Walgreens customers be warned!!

Walgreens was fined 80 million dollars for risky and unsavory dispensing practices and implemented a new "secret criteria checklist " they were told NOT to disclose to customer's and Drs. IT now is in effect and don't be surprised when you are denied your meds and from that point you will be flagged in all 8003 Walgreen pharmacies across the nation and a form submitted to the DEA stating their refusal to fill class II meds for you.

This is not a joke and is a serious kick to chronic pain patients in every state.

You can read a copy of the secret criteria that an anonymous rph who happens to also be a CPer released to channel 13 WTHN news in Indiana by googling walgreens secret checklist or searching the news site.

Some of the criteria are as follows: state federal id
Close geographical proximity between Dr,pharmacy,residence
New prescription, New Dr, New dose
Does the dose reach maximum recommended of 120 pills
Is it less then 30 days attempt at filling early
Is this a medication that has exceeded 6 month's( keep in mind we are talking class2 chronic pain meds,
Is there other meds being filled that meets standard of care for the diagnosis

People this is by far one of they most ridiculous regulation or rule and policy implemented and it violates so many civil rights must less moral codes its sickening.

I will tell you where to file a complaint,but first will tell you an example of the absurdity of this.


MS Contin script 15 mgs 4 times a day,no bt meds, so 120 pills,RED FLAG
Pass a total of 4 other pharmacy in the 5 miles between Dr office and home to get to mine ,the others do NOT carry MS C and 2 do NOT accept part D carrier, RED FLAG
Been on this med for a year but methadone 12 yrs prior, RED FLAG
Wasn't picking up volt gel or pills ,fill 6 huge tubes at once 3 months earlier,pills are on 2 months off 2 as its contraindicated in GERD,too dangerous. Only take flexeril prn and don't need following injection of cortisone/lidocaine sometimes month's. RED FLAG

I have been filling at Walgreens 15 yrs,this Walgreens almost 6 ,same one and only Dr for 6 yrs. They refused my meds,can never fill a narcotic again at Walgreens anywhere, and filling anywhere else is out of the question since the first thing that they ask is where have you been filling it. They are only allowed to order and have onhand a limited number of all narcotics and reserve those for established regular customers.

Just like that Walgreens made the decision that would cost me my pain management,turn my life upside down and no recourse and didn't even have to explain why and didn't.

My Dr is at whits end trying everything,he called and asked which#$@+# I spoke to at the Walgreens?? It was funny if you knew him he never curses or raises his voice. Lol

He tried writing hydrocodone,not one pharmacy would fill the 120 because of their own patients and one offered to see if my Dr would ok 24 tablets,their emergency amounts they allow for ER prescribed.

At this point I have NO meds after tomorrow and so far we haven't figured out exactly what to do. I have a different primary then I had thanks to insurance, then the one who wrote the butrans when I got off the methadone and I'm not sure he will do it since I have never seen him.

My PM is trying to figure out if he can do subutex since at least I won't be sick on top of pain.

If you want to file a complaint,if you want to find out which congressmen has CPers backs and DO not support this craziness that's leaving people in pain to suffer needlessly or you are interested in ways to become an advocate for CP issues go to www.aapainmanage.org/advocacy and we can make a difference if our voices are loud enough to be heard.

How much and how many more hits can we take? How much power are we going to give RPHs in our healthcare? How many deaths from not having entire medical histories on hand when they assume the role of our physician,before they figure out this was a mistake allowing them to treat patients?

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Vickie
CHRONIC PAIN MODERATOR


Knowing when to walk away is WISDOM
Being able to is COURAGE

I'm confused....there is NO other place to get your meds filled?
I don't guess I'm following the post well, but I do know that getting our meds filled is getting harder and harder!! I hope something works out for you.

could your dr call an alternate pharmacy explaining the situation and then they may agree to order your meds for you? I am in the process of moving from CVS (only chose it because it is 24 hour and medicaid locks in CP patients to one only). I just explained my situation to a smaller privatly owned pharmacy and they agreed they would fill from my Pain Dr and order the meds prescribed when a script is brought after calling to verify the first time I use them, after that they would glad to be my pharmacy....just and idea?

I hate all this a CPer has to go through.

Post Edited (AngMichelle) : 11/4/2014 2:40:51 PM (GMT-7)

Ang you said it yourself when you stated the obvious. I've been locked in at Walgreens because I have been filling there 12-13 yrs and never anywhere else. Like I said as well the few mom and Pop places have long time customers they fill for and being limited by the number of narcotics they are allowed filling for a new customer would cause a regular one to not have their meds available to them. I understand that and this is Florida and the grocery pharmacies, Walmart, department stores do not order or stock scheduled II Meds at all for anyone leaving me with a few CVS and a boatload of Walgreens. There's no Rite-Aid or Costco here and our one Kmart nolonger has a pharmacy, it's closed. I checked the hospital pharmacy and they don't fill outside scripts or rather it's not open to the public.

Laura as I said above this is Central Florida and its a National policy for Walgreens now because of the 80 million in fine's they got but hey for a billions plus business whats 80 million? To a healthcare affiliate that is obviously all about profit and gain, whats a few human beings suffering?

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Vickie
CHRONIC PAIN MODERATOR


Knowing when to walk away is WISDOM
Being able to is COURAGE

Oh no Vicki. I'm sorry that you are having to deal with those idiots. I got a letter from Univera earlier this year that they were no longer working with Walgreens. Now I understand. I use Rite-Aid, so it didn't affect me. I hope and pray that you and your doctor can get this straightened out really soon.

love and hugs
Loretta

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Dx: osteoarthritis, bursitis in left hip, Osteoarthrits in right hip, compression fracture in thoracic spine due to falling on frozen ground March 2001 , ddd, spinal stenosis, bone spurs, osteoarthritis in spine, osteoarthritis in both knees

Hey Vickie...Just checking in to see if you've gotten any good news?

I love shopping at Walgreen's, but I don't use them for my pharmacy.  I use a local hometown "drug store"...Does anyone remember those...greeting cards and all...I digress.

Fingers crossed for ya

HUGS~~Dixie

That is crazy.

I have to ask.Why would anyone do business with them.

Maybe living in Gadsden,AL has put me in a Bubble.

There are 3-4 Wallgreen's,4 CVS's,Walmart and everything in between.

But there are close to 10 locally owned Pharmacies that I've used throughout the years.I know someone,personally,in almost all of them.

I use a family owned one a mile from my house.Grandather(retired),Mother,Daughter Pharmacists.

They couldn't be any nicer or more helpful.

I wish everyone here got treated a lot nicer.

I feel like the Doctors and the Pharmacists work for us.

The one's of us lucky enough to have Drug Insurance.Look at the money the Pharmacy takes in a month,a year,from your business.

I have 9 monthly prescriptions.

My PMD writes me 120 HydroMorphone a month.

I've got to go to my PMD at 9am for a Nerve Test.I'm going to ask the girl there.

Hope y'all have a low pain day.

God Bless,

Rick

edit:I'm sorry you're stuck there.

I just have to think that a Small Pharmacy would want your business Vickie.

I feel like I did my part putting my Pharmacist's daughter through College.Now the daughter is my Pharmacist.Unless I move,for the rest of my life.

I wish you the best.

Rick

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53 yr old male.SSDI since 2009.Bulges at L5-S1,L5-L4,L4-L3,L3-L2.Spinal Stenosus,DDD,Arthritis,Degenerative Rt. knee,Scoped x2.Assorted Meds .

Post Edited (tidalmouse) : 11/5/2014 4:15:33 AM (GMT-7)

Thanks for the update, Vickie.  You are blessed to have your doctor as an advocate.  So many IME are not willing to do so.  I hope that today brings resolution...and refills=)

Hugs~~Dixie

I'm OK for the moment, wasn't completely out since I didn't always take as much as I could so using what I have as more or less rescue meds if I get in a hole and can't get my pain under control using other means, the butrans not going to let me get too sick and after the sheer hades coming off methadone this will be a walk in the park. This just is not long term so have to try to figure it out.

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Vickie
CHRONIC PAIN MODERATOR


Knowing when to walk away is WISDOM
Being able to is COURAGE

Personally I'm just glad that Walgreens doesn't take my insurance!

jpjr50 said...
I only get my Percocet 10/325 filled at my local Walgreens for the past 6 months. So you think they won't fill in on November 12th?
Why the hell do they put us through this garbage?

JP, I'd go in there before you need it filled (like, now) and tell them you'll be bringing it in soon and hopefully they'll be able to fill it for you.

I only use Walgreens for one med, the other I get through a Ma & Pa Pharmacy next to my PM Dr. office. They can't fill it because they only get a certain amount per week and them being next o the Dr. office they are completely out in a few hours. My other meds are Fentanyl, Nucynta and Soma which I can get there no problem. It's my BT meds which I need the most is always the issue. If I can't get it through Walgreens I don't know where to go then. Should I have my PM Dr write a different script? I'm not sure what over BT med I can get filled without hassle.

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Neck C5 Fusion Surgery and Migraine Sufferer. Need C4 & C6 Fusion Surgery soon.

Well this is great. It seems I'm being pushed to surgery more and more after getting treated like this. I thought it would come to this but not so soon. My last resort is surgery and if I'm going to suffer without meds than my option window has opened. My wife wanted to start looking for a surgeon in 2015 and I'm on board as I guess God doesn't want me on meds anymore. Only way I can explain it getting meds has been so difficult this past year.

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Neck C5 Fusion Surgery and Migraine Sufferer. Need C4 & C6 Fusion Surgery soon.

At the rate they're going T we will have to have them cram a weeks worth in one pill and then we only need 4 pills, ya think that will satisfy them?

To answer your question though it can very state to state even though DEA guidelines say 30 days supply or 120 doses whichever is less with the exception of people with CA, chronic intractable pain and MS however someone forgot to include that in some pharmacy guides since they obviously don't know the exceptions or don't care! I'm sure a few read it and a few more may still be hanging on to some of the compassion that pushed them into a medical field but the majority feel that 120 doses is all we need and then som.

IIt's getting to be a real joke here in Florida because so far the only ones not getting drugs are the real deals, plenty still on the street.. they don't play by the rules anyway and using two different pharmacys to save money is No issue for them since they can sell a couple $40 pills to pay for the others.

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Vickie
CHRONIC PAIN MODERATOR


Knowing when to walk away is WISDOM
Being able to is COURAGE