HIPAA SCHMIPAA

I was off today. I offered to fill Dad's Medrol Dose Pak prescription at the evil competitor in my home town instead of him getting blasted by his crappy prescription plan. At the pick up counter the little tart minding the counter refused to give me the prescription because I denied a need for counseling. Hmm, let's think a bit here....

The prescription is for my DAD, in other words, NOT FOR ME therefore I don't need counseling and it would be a glorious HIPAA violation if I really gave a rat's curly tail.

She still wanted to question my refusal and looked over at the pharmacist on duty even after I told her that I myself was a licensed pharmacist. Honestly people do I have to dig my license out of my wallet for proof. I have to admire her willingness to follow the regs regarding a new prescription but please, lighten up on the whole OBRA '90 will you folks??

Other Blogs of Note....

Check these blogs out. They have been conceived by those who have walked this path before me and are much wiser than I. Their stories will shock and amaze you, and in the case of the newly christened DrugMonkey (formerly DrugNazi) will make you cry, or at least sit there dumbfounded. I've posted links to the various blogs over there to the right. Thanks for playing!

2nd post for the night...

For any who are curious, or just unlucky enough to stumble onto this page, I'm hoping to leave a lot of my work related baggage here instead of taking it home with me. Never mind that I would have to be home to blog anything, details aren't important here. Hopefully I will present some of what I encounter at work in a manner that will at least entertain some and make others stop and say to themselves...'hmm'. Really I just want to sleep at night and not have crazy weird work related dreams/nightmares.

Feel free to share if you too have encountered something similar or if you have an experience that just takes the cake. TTFN!

Is this drug $4?

Me: 'Thank you for calling Pharmacy X, pharmacist speaking, can I help you?"
Caller: 'Is this a pharmacist?"
Me: No, I answer my phone that way for grinnies..."Yes, can I help you?"
Caller: If I tell you the name of a drug, can you tell me if it's on your $4 list?
Me: Go ahead...
Caller: "Omeprazole 20mg." Pronounced by the caller as follows.....Ohmepra-zole-ay twenty em-geese.
Me: No, I'm sorry but it's not.
Caller: But it's generic isn't it?? Why isn't it $4 dollars?? My doctor said it was on your list!
Me: I'm sorry but you were misinformed. I can give you an out-of-pocket price quote, but I can't give an insurance quote without having the prescription here.
Caller: "Okay, well how much would it be with my insurance?"

Honestly I don't know why it was a postal worker that went over the edge first.....