I have seen a lot of reports of people unable to get required prescriptions filled. Does that affect anyone here?
I take statins and that compounded gentamicin. I've got a long-term supply of Lipitor so would not know how current constraints are. I get the gentamicin refilled every month and have not had supply issues yet. Maybe I should get the Lipitor refilled just in case.
Some of the problem is that hack of the prescription processing system, so people are having to pay full price for the drugs as well as shortages. I don't know if the discount drug plans like Good Rx are affected.
I guess I'm fortunate in that statins are only $10/month without a plan, and my insurance no longer covers the gentamicin anyway.
My wife has had to drive to another town for one of her medications repeatedly because our local pharmacy couldn't get it for some reason. It wasn't just a one-time thing, either.
Does anyone know why local pharmacies can't get medications? It seems really odd that some can and some can't. It hasn't affected me personally because I only have one prescription. It's not monthly and is a very common medication. I filled it a couple of months ago and all was well. Of course at my age all that could change any time.
As I understand it, there are problems getting drugs from India (mostly) where most of our drugs are now made, and the latest hack on the verification system has kept drugs from being distributed properly and having insurance pay for their part. That is why I asked the question as I see people post from all over the country about inability to get prescriptions filled and docs having to change patients to different meds if they can't get the routine meds filled. I haven't experienced problems but I only have a couple to fill on 90-day schedules, but my wife has had hers delayed by days or even weeks and quantities reduced as well.
Don, thanks for repeating the info about a hack. Note to self: Read the entire thread before asking a question.
I get all of my meds from local VA Pharmacy and really have never had a problem getting them from the VA. Now, my wife, she's had some problems with her Medicare meds. As far as her current doctor goes, it's time for him to retire! My wife lets him know which meds she is going to need refilled, but someway/somehow her request got screwed up. Finally got it straightened out thru Walgreens. And, Medicare sometimes isn't that fast at saying "yes, we will pay for it", but that has worked itself out as well.
What I think is totally amazing is, the amount of "ready" prescriptions hanging on racks for people to pick up. There are lots and lots of folks that take something that is a prescription!
I don't think the VA is affected, but the Tricare system the military and retirees use IS affected. Doctors are now also being affected as their ability to receive payment form insurance companies is compromised.