Does anyone's Doctors approve 90 day Insurance refills?

[luv2bmomjen]

My unsurance called today and asked me to switch over to a 90 days supply on all my meds.  I cannot imagine that my docs office will approve it but if they do than I will not have to worry about perscription refill appointments across town every month anymore.  I could just see the doctor every three months.  Has anyone done this?  It will save me a ton of money on my meds.  

[iday0916]

Hi,  I feel your pain, I am going through the same thing. I have a awesome Dr. but the the woman at the front desk, OMG! what the hell is her problem,she thinks she is the doctor!!! I have been on Methadone for 12 yrs now for C.P and I live in Florida and as everyone knows trying to get your medication is like winning the lottery!! So after having a nervous breakdown every month, going to 30 pharmacy's trying to get my one damn prescription filled my dr wrote me a 90 day supply. Well I thought wow this will be great no more running around every month. Yeah right!, my mail order from my insurance company actually sends me back the script without even calling me after I waited 15 days and wrote me saying they don't fill ANY narcotics!!  I was about to just give up, then I called Walgreens. They have a mail order and delivery service. the mail order wouldn't do it because they don't accept my insurance but the delivery service does?? who knows LOL. anyway I finally mail them the 90 day rx just for my insurance company to tell me there is a QL on this med! WTF, now I'm really flipping out. so now I have to get that woman at the front desk at my dr's office to fill out a fax that my insurance company sent her to get my Q.L increase. well they sent it that day, she waits a week to send it back!!!! so now walgreens is waiting to fill the script but cant because of this *****!! well finally after a week and a half she faxes it back and now walgreens can fill it but I will be without meds for about 5 days. What a joke this is, now I'm scared something else will happen and walgreens won't ship it or something else will happen. sometimes it's not worth all this!! I'm sorry for writing a story but I had to finally get this of my mind. thanks for listing and I hope all works out for you.

[GSWsurvivor]

Not in nevada It is done by the script like yours

[onthefence]

I should specify that i can only pick up monthly supplies, and the written oxy scripts say filldate and have the date 28 days apart.
for some of you in other states , do they give you a 90 day supply all at once?

[onthefence]

Hi, i can tell you my expereience in oregon, up until 9 months ago I woould get 6 month prescriptions for the hydro, and have to stop in the office to pick up the oxy script every 28 days, (fortuantly doctor didn't chrge. to pick up written script. every month).
Then 9 months ago , at regular 6 month appointment, i had to resign new pain contract and come in every three months, and he now writes 3 seperate scripts, for every 28 days, and i have to see him every 3 months instesd of 6. It costs 2 more visits a year now, he told me it was a new DEA thing that now I had to see him every 90 days.He still does the 6 month scipts for hydro & alprazolam.

[luv2bmomjen]

Sherry
Thank you.  It was not easy.  I had to back in there and change my script and boy she was mad.  But I wasen't about to go home without having all my ducks in a row.  After she made a big scene and noticed the doctors saw her and me crying she held my hand and said "it's ok I know it is hard, this will be the best for you"  That was seconds after she told me that "he could loose his license for this"  FOR WHAT??????   She has no clue what she is talking about.  She is black and white when the doctors are around her and not and she is very defensive because she has made mistakes in the past!!!!
And yes because I am on the short term meds still I can NOT take them and go do acupuncture to give my poor body a break.  I like that!  
Thank you so much for your support

[namnam46]

Good for you!!!  You stood up for yourself with "Nurse Ratchett" and held your own.  By doing that, you got what you needed to take care of your pain!!  Not only that but maybe JUST maybe "Nurse Ratchett" learned something that will help the NEXT CP Patient that asks for a 90 Day Presctiption!!  (I can Dream can't I????)

Congratulations!! I hope that this will help you and you CAN find out if the treatments are working for you now!!!......Sherry

[luv2bmomjen]

wanted to update everyone on yesterday and then I will post another post as well........
I went in and told my doctor how I felt, he did the usual and tried to get me on a round the clock time release drug with the short acting to be used for breakthrough pain.  So he offered Dilaudid (hydromorphone), and Opana ER (oxymorphone).  I at the time had no idea what those drugs were and he wasen't saying much except that my pain is 24/7 so I should be on something that is treating me all the time.  My point was that if I do all this message, acupuncture, pain management theropy etc how will I ever know if it is working if I am on a ER drug?  It doesn't give me the freedom to NOT have drugs in my system.  So I talked him into leaving me on the Percacet at 6-7 a day and then he game me a drug called roxicodone for once a day breakthough pain.  I guess it is just oxy without the tylonol.  It is strong he said and should help with the extra breakthrough pain.  
As far as the 90 days supply he was all about it.  He allready knew he had to write one for the next 30 days and one for 90 days mail order.  It was great he told me that he would see me in 4 months but then I hit the nurses office.  This happens every darn time BTW.  She starts throwing perscriptions around all over the office.  Ripping half of the faxes up that came from my insurance company to fill the 90 days and then blaming the doctor.  She is a nut case.  I felt so bad.  I told her to forget it!  I was in so much pain by this time (stress and standing too much) that I felt like I was going to pass out.  She started to scream about how people don't understand how hard this makes it on her just to save a few bucks.  OMG OMG!  my three year old was with me!  She wrote the percacet for 90days supply with a note saying not to fill until after september.  I tried to explain to her that with mail time that wouldn't get to me in time but she insisted she was right.  
So I left called my insurance company talked to a pharmasist who told me that he would hold it until Oct 1st and then fill it and mail it.  So I will run short by up to 10 or more days into October.  At this point I am thinking why did I EVER DO THIS!!! and thought of all of you.  Then I went back into my doc's office and asked the nurse very nicely if I could please speak with her when she had a moment?  She got nasty as I knew she would.  I started to cry and it all get ugly from there.  Anyway, I left with the script changed to fill after Sept 19th which might help give them mail time and SO glad to not be going back into that office for 4 MONTHS,  It will save me 86.00 in scripts and 200.00 in copays!!!!!  Worth it I think!!!

[JadedSweetheart]

Oh!  Now I remember your situation.  I was thinking of PCOS.  I'm guessing PCS is a somewhat rare condition.  I could be wrong though.  We had a lady on here the other day who had some sort of pelvic pain and didn't know what was wrong and I was trying to remember who had posted about this.  Now I remember.
That really does sound painful and I can't see how a nerve block would help unless they could get to the nerves in your abdomen.  I really don't know much about all of that.
I think bringing him information on your condition is a great idea.  I doubt he sees many cases of PCS.  I hope the doctor's appt went/will go well and you can talk to the doctor about everything that's going on.

[luv2bmomjen]

Thank you for your support.  I have not tried a nerve block.  It will not help with the pain from the viens.  PCS is the pooling of blood in varicose veins deep in the pelvis.  I had a laperoscopy about 5 months after the birth of my last baby because the labor pain had never gone away.  At that time I got the diagnosis of Pelvis Congestion Syndrome and my OBGYN told me he has no idea how I every had three children as bad as it was.  He also told me I couldn't have more because it would be far too dangerous.  PCS gets worse with each child.  
I hope today goes well.  I am going with lots of information printed for the doctor to keep.  Maybe I just need to keep reminding him of my diagnosis.  

[JadedSweetheart]

Have you had a nerve block before?  If you haven't, it wouldn't hurt to try it and see if it helps any.  I have heard that PCS is very painful.  I hope you are able to get through to your doctor about your condition.  It helps to have a diagnosis and know where the pain is coming from.  Even though it doesn't make the pain any less, I think it makes it a little better to deal with.
I hope your appt goes well today.  Let us know how it goes!

[luv2bmomjen]

Thank you sandee1818.  I am nervous about today but I spent lots of hours doing research on PCS because I feel like everytime I go in he just calls it mystery pelvic pain.  NO it is not a mystery we know why I hurt.  Then he tried to get me in for a nerve block.  
I am going to pray her will take the time to listen to me today and my needs and if not I may be switching doctors.  =(

[sandee1818]

The insurance company is fine with this as it will save them some money but the Doctor is completely different story. It is legal for them to write a 3 month prescription but most will not do this as the DEA has set the standards so high that Doctors want to follow the rules to a tee to avoid problems. While it is okay to write a 3 month prescription the Doctor has to see you every so many days to keep the DEA off their back. I am not sure what the time is that the Doctor has to see you such as every 30 days or so. If you do get a 3 month supply you may still have to go in to be seen by the Doctor to keep their records up for the DEA.
If your nervous about the appointment then I would wait and discuss this with him at a later appointment so you can have the issues at hand taken care of right now. I know you have been very concerned the Doctor will want to decrease your meds so it may be a good idea to wait on addressing this issue.
I wish you the best and hope things work out for you:)

[luv2bmomjen]

I had a long talk with my CIGNA pharmacy and they said all of my scripts are fine for faxed in 90 day supply.  And then I can ask for a refill to be faxed as early as 30 days so they have lots of time to process it and mail them to me.  As far as the oxycodone they need a written script every 90 days mailed to them.  So they told me to have my doctor write one for next month to be filled by my regular pharmacy and then write a 90 day for me to mail in.  This way I only have to go see my doctor every three months and not see the PA for script refills at all.  
BUT even if this does work what if they don't get to me in time or does anyone think it will be more of a pain than it is worth.  As it is now they give me two to three refills on all my scripts except the oxycodone so I only have to deal with getting them to write that one out each month.  

Maybe not such a good idea after all.  I don't want to spend the entire time I am talking to my doctor to be spent on script options.  Also I know he is going to try to talk me into a nerve block which I do not want to do so I am nervous about that.  This again is the doctor that I asked to wean me completely back when I lost my mind and I am nervous about this entire appointment.  
I could just see him about everything else and then talk to my PA next month about the 90 day insurance idea.  

[GettingOlder]

90 days supply of rx seems to be coming the norm these days. The insurance companies (well, healthplans are a better word) have given us a list of certain
meds that MUST be refilled on a 90 day timeframe.

Caremark (owner of CVS/Walgreens, etc) have agreed to this plan as well.

[RunningMom]

The pain management clinic does not offer a 90 day supply.  However, they do give us the prescription slips ahead of time and we are to fill on a certain date.  I go into PM every two months unless I need to been seen ahead of time.  Come to think of it, my insurance would not allow the 90 day supply.  There is a limit on several prescriptions to a certain amount with in the 30 day supply.  I'm sure you would have a hard time finding a doctor to write that 90 day supply anyways.

[Sarajmt]

We have it.  I am using it now but plan to go back to my regular pharmacy.  No cost savings and not nearly as convenient.

[GSWsurvivor]

Thanks i dont log in to much because i dont like reading peoples negativity about their doctors.. and their horror stories..it gets me down

[lupiemomof2]

Duh!I meant to type percoset being a schedule II due to the oxycodone-which is why docs wont call it in sorry guys.

A FM gets his scripts for oxyIR postdated by his PM dr but he is elderly and I go every month ?? but I have health issues that require monthly labs due to certain meds(other than pain meds that require monitoring.Alot of  pharms like CVS,Kroger and others are linking up with caremark(who is the big mail order in my state-TN)and offer the 3mo at the 2month copay just like mail but none of the hassle of what if it doesnt get here in time.So that might be one option for those of you that rely on mail order to check-you get the discount and the convenience of local pharm and some of them around here even still deliver.

[JadedSweetheart]

That wasn't a rant GSW.  It's good to hear from you.  You haven't been around much lately.

[GSWsurvivor]

My doctors practice is an hour and a half away from where i live and he comes down once a month, so sometimes my refill dates dont match up with when he is here so he writes the rx on the script and gives me 2 scripts for the next to months and the pharmacy puts them on file and then i can just go pick themup the exact day i need to pick em up.. he gives me 150 oxycodone 10 mgs max 5 a day they cant call them in so thats why he writes them down for the next three months he is really an awesome guy anyone in nevada looking for an awesome PM doc come to nevada and i will send you his contact info and during the appointment he also asked so how many percocets do you take a day and i said 4 like on the script but sometimes i have to take an extra and he said thats okay i will increase it from 120 to 150 so now i am set untill middle november.. Im really impressed by this guy.. Sorry for the rant

[Tuckamore]

We recently (last few months) had a poster that indeed had been getting a 90 day supply of narcotics. It should be in our archives. If I recall there were some changes in the policy that had them concerned about cost.

Most of us had never heard of a PMP prescribing more than a 30 day supply. According to the poster all of her narcotics were for 90 days, including the slow release ones. My insurance company offer the same but NOT on narcotics.

Obviously this will be between your physician, the insurance company and your local state regulations. Please let us know how this turns out for you.

Peace,
~Tuck

[lupiemomof2]

Percocet might pose a problem unless the dr is willing to post date scripts.AFAIK it is still a schedule III due to the oxycodone and most mail order wont fill those up to three months due to diversion concerns-I know they will hydrocodone(at least in my state)-so to me its kind of a stupid rule-but I think alot of drs are getting stricter with the proving that they see you every month and your condition still warrants the meds as a coverage for them.A hospice setting was the only time I have ever seen schedule II shipped(but your state may have different regs)

I hope you are able to get the dr to agree to it and save yourself some copays-it gets old having to dish out so much money every month I know.It boggles my mind when I figure how much I spend a year even with insurance.

Good luck with the dr when you talk to him hope all goes well.

[horselip]

Mine does, but it is a royal pain. I'm on two meds. If my doctor does not write the prescription exactly how they want they will send one and not the other, not call me and then I still end up having to go to my doctor every month anyway.

I get my pain meds from my PCP. But, he is advised on my meds by a pain management Center that is in California where I get most of my medical care. So it is not quite as strict for me as it is with some of you who go to pain management centers only.

Good luck! If my insurance company was not so inept it probably would work out.

Horselip

[sandee1818]

The DEA had restricted Doctors from writing 3 months worth of Prescriptions a couple years ago but then reinstated it. By that time the Docs realized they could be getting that copay or office visit each month and stayed with the month to month scripts. Some will do a 90 Day supply but only on schedule 3 narcotics. If you find a Doctor willing to do a 90 day supply on meds like oxycontin they will just write a post dated script for each month. I had a PMP that used to do this.
Drugs like percocet and hydrocodone can be written for a 90 day supply though.
I hope your Doctor will help you out and save you some money:)