anyone have difficulty getting drugs shipped?

[juli4591]

This is the second month in a row Accredo Specialty Pharmacy has assured us everything is in order, all the paperwork is there, etc etc.  we were given a ship date and arrival date.  Waited all day,nothing  .  No calls, no nothing.  TWICE this has happened!  This is the worst excuse for a pharmacy ever.  Ifour drs office didn't have emergency back-up my husband would be off-treatment right now.  As it is he has 5 days worth and then we're out.  We have a drs appt tomorrow and I sure hope something can be done about this.  The stress on top of taking these drugs is getting to be really bad for him.    Anyone else have this problem?  We never had a problem the last go-round when we were with an insurance company that used CuraScript.

[juli4591]

Jules and Dee, I'm sorry you had to go through all that rigamarole in the midst of treatment.  What a nightmare, trying to keep it all straight and everyone passing the buck!  The emotional toll and the brainfog that accompany this treatment make it very hard to deal with telephones and waiting for packages that never come.  I fear this is going to be the direction medical care in our country is heading - with the insurance company firmly planted between patient and doctor.  Our PA said she has to go to great lengths to justify certain tests or treatments with many insurance companies.  The insurance companies forget that there is a live, suffering, anxious human being on the other end of the equation, one who would rather be doing almost anything other than dealing with a difficult health crisis. Take care and I hope you have a beautiful weekend!

[Dee1956]

So very happy to hear that you got the meds, thanks for letting us know.
It is so frustrating, I had similar problems to Jules, the Hep doc would say it was the ins, ins would say the doc then specialty pharm would say no authorization.
At one point they had an authorization for the tx but now prescriptions, then Vertex got involved so I was talking to all these different people, in the middle of tx and got so confused when ins switched the specialty pharmacy on me.  At one point I was waiting for 7 people to call me back on shot day.  I was about hysterical, luckily I had one injection of Peg left as the meds did not arrive till the next week.  Then the nurse at my docs office wanted to know what the fuss was about? ARRGGHH!
It is so hard to do these things when you have started tx.  Now I know why I was advised on here to get the meds shipped before I ran out.
My best to you and your husband
Dee

[jules2551]

I had the same problem when i first started tx. My tx hospital wanted to use one specialty pharms and my insurance another. So my Hepa Dr had to refile and in the meantime my insurance company denied Vic. I was beside myself. Finally about 2 wks later i was approved. All i can say is the unnecessary waiting is ridiculous!

Once i got my first shipment i was ok. I didnt request a signature and it was there on my front porch pscked in ice. But after wk 24, when protocol stated i could stop tx, i had to keep on my NP to keep the refill going. What a pain in the a$$. Pharma was calling me, i was calling NP, NP blamed pharma, and pharma said they had no orders.  Just crazy and i was really about to lose it.

Glad you have everything under control. Just keep on top of them. Make sure everything is set up in advance like DWBH stated. I know its stressful but you have to be your hubbys advocate!

[juli4591]

Thanks don't_worry and Dee - we got our meds today! We also received a call from a supervisor at Accredo, and we will be returning the call.  Our drs office called Accredo and must have expressed their displeasure.  Don't_worry, we will do that next month - it will also help us to keep on them to ask for a tracking number.  Why they can't provide one in an email like Amazon does when you make  purchase... I think I will request that service when I call them.

Dee - yikes! meds delivered to the wrong house?? Thank goodness for nice neighbors!  Not sure we'd have that sort of luck.

SO all is right again in our little world - hub is snoozing on the sofa after his 6PM ribavirin.  Its' softly raining here - cool and quiet.  Balm for the soul! Hope you are having good Friday night too!

[Dee1956]

I am so very sorry for what you are experiencing. I had similar problems and had to call my insurance company to get help as the Specialty Pharmacy works for the ins company.  They are supposed to over night these meds.  I had my medicine delivered to the wrong address 3 blocks away, luckily I had a nice neighbor bring them to me.
It is ridiculous that you have to get approval every month when you are on a 6 month or almost 12 month tx
It is hard enough going through tx but then when you have to handle your own care it is even worse.
Again, so sorry.
D

[dontworry_behappy1]

Remember that UPS is NOT open on weekends.  If you miss the truck you
can pick up at their delivery warehouse.  Make sure you have their warehouse hours and again they won't be open on the weekend.
Best To You

[dontworry_behappy1]

Get a tracking number for the package from Accredo  Speciality Pharmacy...
Go online to UPS and track your package.  If you did this ... you would know the package was shipped and if its already on the truck and out for delivery.
You do this every time so your not stressed and you know your medication is
on its way.  The final assurance is signing for the package.  Which it looks like you will be doing.  TRACK your package though UPS and know where it is at all times and know its been shipped.  Give UPS a call.
Best To You

[juli4591]

HI everyone just an update - we STILL have not gotten our meds.  When we were at the dr's office on Monday, the person in charge of meds/prescriptions said that she received a request for more information 1 WEEK after she sent the forms back.  The drs office gave us more meds to hold us over.  Accredo assured her they would call us and ship within two days.  No meds, no calls so I called yesterday.  They had no record of our order, no record of our having called it in on the 9th.  Also said the drs office sent nothing before the 16th.I do not know how these people live with themselves.  I explained to the rep how these meds were so time sensitive and it was obvious she had heard it  all before.  She said we will have to go through the approval process EVERY month - and to start two weeks ahead of time.  For May, I will be calling every single day. I will also be raising holy hell with our HR dept and HealthAmerica.  I can't believe how stressful this is - begging for meds and not even being told the truth when we call.  I will be amazed if we get any meds today (Friday) and the Accredo rep said that if we don't receive them today it will be Tuesday.  I explained that my husband HAD to have his pegasys by Monday because it was his injection day.  ho hum.  I've never ever encountered anything like this.  As I said I work for a college and this is supposed to be superb insurance.  So, we wait for the UPS man to come.  I stayed home this morning so that hub could sleep for a couple hours withotu having to worry about missing the delivery ( we require a signature ).  Wish us luck today!

[1swimmer]

I had Curascripts and though generally good I had problems too. One problem may be the # of refills on file. Any time you make your order, make sure they have a current prescription on file. Also, sometimes there is a communication breakdown between your contact people and where they actually ship the meds. I think you can get a phone number of the shipping dept. If you sign up for my UPS, in the states, you can track your shipment.

Also, check the # of refills listed on your box of meds. And again, as I said above, double check at time of placing order.

Yes this is very frustrating, and added to my anxiety, when I treated.
Hope you get things straightened out.
C

[flcyclist]

There's only so much you and your doctor can do and it sounds like your doc is doing everything right.  Unfortunately, Accredo dropped the ball and put you in a very stressful situation.  Although you can try, I'm not so sure they will send you the next month's supply of meds more than a few weeks ahead of time.  With my specialty pharmacy, they could only ship about 1.5 weeks before needed, which did allow enough time if any errors occurred.  My wife insisted on speaking with the supervisor on duty which handled all the remaining orders during trt.  You need some reassurance that this will never happen again. Speak to a supervisor and give them an earful.  

[juli4591]

Thanks everyone, for your replies.  We're heading off to the dr's office shortly.  Hope they can expedite the process.  I know the last time (last month ) this happened, the drs office HAD faxed the info to them and had the fax logs to prove it.  I Googled Accredo reviews and there are loads of unhappy patients all reporting the same thing.  People on embrel and other injectables, others like us on meds that are time sensitive and cannot be started and stopped.  We had Curascript last time and never had a problem - they were so caring and concerned.  Accredo started out the same way - assigned us a rep that would take care of us and be there for us.  Guess what - she's not ever there and every time we call we get someone different.  My parents get much better service at Walmart pharmacy.  Do they figure if they stall people will decide they don't need the meds???  I work for a college and supposedly have wonderful health insurance.  It's all wonderful until you need it, I guess.  As soon as this order arrives I am reordering.  Thanks again for your insight - I'll let you know what happens.

[dontworry_behappy1]

What flycyclist is saying it most likely the problem.  I would put it on the speciality pharmacy.  The specialty pharmacy directs the delivery service.
Best To You

[flcyclist]

I've had similar problems with the approvals and verification, but the fault came back to my docs office for not filing paperwork properly.  This sounds like it entirely the specialty pharmacy.  I wonder if you have the option of going through another specialty pharmacy due to this problem.  It would have to be approved by your insurance and treating doc.

If your stuck with them, I'd call and insist on speaking with the supervising nurse and get some assurance that this will never happen again.  Get their name and direct number to contact if there's any further problems.  As suggested, get the meds as early as allowed so you have time to correct any future delivery problems.  We certainly don't need any additional stress during trt, especially when it jeopardizes the potential outcome of trt.   Best of luck moving forward.

[dontworry_behappy1]

You should be receiving this medication two weeks in advance.  I would expect that your doctor does have back up meds in there office.  If there prescribing this medication I'm sure the drug company has provided the doctor with back up medication.  This happened to me and I even had a
soggy box with melted ice delivered in the middle if the summer.  This is
serious stuff and it was replaced in an overnight delivery.  Don't let the service deliver without requiring a signature - seems like everything went
much smoother after signing four the package was required. I'm sorry you
have to experience this too.  
Best To You

[can-do-man]

Sorry to hear this is going on. It doesn't surprise me though, having your meds on time is very important. When you see the doctor tomorrow explain this to him and hopefully he can give you an extra weeks worth so you have some cushion, and re order the next months meds at the earlest time possible....... Good luck and best to you.