

Originally posted by disneyfor3boys
It really is beneficial to see your patient face to face when filling a prescription. I know of several times a doc has written a med for a pregnant woman that was not recommended for use in pregnancy (very obvious that pt was preg...dr's are human too and make errors, and your pharmacist can be used as another "check" along the way). We've intervened many a time in various scenerios.

Um, maybe it's just me and my docs, but I was told to NEVER take a medication without OKing it with my ob/gyn first. They were so strict about it that I'm afraid to take a Tyenol without calling her first!

We don't mail order, since everything is "free" on base, but as I recall, Tricare has gone to mail order for some vets & servicemen who live far from bases and can't drive there all the time to get prescriptions.

 

[DisMN]

Originally posted by ripleysmom

Better insurance, better schools.....hey there is something to be said for big city life.

Naw....we have excellent insurance in Minnesota and the schools are top notch even in the smaller communities and rural areas. :yes:

Big city life does offer a bigger variety of cultural programs, museums and entertainment, not to mention fabulous choices for your dining pleasure. That I DO envy but probably because I grew up in The Big City and moved to a small town so I miss the things that aren't as available to me here.

ITA with disneyfor3boys in that the primary concern should be for getting the best care for the patient, and sometimes it's just better to have some human to human interaction to make sure all questions are asked of the pharmacist and that there are no misunderstandings.

 

[mssocks]

I have had a very good experience with our optional mail order service. Truth be told, I tried it solely to save money. $20 for 3 months instead of $60 per prescription times 5 scripts. I had a good relationship with my pharmacy too. I love being able to renew and order on line, and earning those Disney Dream Reward Dollars as I go!

Here are the negatives I have to offer:
MailOrder - 2 of my scripts are controlled substances. They come in the mail. The carrier leaves them leaning against my front door. My therapist had a hissy fit when he heard that. Drugs have to be kept within certain temps and he felt the delivery services were not doing it. ( They come in a grey plastic bag - no packing )

Pharmacy - I needed a script filled. The usual cost was about $6 since it was generic. That is less than the copay - therefore that actual cost of the drug?? There was a screwup with the insurance and I had to pay as if I was a cash customer with no insurance. I was charged $15. I don't understand. With insurance, it was $6, but the pharmacy was not receiving any payment from the ins co. Without, again pharmacy only receives what I paid, $15. Made me feel terrible for my aunt who has no drug insurance at all. And spends $300 for one script, then can't take it and has to buy another.

I would prefer my pharmacy ( also can order on line so it will be ready when I get there ), but I just can't afford $100 a month copay against $33.

Plus by using mail order I can't buy a Twix bar on the way out!

 

[disneyfor3boys]

"Um, maybe it's just me and my docs, but I was told to NEVER take a medication without OKing it with my ob/gyn first. They were so strict about it that I'm afraid to take a Tyenol without calling her first!"

I'm very happy for you! You have taken a very pro-active stand in your own health care. Unfortunately, not everyone does this. First people that come to mind our senior citizens (no, I'm not suggesting our seniors become preg, on a reg. bases LOL). They don't always divulge their entire history to an ER dr, and the local pharmacy is often the one who discovers an interaction/duplicate therapy/prior health condition/allergy/etc. There are many patients who just believe because the dr wrote it in ink, it just has to be appropriate therapy. Some are intimidated by the dr and don't always ask appropriate questions.

Mail order pharmacies have the potential to work for educated, proactive, people like yourself who have uncomplicated medical files. But, that being said, the people who seek mail order are so often the patients with complicated medical files (therefore high costs) and are at most risk of potential problems.

Laurie

 

[disneyfor3boys]

You mention costs going going up. Blame the drug companies and not the insurers for the cost of drugs. The US is the only country that can drug companies can pass R&D costs. And they get passed along for the world,

I agree. However, don't forget it's the drug companies that are responsible for developing new drugs, and they must be compenstated for their research as well. Are they over-compensated? Probably. Unfortunately, we do have a problem with rising insurance costs here in Canada. It's not just medical insurance however. It also includes house/car/etc.

 

[ripleysmom]

"Naw....we have excellent insurance in Minnesota and the schools are top notch even in the smaller communities and rural areas."

You are very fortunate then. CJMM, however, can speak to the areas where the health insurance and school systems are not as top notch as yours.

 

[LindaG4458]

We are not required to use a mail-in prescription service but the insurance company gives great financial incentives to do so. We just got a box with 8 renewals in it, 90 days each, and the total bill was $216.71. At the pharmacy it would have been three times that much. Couple that with the "you can't renew that one until next Tuesday" and it is so much easier for maintenance drugs to use mailorder. We can renew prescriptions after 45 days so it is easy to build up a supply for travelling.

I do use the local CVS for occassional prescriptions, but mail order is easier for the regular stuff. Been using it for years and never had a problem.