Rant: Prescriptions

[planet planet]

Everyone knows picking up prescriptions are kind of a pain in the ass, but today I go to Walgreen's clinic for pinkeye. The guy prescribed me some Tier 4 (insurance terms) eyedrops and when I come back it's $200 co-pay. My co-pay is $15. So I have to leave, call my insurance just to be given Tier 1 alternatives. Have to go back there, get a new prescription and wait another 45 min. for that to be filled. I'd say the whole ordeal took a good 3-4 hours. Why would the guy originally prescribe the expensive drug for pinkeye? Who's paying that?

[Joe Shlabotnik]

Everyone knows picking up prescriptions are kind of a pain in the ass, but today I go to Walgreen's clinic for pinkeye. The guy prescribed me some Tier 4 (insurance terms) eyedrops and when I come back it's $200 co-pay. My co-pay is $15. So I have to leave, call my insurance just to be given Tier 1 alternatives. Have to go back there, get a new prescription and wait another 45 min. for that to be filled. I'd say the whole ordeal took a good 3-4 hours. Why would the guy originally prescribe the expensive drug for pinkeye? Who's paying that?

That drug company rep with the legs up to here gave him a happy ending last time through.

[Molly]

The drug company will tell you it's the fault of the insurance company and vice versa. I took a script to Schnucks not realizing I did not have my insurance card with me. $400. F that; went home, got insurance card $8.00.

[Tim]

Everyone knows picking up prescriptions are kind of a pain in the ass, but today I go to Walgreen's clinic for pinkeye. The guy prescribed me some Tier 4 (insurance terms) eyedrops and when I come back it's $200 co-pay. My co-pay is $15. So I have to leave, call my insurance just to be given Tier 1 alternatives. Have to go back there, get a new prescription and wait another 45 min. for that to be filled. I'd say the whole ordeal took a good 3-4 hours. Why would the guy originally prescribe the expensive drug for pinkeye? Who's paying that?

Believe it or not, doctors do not have every insurance prescription coverage program memorized and may not know that the drug prescribed to you was not in your cheaper tier. They don't go to 4 years of med school and 3-7 years of residency to memorize insurance programs. Sorry.

[Radbird]

There should be somebody working for the doctor who does know trivial BS like that.

[Molly]

What I got out of the complaint was why start with the high cost name brand instead of the generic. Most scripts have a generic alternative. Even 7 years of residency does not prevent someone from checking a line that says "generic alternative acceptable."

[Tim]

What I got out of the complaint was why start with the high cost name brand instead of the generic. Most scripts have a generic alternative. Even 7 years of residency does not prevent someone from checking a line that says "generic alternative acceptable."

Generics only come out 7 years after its FDA approved. Also, you may not want to take generics of some meds i.e. Synthroid.

[Tim]

Some generics are not as efficacious as the brand name.

Also, take Latuda for example. There isn't a generic available because it is newer, yet it's the only category B antipsychotic --- only antipsychotic that may keep me from getting sued if I give it to a pregnant female.

I wish it were black and white. Many times it isn't.

[Swirls]

Some generics are not as efficacious as the brand name.

Also, take Latuda for example. There isn't a generic available because it is newer, yet it's the only category B antipsychotic --- only antipsychotic that may keep me from getting sued if I give it to a pregnant female.

I wish it were black and white. Many times it isn't.

Wouldn't it be the prescribing doctor who would be sued, not you as the pharmacist for filling the prescription?

It's been several years since I've needed to get a prescription filled - do pharmacists/assistants ask a boatload of questions before filling prescriptions? I thought they just compare ID/DOB to the script that was sent in?

[Fat_Bulldog]

Wash your hands, planet.