I often feel bad for the pharmacists out there who have to deal with the unbelievable bullshit that flows in and out of the pharmacy. Doctors and nurses do not seem to retain the knowledge regarding the process of calling in scripts. Our pharmacist had 3 scripts in a row on the voicemail today. The first didn't leave a strength for the albuterol solution, the second left out a strength for some cholesterol or blood pressure med, and the third completely forgot to leave a name for a Vicodin script. How useless can a doctor's office be? Do they have time to make stupid phone calls and wait for the pharmacists/interns to call them back for corrections or clarifications? We barely have time to receive them in the first place. When you call in a script, make sure you go through a checklist when leaving a message. Our pharmacists use one when we take them off the voicemail. Give it a try.
Yesterday, a foreign gentleman came through our drive-thru. He stated his name and began the awkward stare that ensues while I wait for them to state their purpose for visiting. Just a side note, do not just wait for me to open the window and then say "Smith" because I'll stare right back and say "Johnson". I don't read minds. I finally cracked and asked the man if he was picking up a prescription. He said yes and I proceeded to ask for the spelling of his 21-letter last name. I went to the scripts and found his script for Nexium. I rang it up and told him it would be $2.00 (thanks to Medicaid). Now, judging by this man's reaction, you would have thought I told him it will cost him both legs and an eye. He was just shocked. He proceeded to tell me it used to be free and asked me why it was $2.00 now. I did my very best to remain calm. I explained to him that as of February 1st, all Caresource, Molina, RxAmerica and other state-funded insurances were being run through Medicaid now for prescription coverage. He, of course, didn't understand and still wanted a reason for a $2.00 co-pay. I told him that his prescription coverage is different now and that two bucks would be his co-pay that day.
This is where I lost it.
The man had the nerve to pull out a STACK of $20 bills from his coat pocket. We're talking at least $500 worth of twenties. I told him he was lucky to have any coverage at all and that the cash price for Nexium was over$120. He was still confused as to why his co-pay was $2.00 and not ZERO like he normally got before Feb. 1st. In the end he paid and drove off. If I knew I wouldn't get fired, I would have slapped that man. He doesn't deserve any insurance coverage. Granted, most people out there have no clue what drugs cost. This man just assumed he was going to enjoy a free ride in our country. It pisses me off and it pisses other pharmacy employees (across the nation, I'm assuming) off too.
