Prescriptions on the road

[h60mo1]

We have recently become full timers. Both of us are on numerous prescriptions we take daily. This has not been a problem in the past. Florida recently changed a couple of our prescriptions to a higher control classification. This means that we have to go to a doctor's office every 30 days to get a new prescription for the drug before it can be filled and that the doctor is required to see us at least every 60 days. For most of our prescriptions we receive a new prescription once a year for four 90 day refills, a couple are required to be a 90 day prescription with no refill but this newest change to every 30 days is becoming very difficult for planning our travel. Is anyone else having issues with these type requirements?

[Velos]

There are 73 other "prescriptions" threads on this forum; several regarding the new 30 day limit for some RX renewals that may be of interest:

 

http://www.rvnetwork.com/index.php?app=core&module=search&do=search&fromMainBar=1

 

I copied and pasted the thread but don't know if it will work?

 

If not just go to the forum home page http://www.rvnetwork.com/index.php?act=idx and type "prescriptions" int he search box in the upper right hand corner.

[Kirk W]

Florida recently changed a couple of our prescriptions to a higher control classification.

I believe that you will find that it was not the State of Florida who changed the rules but rather the federal government and thus it applies to all states and all heath care systems.

[Jeb Adventures]

We are having the same problem but have found it to be with numerous states. It's a federal law. Our family doctor prescriptions from one state are no longer any good in another state as of Oct 6th this year. We have tried going to local doctors but because it's "norco" , they don't want to fill it even though we havewritten prescriptions in hand from our family Dr. One local Dr had the nerve to suggest we get no further than 30 days from our own Dr. We live in our RV and we're just beginning to travel. Other than the meds problem, we love it.

[vermilye]

Even if you have 90 day prescriptions with 4 refills (for the non restricted meds) you may run into problems. Some states (such as NY) will "reset" the number of refills to 0 if you get a refill of a prescription from a different druggist. Since some states do not have some drug store chains (for example, no CVS in Oregon or Wyoming) if you get one of their prescriptions transferred to another chain, again it will have the refills reset to 0. If your doctor will do it, I suggest taking 4 90 day paper prescriptions with you. By the way, if the paper prescription has X number of refills, they will expire 1 year from the date they are written (not filled), so you are going to need new ones at least once a year.

 

I recently finished a 305 day trip that took me through 47 states. I never had a problem getting refills in different states from the same chain, but if you have to switch, it can be a problem. If you know where you will be traveling, most of the chains have web pages that show their locations in the different states & cities which could help you decide what chain to use. It is easy to find yourself 200-300 miles from the nearest store for a specific chain.

 

I have no experience with the drugs restricted to one 30 day fill, but have not heard a practical solution.

[Kirk W]

I have no experience with the drugs restricted to one 30 day fill, but have not heard a practical solution.

For unrestricted drugs any of the mail order pharmacies will work well for fulltimers but I wonder if there is a viable answer for those that are so restricted....... I'm not sure what we can do about this as the problem is coming from the drug enforcement community at the federal level.

[Barbaraok]

For routine maintenance drugs, mail order is the way to go. We use Express Scripts and usually have them sent to our Livingston address & then forwarded to us, but we can also designate a temporary address when we are in one place for an extended time.

 

Barb

[2gypsies]

^{For routine, we've never had problems transferring from WalMart to WalMart.}

 

^{However, for this new ruling on restricted drugs, it's going to be a major problem for travelers. Hope someone comes up with a good fix.}

[docj]

For routine maintenance drugs, mail order is the way to go. We use Express Scripts and usually have them sent to our Livingston address & then forwarded to us, but we can also designate a temporary address when we are in one place for an extended time.

 

Barb

 

Normal shipping with Express Scripts is ~1 week on refills, so we don't find it all that restricting. Often we have them sent to our son in advance of visiting with him.

 

Also, you can have an entire Express Scripts order sent via overnight for an additional $15. We've only had to do that once, but it is an available option. Of course, all refrigerated medications are always sent overnight.

 

In addition, ES will provide a "vacation override" if you need to order additional meds because you aren't going to be in a place where you can get a delivery (like in Canada or Mexico). Depending on your specific policy a vacation order can be placed ~1 week after your previous order was filled.

[lappir]

Let's see, if drug companies would end all the television advertisements and concentrate on real patient care, we wouldn't be troubled by this problem. There could be people hired to ensure portability of prescription services instead. Much like the HIPPA policy envisioned before it was turned into such a farce. Be responsible for your actions and require others to do the same.

 

Rod

[vermilye]

Mail order works fine for those that either stay in one location for awhile or travel with reservations, so they know where they will be when. It doesn't work so well for those that do 1-2 day stays without reservations, and no exact plans for where they will be on a specific date.

[Velos]

We have not used a mail order service for meds but would be concerned about the temperature extremes and their effect on the potency?

 

Has anyone tried the Butrans Patch for chronic pain instead of pills? There is still a 30 day limit; but for those on long term pain meds maybe rotating between the patch and norco with your physicians guidance of course may be an option??? It is a shame that those with legitimate needs have to search for loop holes in the system to maintain quality of life.

 

Being an optimist as Texas has come up with an alternative for annual physical vehicle inspections for registration renewals possibly state residents (if there are enough in the same boat) could register for longer term RX refills. There are currently 23 states with legal medical marijuana distribution capabilities Texas is not currently one of them but for those looking for RX assistance those states may be a place to start?

 

These states currently have bills in the works: Cannabidiol (CBD) Bills (Alabama, Florida, Iowa, Kentucky, Mississippi, Missouri, South Carolina, Tennessee, Utah, Wisconsin)

http://medicalmarijuana.procon.org/view.resource.php?resourceID=000881

[Barbaraok]

Mail order works fine for those that either stay in one location for awhile or travel with reservations, so they know where they will be when. It doesn't work so well for those that do 1-2 day stays without reservations, and no exact plans for where they will be on a specific date.

 

It works just fine if you have the meds sent to your mail forwarding address (relative's address) and then request they been shipped with the other mail when you are going to be some place to receive mail at General Delivery at a PO close to where you will be. Since you get 90 days worth at a time, it isn't difficult to schedule a few days in one place to get your mail.

 

Barb

[vermilye]

I travel without receiving any mail and prefer not to end up having to be at a location at a specific time. Again, I usually don't stay in one location more than a day or two (with a few exceptions). Many of the locations I stay in do not have much in the way of civilization nearby. I have a photo of any necessary mail emailed to me while on the road, but, of course, that won't work for meds.

 

I realize that I could be more flexible, and arrange my travels so that mail order would work (it would even save me a couple of bucks on my copays) but so far I've managed to travel without mailed prescriptions. My mail order provider (required by my secondary insurer) requires 1 week to mail a prescription - no overnight possibility). I also worry a bit about a mailed delivery sitting around somewhere since some of my meds are liquids that cannot be frozen or overheated.

 

The biggest problem I've had is running down on a prescription in a location that does not have a pharmacy that did my last refill. I did want to point out that if you switch pharmacies, you are likely to lose your refills, so if you can get forward dated paper prescriptions from your doctor, it is handy. If I am in a location for an extended length of time, I can have my home doctor FAX a prescription to a local pharmacy. Again, that would not work for the restricted meds, but luckily I'm not on any of them.

[Barbaraok]

Vermilye,

 

Given your stated requirements, no mail order wouldn't work for you, especially since it appears that you will not be flexible even if it means saving some money. That's fine, but for most mail order pharmacies work extremely well for routine maintenance meds.

 

Barb

[RV_]

If you stay near our Southern border in your travels you can just cross over and get the higher control scripts rewritten over there, And no problem coming back and declaring them, along with the Mexican prescription issued at the Pharmacia, at least that was the case the last time we went ten years ago.

[2gypsies]

RV, I don't believe you can do that now - 10 years later. Things have changed.

[whj469]

That can still be done, getting meds from Mexico. You now need a prescription from a Doctor but the Pharmacia will direct you to one close by and it will not cost much. Good Luck

[Daveh]

Just came across this in a summary of the new federal regulations:

• Finally, unlike medicines on Schedules III–V, Schedule II controlled substances may not be refilled. A new prescription is required. That being said, the law permits a practitioner to issue multiple prescriptions authorizing a patient to receive a ninety-day supply if the following conditions are met: (1) each separate prescription is issued for a legitimate medical purpose by an individual practitioner acting in the normal course of business; (2) the individual practitioner provides written instructions on each prescription indicating the earliest date on which a pharmacy may fill each prescription; and (3) the individual practitioner concludes that providing the patient with multiple prescriptions in this manner does not create an undue risk of diversion or abuse. It is critically important that the prescribing practitioner document his or her conclusion that there is no risk of abuse or diversion.

[pugsly]

^{For routine, we've never had problems transferring from WalMart to WalMart.}

 

^{However, for this new ruling on restricted drugs, it's going to be a major problem for travelers. Hope someone comes up with a good fix.}

 

This is what we do. My wife transferred from CVS to Walmart because they have a nationwide footprint and will fill anywhere. A good doc that you have a good relationship with will work with you on the 30 day thing. Remember, the goal is to prevent abuse not to adversely impact your lifestyle.

 

I get my prescriptions mailed to me from the VA.

[2gypsies]

_{The OP was asking about 'restricted' drugs. I don't believe you can get them in Mexico. Other drugs, yes, but not 'restricted' ones. I could be wrong.}

[Vladimir]

I went through a "painful" episode last year with a emergency room doctor.

 

So painful, that I called the Washington Health Commission to see about filing a complaint against the Doctor. Washington's new law and I believe the Federal regulation are similar. I was told basically that given the new law I was probably wasting my time complaining against the doctor.

 

Write your Federal representative and make them aware of the situation. You know this is all about that druggie actor that killed himself in New York. So all the Seniors in the country are paying the price for his stupidity!!

 

I did tell the Doctor......that it was MY MONEY, MY BODY, and therefore MY DECISION on health care unless there was a MEDICAL reason for NOT giving me the pills. He was not impressed with the argument, even after telling me that there was NO medical reason for him NOT to renew my prescription. I did get my pain killers "on the street" and after another week fine.

 

I believe the stronger argument is ......MY MONEY, MY BODY, MY MEDICAL decision and I VOTE at every election. Write your elected representative in Congress. A cc to the White House would also put them on notice.

[Gypsy Traveler]

My last mail order pharmacy did over night mailings. Walgreens also ships rapidly.

[whj469]

For many meds by mail order is the way to go. In fact with our current drug plan, if the med is a long

term med, we must get them from mail order 90 day supply or the plan will not pay for them.

When I fill a prescription at say Walgreen's or CVS and it is a med that they, the drug plan, knows

that I will be on them for a period of time, they send me a letter telling me that I must get them thru them mail order or they will not pay for them.

Some employees who are covered under our plan have told me that they felt that the letter was threating.

[Barbaraok]

Gypsy Traveler,

 

How do you know you are doing great? Unless you've had a check up to make sure that all of the the parameters are stable - BP, blood glucose, liver functions, kidney functions, etc., you may feel fine right up to the point you have the stroke, kidneys shut down, etc. Quitting cold turkey is never a good idea - slowly paring down is much better. It is true that often people get over medicated because one physician adds one Rx, another adds something similar, and it is a good idea to review them with their physician and try and reduce whenever possible.

 

And do not discount the placebo effect that you may be feeling. As far as herbals medicine - you really have no idea what trace contaminates are in them - lots of herbs sequester huge amounts of heavy metals and do more harm than good.

 

Barb