Would you look for a new doctor?

[bhoferp]

I have had the same primary care physician for a few years and I like him and I think he is a good doctor.


I get my meds from a federal meds by mail pharmacy. On rare occasions, I take a generic sleeping pill which is a controlled substance. My meds by mail place will not accept a prescription for a controlled substance electronically. My doctor will not fax the prescription to my pharmacy, nor will he give me a printed prescription that I could forward to my pharmacy. It is legal for him to do so, but he just chooses not to. The doctor will send the prescription electronically to my local CVS, but I will have to pay full price for it instead of it being sent to me free by Meds by Mail.


This particular prescription is one I can just do without, but what if I was in a great deal of pain at some point in the future and my only option will be to pay full price for it?


If you were me, would you look for another doctor? Without looking like a nutcase right up front, how could I find a new doctor willing to fax my prescription to my pharmacy or give me a printed prescription?


Feel free to just tell me I am a nutjob and to just let it go.

 

[Aerides]

Maybe time for a chat. Why won't he fax it, or give you a printed scrip? Is that his policy on all drugs on controlled list or is there some personal decision making. Can he make an exception for this one given your costs?

So, no, I wouldn't look for another doctor yet, but I probably wouldn't stay with one who wouldn't entertain this conversation with me. If you aren't comfortable asking, that's another red flag. You want to be able to talk to your Doc with no qualms and no hesitation, and understand where his lines in the sand may or may not be.

 

[MBAustin]

I agree with Aerides. If it's a very small office, you probably need to talk directly with the doctor. If it's a larger practice that has an office administrator of some kind, you could try that route as well.

 

[PaunchyPirate]

I feel similar to Aerides. Has the doctor told you this in person or via one of the office workers? I’d certainly want to hear the doctor’s reasoning from him or her. Also, does the mail pharmacy not accept electronic requests? I get all my meds in 3 month supply via mail, but my doctors office sends in the request electronically.

I probably would change doctors if they continued to not help you. But you may likely have issues until the new doctor became comfortable with you getting the controlled drug.

 

[bhoferp]

I would love to talk to him, but the only ones I can talk to are his nurses (except, of course, if I am at an appointment). The nurse told me he can just choose not to and he chooses not to. This has all come up because our state has a new law. The new law has exceptions, including sending the prescription non-electrictronically if a patient's pharmacy is in another state and giving a patient a printed prescription when requested. I offered to email this information to him, but the nurse said they do not have an email. The only way I can talk to a nurse is to leave a message and wait for her to call me back. The recording before you can leave a message says it might be 48 hours before they call due to Covid, but the nurse has returned my 5 or 6 calls on the same day.

 

[PaunchyPirate]

I would love to talk to him, but the only ones I can talk to are his nurses (except, of course, if I am at an appointment). The nurse told me he can just choose not to and he chooses not to. This has all come up because our state has a new law. The new law has exceptions, including sending the prescription non-electrictronically if a patient's pharmacy is in another state and giving a patient a printed prescription when requested. I offered to email this information to him, but the nurse said they do not have an email. The only way I can talk to a nurse is to leave a message and wait for her to call me back. The recording before you can leave a message says it might be 48 hours before they call due to Covid, but the nurse has returned my 5 or 6 calls on the same day.

If you want it bad enough, I’d schedule an appointment and see where it goes in person.

 

[Sunset]

An alternative solution possiblity: have you checked the price at goodrx.com

Another possible solution, would be check the price for this drug at Costco and Sams (if you have them there) as well as Walgreen, Walmart, etc.
Prices of drugs vary a lot depending upon the pharmacy.
You could find which pharmacy is better priced for it, and ask the doc to send it there.

 

[ls99]

Have to decide to be a "patient" or a Customer, voting with a [-]virtual[/-] vallet.

 

[JRon]

I would look for another doctor. You’ll have to be seen by that doctor before getting a script from them so you may want to wait until its time for your next checkup. In the meantime you could try asking to speak with this doctor directly or clinic manager as suggested by others, but if my doctor wouldn’t do something so simple for no reason it’s time for a change.

 

[bhoferp]

He is in a group so the group may well have made that rule.

 

[RetireeRobert]

Find another doctor. And when you do, have this discussion right upfront with the new doctor.

 

[braumeister]

Let's see. He won't go along with a simple, legal request. You're not allowed to talk to him. His staff won't give you an explanation. But you like him.

I'd say that's one very fortunate doctor.

If the issue is actually important to you, and it sounds as if it might be, then I would recommend making an appointment to sit down and talk with him. It might be straightened out right then. If not, I would certainly look for a new doc.

 

[Walt34]

I'd find another doctor. One huge red flag to me is that he is so hard to reach without running the gauntlet of gatekeepers and the gatekeeper has to approve. That's absurd. Another is the lack of explanation for refusal for what is a common practice among other doctors. "He just chooses not to" with no reason given is just arbitrary and capricious BS and I wouldn't put up with it.

Edit to add:

BTW, I wouldn't wait until I was in severe pain to look for a new doctor willing to write a scrip for controlled pain relievers. Doctors are justifiably suspicious of new patients looking for that.

 

[bhoferp]

I really appreciate all your replies. The best thing I got from you all is that I don't have to do anything right now, so I will just take some time with this. That and none of you told me I was a nutcase-LOL!

 

[OldShooter]

I deal with situations like this as follows: "Sorry, I'm getting confused. One of us is the customer and one of us is not the customer. Which one do you think you are?"

I laughed when Target started calling customers "guests," but I think the entire health care system should be required to call customers "customers."

Find a new doctor. His/her imperious attitude is hazardous to your health. No rush, just do it before the next time you get sick or need something from your current doctor.

If you can afford it, check out concierge medicine options in your area. One of our three concierge docs carries The Cell Phone 24x7. One time DW got to our lake place having forgotten her pill box. Saturday 11AM and pharmacy closing at noon. She called The Cell Phone and pharmacy had her scrip within 15 minutes.

 

[StillFiguringItOut]

How do you know that the doctor will not fax the prescription to your pharmacy, nor give you a printed prescription that you could forward to your pharmacy? Did he tell you that, or did the office manager/nurse tell you that? If it’s the first, find another doctor. If it’s the second, make an appointment to speak with the doctor.

 

[Texas Proud]

Sounds to me like it is a RX problem as the Dr is doing what almost all Drs do... electronic prescriptions...


However, we have a oral surgeon who will give a written prescription if you want it... so I would ask the front office or the Dr to do so and give them the reason you want it that way.. if they still do not do it them find another Dr.

 

[Katsmeow]

I would be inclined to just change physicians. Just tell a new office that you have a prescription which has to be handled this way (describe why) and make sure they can accommodate. If you want to make an appointment and talk to the doctor you could. However, my general view is that if they are difficult on stuff like this they are going to be difficult and inflexible on other things and I would just move on....

 

[RetireeRobert]

I would be inclined to just change physicians. Just tell a new office that you have a prescription which has to be handled this way (describe why) and make sure they can accommodate. If you want to make an appointment and talk to the doctor you could. However, my general view is that if they are difficult on stuff like this they are going to be difficult and inflexible on other things and I would just move on....

Good advice, I second the motion.

 

[MarieIG]

I would address this during your next appointment when you actually see the doctor face to face.

Bring a something from the pharmacy stating that they will not take an electronic script; tell him about the cost difference and ask him how he is going to deal with it. If he refuses, you can tell him after your appointment, that you are going to have to seek out a doctor who will work with you.

 

[Gallaher]

Look for another doctor over non-essential sleeping pills?
Sounds like a bunch of endulged Americans.
Could it be the doctor graduated med-school and has your best interest in mind?

 

[RetMD21]

if the insurance company pays him I think they are the customer. State laws are moving toward e-prescribing for all controlled substances. It seems like he could be more flexible, OTOH I would probably just pay at the local pharmacy. In the old days as a specialist I would occasionally refill sleeping meds for patients. Not anymore

 

[gauss]

Have you checked other "remote pharmacy" options beyond the one that you are using currently? I would want to benchmark to see if all the remote pharmacies have these policies or if yours is just a one-off.

Not necessarily saying that you wouldn't want to still have the discussion with your current Dr., but knowing if all the pharmacies work this way vs just your preferred one will put you in a better position to have an informed discussion with your Doctor.

-gauss

 

[aaronc879]

Look for another doctor over non-essential sleeping pills?
Sounds like a bunch of endulged Americans.
Could it be the doctor graduated med-school and has your best interest in mind?

Highly unlikely. If the Dr isn't willing to prescribe needed meds then they do not have the patients best interest in mind. A sleeping aid is not such a big deal but if you need controlled pain meds and your Dr isn't willing to prescribe them then get a competent Dr.

 

[MRG]

I had a doc who I really liked but I didn't know about his prescription beliefs. Then I had an accident, went into severe pain and learned he didn't like to prescribe opioids; didn't know what to do other than avoid me. I fantisized a lot about dying from a self inflicted gunshot wound.
Don't do what I did, fire them get someone who wants to help you.