CVS Caremark & Pulmozyme

[edr1975]

My employer recently switched from Medco mail order to CVS Caremark and in the transition I have discovered that CVS Caremark will not fill my Pulmozyme order without a prior authorization from my doctor which require PFT results. How outrageous is this? I never needed a prior authorization before in my life to get this medicine. They know it's a standard medication for CF patients so why would they need anything more than a simple diagnosis? The other problem is I wasn't made aware of this until after I tried to place a refill order on the prescription and in the mean time I have run out of Pulmozyme and have been off it for over a week now because of CVS' failure to communicate all this info to me as well as my employer not making anyone aware of these requirements. I'm not the type of person to go off the deep end but I feel like I should have some kind of legal recourse here. Sorry for this long winded message.

Has anyone else experienced this kind of problem and if so how were you able to resolve it?

 

[edr1975]

My employer recently switched from Medco mail order to CVS Caremark and in the transition I have discovered that CVS Caremark will not fill my Pulmozyme order without a prior authorization from my doctor which require PFT results. How outrageous is this? I never needed a prior authorization before in my life to get this medicine. They know it's a standard medication for CF patients so why would they need anything more than a simple diagnosis? The other problem is I wasn't made aware of this until after I tried to place a refill order on the prescription and in the mean time I have run out of Pulmozyme and have been off it for over a week now because of CVS' failure to communicate all this info to me as well as my employer not making anyone aware of these requirements. I'm not the type of person to go off the deep end but I feel like I should have some kind of legal recourse here. Sorry for this long winded message.

Has anyone else experienced this kind of problem and if so how were you able to resolve it?

 

[edr1975]

My employer recently switched from Medco mail order to CVS Caremark and in the transition I have discovered that CVS Caremark will not fill my Pulmozyme order without a prior authorization from my doctor which require PFT results. How outrageous is this? I never needed a prior authorization before in my life to get this medicine. They know it's a standard medication for CF patients so why would they need anything more than a simple diagnosis? The other problem is I wasn't made aware of this until after I tried to place a refill order on the prescription and in the mean time I have run out of Pulmozyme and have been off it for over a week now because of CVS' failure to communicate all this info to me as well as my employer not making anyone aware of these requirements. I'm not the type of person to go off the deep end but I feel like I should have some kind of legal recourse here. Sorry for this long winded message.
<br />
<br />Has anyone else experienced this kind of problem and if so how were you able to resolve it?

 

[oatmeal28]

I have had issues with CVS with filling my Pulmozyme only in the length of time for them to fill the actual prescription. When I was first prescribed it, it took weeks for them to get it in (they had to call my doctor as well, but didn't tell me why) and they recently called me to tell me I was due for a refill and I have yet to get the call that it's in the pharmacy (I have enough to last me a little while longer). I find their service very slow and non-informative. Anyway, that said I hope you get a resolution. are you able to switch again? I was actually thinking of doing the Medco mail order since CVS is being so slow. I'm sorry that they are being so difficult :/

 

[oatmeal28]

I have had issues with CVS with filling my Pulmozyme only in the length of time for them to fill the actual prescription. When I was first prescribed it, it took weeks for them to get it in (they had to call my doctor as well, but didn't tell me why) and they recently called me to tell me I was due for a refill and I have yet to get the call that it's in the pharmacy (I have enough to last me a little while longer). I find their service very slow and non-informative. Anyway, that said I hope you get a resolution. are you able to switch again? I was actually thinking of doing the Medco mail order since CVS is being so slow. I'm sorry that they are being so difficult :/

 

[oatmeal28]

I have had issues with CVS with filling my Pulmozyme only in the length of time for them to fill the actual prescription. When I was first prescribed it, it took weeks for them to get it in (they had to call my doctor as well, but didn't tell me why) and they recently called me to tell me I was due for a refill and I have yet to get the call that it's in the pharmacy (I have enough to last me a little while longer). I find their service very slow and non-informative. Anyway, that said I hope you get a resolution. are you able to switch again? I was actually thinking of doing the Medco mail order since CVS is being so slow. I'm sorry that they are being so difficult :/

 

[Liza]

I'm sorry to say, I've not had any luck with CVS. I admit that I have not used their mail order but the actual pharmacy store sucks. No matter which one I have tried. I will only use them in an emergency because they happen to be the only ones with a particular medication in stock. It really seems like CVS doesn't think the doctors know what they heck they are doing because I have had them on two occassions, delaying actually getting the medication because they have to call the doctor about one thing or another.

I'm sorry you are having to use them.

 

[Liza]

I'm sorry to say, I've not had any luck with CVS. I admit that I have not used their mail order but the actual pharmacy store sucks. No matter which one I have tried. I will only use them in an emergency because they happen to be the only ones with a particular medication in stock. It really seems like CVS doesn't think the doctors know what they heck they are doing because I have had them on two occassions, delaying actually getting the medication because they have to call the doctor about one thing or another.

I'm sorry you are having to use them.

 

[Liza]

I'm sorry to say, I've not had any luck with CVS. I admit that I have not used their mail order but the actual pharmacy store sucks. No matter which one I have tried. I will only use them in an emergency because they happen to be the only ones with a particular medication in stock. It really seems like CVS doesn't think the doctors know what they heck they are doing because I have had them on two occassions, delaying actually getting the medication because they have to call the doctor about one thing or another.
<br />
<br />I'm sorry you are having to use them.

 

[liz26ny]

I use CVS/Caremark. I had the same problem awhile back where there was a delay in getting my Pulmozyme because they needed to get prior authorization, even though I had already been on the drug for years and years. I actually thought they handled it pretty well and tried to get it done as quickly as possible. They were apologetic and told me that it was a new policy that had recently set in place. I did get stuck without Pulmozyme for a day or two but it was partially my fault for waiting so long to refill. Now I just make sure I call way in advance for any refills. I don't believe the prior authorization has to be done every time you refill the prescription, maybe just every 6 months...but I might be wrong on that. You are using the Caremark Specialty Pharmacy and not just the regular Mail-Order Pharmacy right? There is a difference. Good luck and hope you are able to get the med soon!

 

[liz26ny]

I use CVS/Caremark. I had the same problem awhile back where there was a delay in getting my Pulmozyme because they needed to get prior authorization, even though I had already been on the drug for years and years. I actually thought they handled it pretty well and tried to get it done as quickly as possible. They were apologetic and told me that it was a new policy that had recently set in place. I did get stuck without Pulmozyme for a day or two but it was partially my fault for waiting so long to refill. Now I just make sure I call way in advance for any refills. I don't believe the prior authorization has to be done every time you refill the prescription, maybe just every 6 months...but I might be wrong on that. You are using the Caremark Specialty Pharmacy and not just the regular Mail-Order Pharmacy right? There is a difference. Good luck and hope you are able to get the med soon!

 

[liz26ny]

I use CVS/Caremark. I had the same problem awhile back where there was a delay in getting my Pulmozyme because they needed to get prior authorization, even though I had already been on the drug for years and years. I actually thought they handled it pretty well and tried to get it done as quickly as possible. They were apologetic and told me that it was a new policy that had recently set in place. I did get stuck without Pulmozyme for a day or two but it was partially my fault for waiting so long to refill. Now I just make sure I call way in advance for any refills. I don't believe the prior authorization has to be done every time you refill the prescription, maybe just every 6 months...but I might be wrong on that. You are using the Caremark Specialty Pharmacy and not just the regular Mail-Order Pharmacy right? There is a difference. Good luck and hope you are able to get the med soon!