Re: Sharing RX medication to save $


tonywes...@xxxxxxxxx wrote:
> elgoog wrote:
> > Without a crooked doctor to write the script incorrectly, it would
> > never get past the Drug Utilization Review (DUR) alerts.
>
> Many medications have a sufficiently wide range of dosages to not
> trigger an alert. For instance, I take a BP med, avalide, (FYI, I'm
> not sharing it) and get 60 pills monthly. Going from 30 to 60 is
> within normal dosage.

True. But, in this case the person sharing half of their prescription
would be doing so only at the risk of their own health (i.e. they
receive only half of the prescription). This behavior might be more
common where the patient is conning the doctor for pain killers, or
some other drug that is being abused.

> > When the
> > pharmacy receives a script, they verify the prescription with the
> > prescribing doc,
>
> I'm sure mine doesn't. It just gets keyed into their computer. They
> get it wrong often enough.

It gets keyed into their computer and processed by the payer. The
pharmacist is supposed to validate the original prescription with the
doctor's office (it may be done electronically). Refills don't need to
be checked unless there is a change in dosage.

>
> > they enter the patient's insurance information, the
> > Rx, dose and prescribing provider's ID: the payer's claim payment
> > system would immediately detect the error, and the pharmacist would
> not
> > fill the Rx.
>
> > Either you have a crooked doctor, or a crooked pharmacist.
>
> You jump to an erroneous and dangerous conclusion. I did not say I
do
> this. I don't share my meds.

Neither. The familiar "you" was not intended to refer to you
personally. I apologize for my lack of clarity.

> > Why would
> > they risk their licenses, their practices, their livlihoods and
> > families for someone to save a $2 to $20 copay?
>
> For some people, a second $20 co-pay is the difference between
getting
> the presciption filled or going without.

Possibly correct. The copay system is designed to introduce an element
of patient responsibility without introducing undue financial burden. A
person who is not in need of cash assistance might have a $20 copay,
another person who is on cash assistance might have only a $2 copay.


> > I admit, you could be right. I just don't get it.

You're probably right. It probably does happen. Especially when one of
the patients is conning the doctor for purposes of drug abuse - in
which case, I don't have much sympathy.

I appreciate your response in this matter. You have helped me to see
that it may in fact be happening. People do stupid things sometimes.

.

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