How Can I Get My Out of State Scripts Filled?

[Seminolegirl]

I just moved back to FL last month and all of the pharmacies here are telling me that they can not fill my NC Neurologist scripts because the scripts are done differently. I am on a fairly high dose of Adderall combined with Ritalin and have not had any Adderall for a month! I am barely able to get through the day and would love it if you guys could give me some suggestions!

[kiragrace]

Have you tried contacting the original prescribing doctor's office to see if they have any suggestions? I guess its too late to somehow fill what prescriptions you have back in NC? I'm in NJ so I don't know about Florida laws, but I DID read or see somewhere that they are heavily cracking down on prescription laws in recent times because Florida was known as a "pill mill" state, with thousands of people coming to Florida to fill scripts because it was so easy........I guess now its gone the other way.

[Seminolegirl]

I actually have contacted my Neurologist in NC several times. That poor doctor has rewritten my scripts about 4 times and mailed them to me! I was told that the laws changed here in FL in September. I wish I had known that and I would have waited one more month to move back down here! Right now it would be very hard to go back up there to get my scripts filled!

I know you are right about the "pill mill". NC has a system with narcotics in which a person's name goes in a computer system every time they fill a script. I knew of so many people that had been cut off from pain clinics up there because they were jumping from place to place to get pills every month! So, what did they do? They started driving to FL every month to go to the clinics here!

I remember thinking how insane that was! People would spend all of their income to come down here and buy pills! I don't think those clinics have changed much, but when I did get one doctor down here to write me the scripts and took it to the pharmacist, he wouldn't fill them! He said that I was prescribed too high of a dose and the wrong kind (XR versus fast acting) ! He called my doctor and she refused to write me any more scripts! I have never in my life had a pharmacist refuse to fill my medications!

[Willow2007]

My only suggestion would be to have your scripts sent by the doctor to a walmart or Walgreens. They are nationwide. If they take the script in NC, they should be able to fill it in FL. We did that in Iowa with antibiotics. A woman on vacation in FL needed a change in her antibiotic, so we sent it to Walmart here in Iowa, they gave it to her in FL. but I know they are screwy about any controlled drugs.

My scripts are mailed to me from South Dakota. I take them to my pharmacy here and have had no problems. but I guess every state is different.

good luck!

[kiragrace]

Have you found a Dr. in Florida yet that will be taking over your care?

Willow might be on to something with her suggestion.....a national chain might be more willing to fill the script.

[Seminolegirl]

Thank you Willow and KiraGrace. Walmart is the place that told me earlier this week that they can not fill it because I need a FL script. That day my neighbor took the script in for me after I had called to ok it. Today, I am going in to the store myself to find out exactly what the problem is. Yes, you would think that nationwide chains would honor other states prescriptions, however, it appears that is not the case. It does seem like the pharmacists down here are very jumpy since this new law passed.

I did spend the last of my savings to pay for visits to a primary care doctor down in FL, but because the pharmacist kept hassling that doctor about writing the scripts in the same manner that my Neurologist had, she finally refused to write them at all.

Getting medical coverage down here is requiring a lot of paperwork on my part. I was in a severe car accident last year, so I have thousands upon thousands of medical records, specialists, over 30 surgeries, etc. I have to prove all of this to the State of FL before they will help me with anything!

I can see the good and the bad in our healthcare system now. I was given disability due to the extent of my injuries and prior to a partial amputation and then diagnosis of N. So, I was one of the fortunate ones in that I got it the first time I applied, with no idea how much worse things could get. I will always be grateful to NC Medicaid for covering all of my months of hospital bills and months in a Skilled Nursing Facility, because there is no way many people could afford to pay several millions of dollars in medical expenses.

The downside I am running into now is 1. The Medicaid system keeps trying to tell me I either make too much in disability to continue receiving benefits or 2. I can no longer qualify because I received a small insurance settlement. When I say small, I mean small! Just enough to pay for one month of medication, get settled back down in FL and pay for a few doctor's visits.

So, I am just praying that I will be able to receive some type of health coverage SOON because not only am I exhausted every day, I am in so much pain, require more surgery and extensive rehab.

If you guys know any hints for me in any of these health care areas, please feel free to give me some tips! I never knew anything about any of this until my accident!

Thanks!

[Irishvamp7587]

Do you have a friend or family family that will fill the prescription in your original state and then mail it to? I used to do that,

Also, do you have kids? Unfortunately that is one of the few ways to get on state medicaid insurance. This is in PA at least. Or if you can get a dr to fill out a form for temporary dissability, it's really simple and doesn't involve any legal things, just your dr's opinion and you take it to social services and that is a good enough reason for you to get medical assistance or possibly food stamps and cash assistance (tanf). I'm not too familiar with the official disability stuff like SSDI and SSI.

[Willow2007]

I have a friend in Old town FL and she has been unable to get any medical help so she goes to a clinic somewhere in her area. In many states, if you have children, you can get title XIX for the family. but I know Florida is difficulty. Good luck.

[Seminolegirl]

Thanks IrishVamp and Willow! I do have a daughter, but she is finishing out high school in NC at her dad's house. So, I wouldn't qualify for Medicaid under the terms of having a child living in the home with me.

I did get approved for SSDI back in April. SSDI is paid by the Federal Government and SSI by the state (I think). I know NC and FL have very similar maximum SSI limits and if you will draw above that, you draw SSDI. A person's disability earnings is calculated based on their earnings for their lifetime up until the time they are found disabled. Some people appear to be able to draw both SSI and SSDI?

Each state's Medicaid Program is so different. Florida's income level is actually lower than NC,, but FL allows you to deduct things like rent and utilities and medical bills. NC does not and would have made me pay almost 5K for a 6 month policy. There is no way I could have paid that, so essentially, I would have had no way to get insurance in NC once I left a facility.

Willow, you mentioned a friend in Old Towne. Is this the Old Towne near Orlando or a different city? You mentioned a clinic that she goes to. We do have a major teaching hospital where I am at and they will help with medical care if a person meets the requirements. I have to wait for an interview until December 21, but have my fingers crossed. I do not know how prescriptions would be covered, but I would hope at a big discount since I have so many specialiasts!

Also, I was not familiar with the "Title XIX" you referenced. Is that Medicaid for families?

[AFGHANII]

I had the same problem. BUT...there is a solution, thank god. LoL. I have my scripts mailed to my moms house and my mom fills it for me and then mails it to me overnight. You might have to make arrangements with your pharmacy first but this option works since i go to schooll out the state. This also worked overseas for me

[Seminolegirl]

Thanks AFGHANII. I don't have family, but I may be able get a friend of mine in NC to pick it up for me. I did finally get approved for "Medically Needy" Medicaid down in FL. BUT, I have to have a bill of at least $978 before they will pay for anything! How in the world can a person on disability afford that? I am researching some patient assistance programs now, but I am going to have to find a slew of specialists down here, so I have to find a way to turn in a bill EVERY month for that amount before they will cover each month of medical care. I love how easy they make things on all of us!

[AFGHANII]

No problem hun...GOOD LUCK...I kno first hand how FRUSTRATING being unable to get your meds lol

[sometimes]

Presuming it is legal under Florida law, you might be able to use an out of state mail order pharmacy.

[Seminolegirl]

Hi everyone!

I am sorry I have not been back on this thread to give an update! I have found out that Florida laws changed in September and the new law requires the script to be written by a Florida physician and all of the scripts have pre-printed vendor numbers on them.

I also did try a couple of mail order pharmacies and they said that they do not handle controlled substances. I just talked to my boyfriend and he said that there are some online pharmacies that will fill controlled substances. I asked if they are reputable and he said that he will show me how to tell. If I find out any good information I will let you guys know!