I thought that I would share this experience with you good people so that others might benefit.
I suffer from degenerative disc disease. I have several disc locations in my neck and back that cause me great pain. A couple of years ago, I used a direct script service and received three scripts with 2 refills each. I used my insurance card to pay for these (a total of nine fills of hydrocodone 7.5 - 60 count - stretched out over ten months)without even thinking about it. Wow, that was a mistake!
Last week, my wife (God bless her) shut the truck door without realizing my sandle clad foot was sticking out. Ouch!! I don't recommend this! Needless to say, my foot quickly swelled to about three times its normal size and turned an ugly shade of blue. The next day I went to the local er to make sure that it was not broken. Turns out, two of my toes are broken and there is some crush injury also. Imagine my surprise when the er doc came into the room and promptly informed me that he would not be prescribing any type of narcotics! When I asked him what he was talking about he said that my insurance company had flagged my file as a drug abuser. He had the amount, type and prescribing doctors name. Also the date prescribed. I told him why I had been presribed the meds and pointed out it had been long ago. It didn't matter that I had not requested anything for pain (I already have meds for my DDD) and he still was very rude and told me that he would be contacting my primary family doctor to tell him of my now red file condition at the hospital! (Can he do this?) This man had the nerve to say to me and my wife that "addicts will sometimes cause injury to themselves in order to obtain pain meds." In other words, I shut my foot in a car door in order to get pain meds!
I couldn't believe what I was hearing!
I immediatly told him that I was going to file a complaint with the hospital and the insurance company. I had not requested any type of pain meds (that is not why I was there,) my primary already knows my history and why I was purchasing meds on line and he could pack up his attitude, get me another doctor and kiss my a$$!!!!
This is alot of what is wrong with our health care system and the attitude toward chronic pain patients. I doubt if any of things I said to him will make any difference but I did file a complaint with both the hospital and the insurance company. The er did bring in another doctor (after waiting another 90 minutes)and they treated my injuries but did not offer to prescribe anything for pain relief. They told me to take 800 mg Ibuprofen every 6 hours as needed. This morning, my primary doctor had his receptionist call to move up my next appointment. Oh boy!
The lesson? Be careful how you use your insurance in this industry...it could come back to bite you!

Wow, thats insane.

For the first time, I think Im glad I haven't had insurance for the past couple of years....

Oh yeah, insurance companies track prescriptions and if there are a lot of them, they will send the printout to your primary to make sure that your primary knows about them.

I know...it happened to me. I've never used a Direct Script, but my PM doc had me on 5 medicines a month. My insurance company sent my family doctor a print out of all the prescriptions I'd gotten in the last 2 years, but there was nothing on there except what my PM prescribed or my family doctor so I was okay. I would not use my insurance to ever get a DS filled. My sister was caught about 20 years ago for doing just that (she was doctor shopping and filling prescriptions with her insurance in 4 different towns). Her insurance company sent the printout to her OBGYN, who was her primary, and also her boss (no HIPPA back then I guess). She lost her job of many years. It took her a long time to claw out of that hole and get normal again, but I learned from watching her that I would never do the DS thing, so I stayed away from those companies.

what is your insurance company?

My insurance company is Anthem Blue Cross. I hope that I am allowed to give their name without getting my hand slapped.
By the way...does anyone remember the name of the website that lets you rate and comment on doctors? I would very much like to give this doc a rating or two.

www.ratemds.com is one of the sites

Late last year my insurance company sent a letter informing me that they were going to share my private medical history with other medical professionals who subscribed to their service and inquired about my history.

They went on to say it was totally for my benefit because my current doctor would be able to make better decisions on my medical care since he would have access to prior test results, diagnosis, and prescriptions. It sounded to me like they were planning on selling my info. Luckily there was a number to call to "opt-out" of this horsesh!t nonesense. It wasn't exactly easy because I was on the phone for a while being transferred around but I finally made it known I did not want my private info shared with anyone.

Just thought I would share that. Your insurance company may be doing the same thing.

I have noticed in the past 6 mos. drs. will not prescribe any pain meds in the state of NC under any conditions unless you are in a pain management clinic. If you go to an ER 10 pills may be prescribed and they will call the large pharmacies to see if you have had any prescriptions filled previously before they write a script. Prior to this I was getting my meds at 120 with 4 renewals. So I don't think it is just because of insurance, if they are checking with the pharmacies.

I honestly believe this for two reasons: first - many people abuse the ERs to get pain meds. But, if you go in there with an obvious injury - big swelling, broken bones, black and blue, then, to me, there is NO excuse - even if others have abused the system.

Second, the docs are scared $hitless to prescribe - probably due to the DEA and #1.

To me, if you go in with an obvious injury that is clearly painful, to NOT prescribe adequate meds is unethical. I believe things will change, albeit slowly. Even the staunchest "drug war advocates" are recognizing that this war is not working - just as prohibition did not work. But people do not like to admit failure and our very well being hangs in the balance.

I am SO sorry you had to endure that experience in the ER. Until the letters get it, your advice is good. Don't use insurance of DS'. It may come back to bite you. I hope not.

I know this is an old post, but I have always said, from the days of NROP to ROP to DS, NEVER use insurance of any kind. The services were operating in a grey area of the law to begin with (not breaking any, but unconventional to say the least), and using insurance was/is just asking for it. The money saved simply is NOT worth it. Please don't get greedy...use your insurance for your regular doc and meds, and just pay cash for the ROP doc and meds and there will never be any expensive kind of trouble like this.

To me, this includes the new F2F services, unless you are going to use the F2F services *exclusively*, and even then, I'd be hesitant.

Just my opinion, does anyone else agree or disagree?

--J

I agree 100%!

The less paper trail you leave the better. Especially with our new Big Brother style government.

I also agree. Part of the reason I neve went the DS route was I didn't want to fill an out-of-state RX in my small town.

Oh well, it's all moot for most of us now. It will be interesting to see how long the F2F companies are able to keep going. I'm sure the DEA would love to shut them down.

I totally agree. I am forced to pay for all scripts, since my insurance doesn't cover them. So I've found by getting generics and filling at Costco and Wal*mart, it usually costs me around 10 bucks per script. Way cheap, and after reading this, I'm glad I've gotten in this habit!

Has this happened to anyone else? I also would fill my direct scripts thru Blue cross/ Blue shield / Anthem. After the fact, the more I thought about it, the more I began wondering if I ever had an accident would I be flagged? The insurance company never question or denied any of the fills. I never recieved any letters from them and they even allowed me to fill brand, but once I was finished doing this, I began questioning myself. I no longer order thru the internet, but I also have not been in for a regular doctors visit. And I've never used the F2F. But It's always in the back of my mind...that "Big, what if??"

thanks all

They way things are all "connected" now, it is a definite risk that anything you do will become known. Especially with insurance.

So, user beware and use with caution.

This type of situation is exactly why I always used one those free discount cards when I had my direct scripts filled.

They are still tracked by my states PMP but, it keeps the insurance company out of the loop a little. It seems to me that the insurance companies are one of the main contributors to the struggles of CP'ers.

Very sad.

Is it just for narcotics your file is getting flagged? And are insurance companies that bad about it or just the smaller ones?

All scripts are tracked here in Alabama. I used to think it was just narcotics but, it's everything. JMO of course but, I think it's the larger insurance companies that are the biggest pains in the butt.

It's the fact that some insurance companies send a complete list of what you've gotten filled to your pcp, at least mine does. She let me know i was on a lot of sleep meds. Little does she know i rotate them but still get them filled every month since I'm paranoid (I let her know that fact).

Where was this at?

it was all pharms and scripts. the ins. company was aetna. They've been doing it a while now.

The more things become computerized (and we are nearly there), it will be all but impossible,with or without insurance, for it not to be tracked.

The thinking is: this is better for patients and, I think, it may be, but if there is a script you do not want your doc to know about - well, he will. I truly believe it is for coordination of care (and that is a good thing - drug interactions, duplication, etc).

So, being up front with your doctor is pretty important. So, if he sees a script filled, he or she knows - OK this is the one so and so told me about. It could backfire, I know, but I still believe a close, honest, relationship w/ your doc is your best bet.

If I am being someone who doesn't have a clue here, don't hesitate to tell me. It wouldn't be the first time I haven't had a clue, lol. But, please know, my pain issues were not treated for quite tome time.

in my state (WA) all meds get back to your pcp......whether its narcs or maintance. Insurance co's and pharmacies flag. When the dr sends a fax to pharmacy the pharmacy send a fax regarding all of meds taken....even if you pay cash instead of ins. I almost got busted, I can only get my narcs through my pcp at their pharmacy. Another Dr sends my stuff to a different pharmacy. They found out about my benzo but since my dr was already on the list so they said be careful. Whatever you do, dont get script from ER and your pcp. She knew I went but i refused the narcs from the ER either way they got ya and its not worth losing your dr over . JMO

I hate to say it .....But I think even the Free Discount Cards Track your Scripts!

She knew I was getting sleep meds from the psych. She wasn't mad, in fact, she authorizes Sonata anyway. I like her, but Mr Sweetz doesn't, but she's my pcp.

You are right, and that is what I said in my post. I said that the state will still be able to track them on the PMP but, my insurance company ,who is out of NY, shouldn't have access to my states PMP I don't think. I could be wrong.

From my understanding, only physcians, pharmacists, and LE registered in my state have access to that information. Of course the DEA would too.

Someone please correct me if I am wrong.

Yeah, that was what I used to do to. And with those discount cards, there is no way to track the info. It just has your name on it. No S.S#, or address, etc. You are right though. They could track through the doctors.

Sweetz, I saw on another thread that you put a link for RxHope. Can you tell me how that works please??? I would appreciate it very much! I have insurance but still the Seroquel I take at night is very expensive and I would like to change my antidepressant med also; which is expensive! Do you think I should call them? I filled out the form but haven't heard back from them. Any info. would be helpful. Thank You!!!

Sorry Bryan ....But I think you are wrong. For Instance the http://www.yourrxcard.com/ ...You can get a card in your name ....or you can go to a Pharm and use a Generic card with No Name with a different ID# ....But when the Pharmacist goes to use the Card for you ...The Database or that Ins. Card will Automatically convert to You.....Meaning that the ID Number on the card doesn't Matter! ....It is your Name....Address....DOB that gets hooked up in their Database! Now what they do with that Info?....Who Knows. But it does Track your Meds!! and then there is the MIB!! ( http://www.mib.com/ )

We can't win lol. Pretty soon you will have to provide blood and urine for composite DNA testing before you can get your script filled. Sad...