OK, this is weird and disturbing. I just got an automated call from Walgreens in New Port Richey, FL saying that my prescription is ready for pickup. (I live in Houston TX.) I was like 'whaaaaaaa???' So I called them and talked to the pharmacist. The prescriptions are in MY name, with MY date of birth and MY phone number! I was freaking OUT. So I asked about the insurance provider and she said "AARP" and I said then at least they aren't using my insurance info because mine is Aetna. She said they had a "fill in" pharmacist yesterday who got a few things "mixed up," but how on earth could they have gotten my birth date, phone number, etc???? So she's going to cancel everything and wait on the person to go in and try to pick up the Rx. I am more than a little creeped out; I have used Walgreens in the past. She's going to call me when it is resolved, but now I'm freaked, wondering if someone is stealing my ID or what.
It sounds like someone has your info, @Beth Gallagher. Was the prescription for a med that you take or was it one of those addictive things that people get hooked on? It could be that someone hacked Walgreens data and is using the info to get stuff that can be sold. Fortunately they didn't change your phone number in the data, or you would never have known. You can report it here if you think your data has been compromised. https://www.ftc.gov/faq/consumer-protection/report-identity-theft It is the government site to report possible ID theft.
Your med info is at least in the Walgreen data base. This info is shared with all their stores so that you can get your meds regardless of where you are. Least it was that way when I worked there. Still worth checking tho since they were using your name.
Thanks, Don. I'm waiting to hear back from Walgreen's, and thinking that some moron pulled up accounts by name and picked mine without verifying data. I googled my name in New Port Richey FL and found that there is a woman there with my same name. The prescription was for blood pressure medication and Lipitor...lol. The pharmacist said the insurance was AARP, which I don't have. I checked my insurance claims and nothing has shown up there, so at this point I'm not going to panic.
That's what I'm thinking, Gloria. That the clerk just keyed in the name and picked the wrong "Beth Gallagher" and didn't verify the information. I'll be keeping an eye on my insurance claims for a while, though.
A bit more on the continuing saga. I received another phone call from another woman at the same Walgreen's, inquiring as to whether I needed any information or assistance with my "new prescription medication." I must say, my response was less than cordial, re-iterating that I HAD NO NEW MEDICATIONS. Since the call was around 7 p.m., I decided to contact the store manager the next morning. So that's what I did. I had a strongly-worded discussion with the manager, who was pleasant and said he was aware of the issue. I made a point of emphasizing my displeasure with the situation, then dropped the "HIPAA Violation" bomb so he would realize I am not just some doddering old ignoramus. Apparently he suddenly realized the gravity of my complaint and assured me that he would follow up and get to the bottom of it, working with the IT department, blah, blah. He asked that I "give him some time" and I said fine. So a few hours later he called back and said that the fill-in pharmacist had made a mistake by selecting my info for the patient with the same name. I told him that I am not happy to think that prescriptions went out with my name, phone number, and whatever else information on them...and he said that didn't happen. (Impossible for me to know.) He apologized profusely and tried to reassure me that it was a simple clerical error and nothing sinister. I am still unhappy with the entire thing, but there's really nothing I can do except keep an eye on my insurance claims. I stressed that I wanted my Walgreens records corrected, though I don't plan to ever set foot in Walgreens again. I'd like to have my information purged from there.
I have no idea how the US system works Beth..( we don't have insurance claims etc for prescriptions because ours are free)... but the mere fact you're being mistaken for another customer or Vice versa, it's appalling...