In recent times, retailers’ competition to earn your pharmacy dollars has resulted in a weekly sweepstakes of savings: a gift card for switching your prescriptions to Target, cheap gas for bringing your new business to Giant Eagle. Consumer science proves that medicine works better when it comes with free crap.
But a new state law effective this week means it’s time to pick your favorite drug peddler and be prepared to stick with them. The Ohio State Board of Pharmacy declared that as of this coming Saturday, you may transfer any given prescription to a different pharmacy only once during the life of the prescription. If you’ve been running the Rite Aid to Walgreens to CVS coupon circuit, you are now officially out of luck.
This article appears in Dec 29, 2010 – Jan 4, 2011.
Actually, for the record, prescriptions can only be transferred amongst the same chain if they share what is called a “real-time” computer system. Not all chain pharmacies possess a computer system this advanced (Giant Eagle, for example, does not) and it would be best to fact check your information.
@rphcleveland-point taken. Dr. Winsley did not specify that there must be a real time system and we went on the general examples he gave during the interview. We did try, and try and try, to garner comment from Giant Eagle corporate but were told that everyone “upstairs” was gone for the holiday. We left voicemails for the pertinent people anyway, but to no avail. Walgreen’s did not respond. CVS, however, did respond, albeit after this posted to the blog. But, CVS would have been a better example, as they did verify a chain-wide system.
mlc
If I have a new ‘script, I cannot “Call it in”. I have to physically take it and transfer it or submit it IN PERSON. If a Pharmicist is so fucking inept and downright STUPID as to not verify doses, spelling of the particular drug etc.. then the fucker need’s to be fired and lose his/her License ON THE SPOT. And I need a new fucking LAW for Common Sense ?
I cant wait to see what new dumbass law comes next, a Law that requires I wipe my ass after taking a dump ? SHEESH.
Ohhh, and yes I know a Phamicist may call it from one to another, same as a Doctors Office may call in a new one. My wife is a R.N. and I am an EX Medic, so I and her have dealt with this ‘script issue daily since the late 1970’s. I still see no reason for a NEW fucking law as we have enough of the damn things as is.