When the doctor is away......

D

Disgustedman

Senior Member
So. I hit Safeway to reorder my rescue inhaler. "This prescription had expired, we'll contact the doctor to reauthorize it"

2 days later, no reauthorization. I call clinic "She's on vacation" (Oh hells bells) "Can someone look into this and authorize it?"

So far, no responses......damnit
 

Life is sure getting more and more complex. You are being brain washed into thinking that all this modern technology and all these gadgets is going to make your life easier and better. Ha, ha!

Try being a Canadian, sitting at the airport in Cancun, Mexico and trying to get home; then you'll find out how "wonderful" modern technology is!
 
Disgustedman said:
So. I hit Safeway to reorder my rescue inhaler. "This prescription had expired, we'll contact the doctor to reauthorize it"

2 days later, no reauthorization. I call clinic "She's on vacation" (Oh hells bells) "Can someone look into this and authorize it?"

So far, no responses......damnit
Click to expand...
If this is a totally private practice, you have a problem. If it is attached to a healthcare system or hospital, call the Patient Services number. You will get your refill authorized. As long as they are able to see in your records that you saw your doctor within the past year, you should be good.
 
Here's what they have listed under Patient Services on the website of our local healthcare system/hospital:

"Parking, Valet Service and Electr. Car Charging Stations
WiFi
Patient Nutrition
The Cafe
Volunteer Patient Ambassadors
The Gift Shop
Family Lounges
Meditation Room
eGreetings
Libraries
Visiting this town"

Looks like the closest thing there to getting a refill authorized might be the "Volunteer Patient Ambassadors", so I pulled that up, but nope: "Volunteers are available to support patients. They provide conversation, read, play games and offer pleasant diversions."

So I don't know where else to look.
 
This is an excerpt from an article on ScriptSave WellRx.

How to Get an Emergency Prescription Refill (read the entire article) > https://www.wellrx.com/news/how-to-get-an-emergency-prescription-refill/

"Obtaining an Emergency Supply of Your Medication

The best thing to do when you realize you’re going to run out of medication is call your doctor. They may be willing to contact the pharmacy of your choice so you can get a prescription filled there. Even if it’s after-hours, call anyway and leave a message explaining the situation.

If you cannot get in touch with your doctor or you are in immediate need of your medication, go to a nearby pharmacy and tell them you need an emergency supply. You may be required to provide proof of your Rx, so bring your prescription bottle with you. If the pharmacist determines that going without the drug will endanger your health or wellbeing, they are able to dispense an emergency 72-hour (three-day) supply.

Another option is to go to an urgent care clinic. A doctor there may write you a prescription for a one-time dose to hold you over until you can get in touch with your primary care physician.

Medications Eligible for Emergency Supply

Keep in mind that the pharmacist will only dispense an emergency supply if they determine that your health will be harmed by going without the medication. This is usually the case with medications for chronic illnesses and life-threatening conditions like high blood pressure or seizures.

Laws about emergency prescription refills vary by state. Some states only allow emergency prescriptions to be dispensed during a state of emergency and/or natural disaster. Many states also have regulations about dispensing an emergency supply of Schedule II drugs and other substances with a high potential for abuse."
 
Kika said:
Hmmm, yes that's a tough one.
@Bella has a better solution. I do know that pharmacists in NY are permitted to give you a 3 day supply of a non-narcotic prescription in a case like this.
However, rescue inhalers come in a 30 day supply. I don't know how that would work.
Click to expand...
State laws differ. If he goes this route, maybe we'll find out. It seems to me that @Disgustedman qualifies for an emergency medication refill because his health could indeed be harmed if he didn't have his inhaler. It ain't called a "rescue" inhaler for nothin', right? If it only comes in a 30-day supply, that's what they'd have to dispense.
 
Packerjohn said:
Life is sure getting more and more complex. You are being brain washed into thinking that all this modern technology and all these gadgets is going to make your life easier and better. Ha, ha!

Try being a Canadian, sitting at the airport in Cancun, Mexico and trying to get home; then you'll find out how "wonderful" modern technology is!
Click to expand...
No, I find gasping for breath not something that's trivial.
 
Bella said:
This is an excerpt from an article on ScriptSave WellRx.

How to Get an Emergency Prescription Refill (read the entire article) > https://www.wellrx.com/news/how-to-get-an-emergency-prescription-refill/

"Obtaining an Emergency Supply of Your Medication

The best thing to do when you realize you’re going to run out of medication is call your doctor. They may be willing to contact the pharmacy of your choice so you can get a prescription filled there. Even if it’s after-hours, call anyway and leave a message explaining the situation.

If you cannot get in touch with your doctor or you are in immediate need of your medication, go to a nearby pharmacy and tell them you need an emergency supply. You may be required to provide proof of your Rx, so bring your prescription bottle with you. If the pharmacist determines that going without the drug will endanger your health or wellbeing, they are able to dispense an emergency 72-hour (three-day) supply.

Another option is to go to an urgent care clinic. A doctor there may write you a prescription for a one-time dose to hold you over until you can get in touch with your primary care physician.

Medications Eligible for Emergency Supply

Keep in mind that the pharmacist will only dispense an emergency supply if they determine that your health will be harmed by going without the medication. This is usually the case with medications for chronic illnesses and life-threatening conditions like high blood pressure or seizures.

Laws about emergency prescription refills vary by state. Some states only allow emergency prescriptions to be dispensed during a state of emergency and/or natural disaster. Many states also have regulations about dispensing an emergency supply of Schedule II drugs and other substances with a high potential for abuse."
Click to expand...
Problem is. They label the box, not the inhaler, so Rx wise I'm clueless.
 
Bella said:
This is an excerpt from an article on ScriptSave WellRx.

How to Get an Emergency Prescription Refill (read the entire article) > https://www.wellrx.com/news/how-to-get-an-emergency-prescription-refill/

"Obtaining an Emergency Supply of Your Medication

The best thing to do when you realize you’re going to run out of medication is call your doctor. They may be willing to contact the pharmacy of your choice so you can get a prescription filled there. Even if it’s after-hours, call anyway and leave a message explaining the situation.

If you cannot get in touch with your doctor or you are in immediate need of your medication, go to a nearby pharmacy and tell them you need an emergency supply. You may be required to provide proof of your Rx, so bring your prescription bottle with you. If the pharmacist determines that going without the drug will endanger your health or wellbeing, they are able to dispense an emergency 72-hour (three-day) supply.

Another option is to go to an urgent care clinic. A doctor there may write you a prescription for a one-time dose to hold you over until you can get in touch with your primary care physician.

Medications Eligible for Emergency Supply

Keep in mind that the pharmacist will only dispense an emergency supply if they determine that your health will be harmed by going without the medication. This is usually the case with medications for chronic illnesses and life-threatening conditions like high blood pressure or seizures.

Laws about emergency prescription refills vary by state. Some states only allow emergency prescriptions to be dispensed during a state of emergency and/or natural disaster. Many states also have regulations about dispensing an emergency supply of Schedule II drugs and other substances with a high potential for abuse."
Click to expand...
Well THANK YOU. I called my healthcare network helpline. They said "There's still two available" (So I'm clueless as to "how was it expired?"

But they contacted the pharmacy to fill it today.

Thankyou Thankyou Thankyou Thankyou!!

This forum is quite useful.
 
Kika said:
I don't understand. you should not need the label from the box. The pharmacy has records, they know what you have been prescribed if you filled the prescription there.
Click to expand...
But I don't have the Rx number. And if you want refills (instead of calling, which they won't answer) you have to go through the online reorder.

The thing is, I needed someone to "Override" the "Expiration" that's what was needed. Now just hope they can do it today
 
Disgustedman said:
But I don't have the Rx number. And if you want refills (instead of calling, which they won't answer) you have to go through the online reorder.

The thing is, I needed someone to "Override" the "Expiration" that's what was needed. Now just hope they can do it today
Click to expand...
Oh, that makes sense. what a PITA!! I made my life easy by using an independent pharmacy. They do not have big automation, so it's personal service. The cost is the same or less than the chains. I have everything that I take on a daily basis on automatic refill, and just have to call if I don't need something. And a REAL person answers the phone!!! Yay!

So glad you were able to get what you need.
 
FOLLOW UP ON CALL.

They lied. Yes, the person who took my call, assured me the authorization was done, lied to me.

I went to Safeway, and stopped by the pharmacy to see when it might be ready "We haven't gotten any calls from the doctor or the healthcare agency"

Well, now I have a complaint in with my healthcare agency, no obscene language, but from now on I record all calls as I want names to have to come back on.

I did tell them "No apology can fix what your worker did. From now on, don't lie, be honest"

If they'd said "Gee, we're sorry, but the doctor has to renew it" I can accept that. But to do what they did.......I'm debating if changing healthcare agency isn't a better option.
 
I go to a family practice, if my doctor is not available the other's step into see patients, handle prescription needs. And yes my pharmacy does give an emergency supply if needed until they can get it cleared up with the doctor or practice.
 
Kika said:
I made my life easy by using an independent pharmacy. They do not have big automation, so it's personal service. The cost is the same or less than the chains.
Click to expand...
I don't think there are any independent pharmacies left around here but even if there were, our health insurance pays the best by far--we're talking a diff. of at least $200/year--for us using one and one only, large-chain pharmacy. (Oh, or we can order our prescriptions by mail so they can sit out in our hot mailbox in 100-degree weather or maybe get stolen since there's so much mailbox theft around here.) I wish the ins. co. wasn't that way but at least we've got insurance; so many people unfortunately don't.
 
officerripley said:
I don't think there are any independent pharmacies left around here but even if there were, our health insurance pays the best by far--we're talking a diff. of at least $200/year--for us using one and one only, large-chain pharmacy. (Oh, or we can order our prescriptions by mail so they can sit out in our hot mailbox in 100-degree weather or maybe get stolen since there's so much mailbox theft around here.) I wish the ins. co. wasn't that way but at least we've got insurance; so many people unfortunately don't.
Click to expand...
You are right, we that have insurance really are fortunate. What is sad overall, is that the insurance companies are practicing medicine. I guess because they pay the bills, they are entitled.

My son had a shoulder injury over christmas weekend. It took until yesterday for the insurance to approve seeing an orthopedic surgeon. The ER X-rayed it and gave him a sling, and a prescription for a high dose motrin. He will need surgery, but since it is not life threatening, he has to go through the approval process.
Surgical consult appointment is the second week of February. Horrendous!
 
Well....... I'm......um.....going to find out what happened maybe.......5 min ago. I got this.

Safeway Rx: RX READY

Rx ALBUTEROL 108MCG/A AER HIKM is filled and ready for pick-up at SAFEWAY

Amount due is $0.00.

I got to the pharmacy (open till 8 pm) and she confirmed that the MD who oversees all NP's called it in. So either they heard my recording I left (Now three days+ ago) or my nasty note to my healthcare got them calling the doctor.

Well, in any case, I have it now. Going to make a appointment to see the NP anyway and get everything up to date and accounted.

It still shows no refills, so this was simply an "override" then.
 
Word to the wise - don't wait until a renewable Rx is about to expire, contact your doctor to renew early. Out here we can write to the Doc online or text and his assistants will see to it that he gets the message. I have an Rx for breathing that is very necessary. I contact the Doc at least a month ahead to let them know it's due for renewal
 
Raddragn said:
Word to the wise - don't wait until a renewable Rx is about to expire, contact your doctor to renew early. Out here we can write to the Doc online or text and his assistants will see to it that he gets the message. I have an Rx for breathing that is very necessary. I contact the Doc at least a month ahead to let them know it's due for renewal
Click to expand...
I didn't know it had expired. Unlike Walmart, who shows how many are left and dates.
 

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