Walgreens has a new policy for pain medications; they are black balling customers both new & old.
The new policy is supposedly designed to protect their pharmacists but in turn; people with chronic pain are being hurt. Right now there is a medication shortage; taking away one pharmacy can really hurt someone that needs medications. I was a customer of Walgreens since November 2009. My store was out of my meds; I filled at a local store; no customer courtesy; the pharmacist black balled me. Once black balled; you can't use any Walgreens period forever. When it happened to me; I could not get a copy of the policy; it's a huge secret. I go to reputable doctors; have been on the same meds for years. Why was my business all of a sudden not wanted? I've spent $5,000 to $10,000. per year out of pocket. I contacted Walgreens corporate who told me that I was only banned from one pharmacist (wrong). I wrote the FB page trying to get a copy of the policy; they told me that my scripts must have been inappropriate. I made a post on a FB group I go to; someone gave me a copy of the story below.
Walgreens' "secret checklist" reveals controversial new policy on pain pills
Walgreens calls it
Good Faith Dispensing Policy checklist.
The controversial checklist – and the policy behind it -- first came to light earlier this year after 13 Investigates reported many Walgreens customers are facing problems when trying to get prescription refills for pain medication.
Walgreens patrons across the nation told Eyewitness News their prescriptions were being delayed or denied because of a new pharmacy policy, but Walgreens would not tell them what the policy is. When WTHR contacted The Walgreen Company corporate headquarters for more information, the pharmacy chain declined to provide a copy of its GFD Policy, explaining it is for "internal use only."
According to the GFD checklist: a pharmacist is required to complete four mandatory steps before filling a prescription for one of the GFD Policy target drugs:
Check Walgreens' national Itercom Plus computer system to confirm the prescription has not been previously denied by another Walgreens pharmacy
Review a customer's personal prescription drug history maintained by a state Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (PDMP). In Indiana, the state tracks all residents' opiod prescriptions using an online PDMP system called INSPECT.
Photocopy a valid government photo ID for the individual(s) dropping off and picking up each prescription
Answer a series of seven questions about the prescription, patient and prescribing doctor to look for "red flags" of possible prescription drug abuse
The additional seven questions include:
Whether the patient has previously received the same medication from Walgreens (new prescription or new patient is a red flag)
Whether the prescription is written for the same medication and from the same doctor as the previous fill (new doctor is possible red flag)
Whether the patient and doctor listed on the prescription are within close geographical proximity to the drug store (far distances that cannot be explained are a red flag)
Whether the prescription is being filled on time (attempt to fill early is a red flag)
Whether the patient is paying for the prescription using insurance (cash is a red flag)
Whether the quantity of pills prescribed is considered excessive (more than 120 pills is a red flag if paying by insurance; more than 60 pills is a red flag if paying cash)
Whether the patient has been taking the same medication and dosage for a long time (more than 6 months is a red flag)
Based on the results of the previous steps and questions, Walgreen's checklist instructs pharmacists to use their "professional judgement" (sic) to determine whether the prescription should be filled or the pharmacy should take the additional step of calling the prescribing doctor to ask more questions.
If a call to the physician is needed to further verify the prescription, the checklist directs Walgreens staff to "verify/confirm any number of the following points" with the doctor:
Prescription is written within prescriber's scope of practice
Diagnosis
Therapeutic regimen is within standard of care
Expected length of treatment
Date of last physical and pain assessment
Use of alternative/lesser prescription medications for pain control
Coordination with other clinicians involved in patient care
Having trouble getting a prescription for pain medication filled at Walgreens?
File a complaint here.
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