This is fantastic news for those of you with a prescription to transfer. Walgreens has a new prescription transfer coupon available!
Get a $25 Walgreens Gift Card with any transferred prescription, good through April 29, 2009.
Check the site for a list of restrictions regarding valid items and state laws.
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Tara Kuczykowski is a married mom of three boys and two girls, ages 4 to 10 years, living in Columbus, OH.
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{ 52 comments… read them below or add one }
Any tips for finding new prescription coupons? It seems like there are plenty of transferred ones available, but the new ones are rare.
Any advice is greatly appreciated! I rely on thse coupons to help defray the costs of healthcare.
Deb,
CVS takes competitor's coupons and honors them on new or transferred so start there and then next month transfer to either Rite Aid or Walgreens, some grocery stores have offers too. I also heard from someone that Walmart and Kmart have transfer offers too, but have not tried for myself. I have however used competitor's coupons at CVS for new scripts plenty of times! Hope this helps.
I went this week to my cvs to get two new prescriptions with a Transferred coupon from walgreens and the lady and the farmacy told me that I can't use a tranferred coupon on a new prescription.
Brenda, drop your prescription off at walmart... then have walgreens call them and transfer it to walgreens... wa la transferred prescription! Also I toggle back and forth between pharmacies ( our family has 5 total prescriptions and then I buy sales/rebate items with the card ) that a gift that keeps on giving! Kmart has a $20 gift card for NEW or TRANS prescriptions... check ebay. Excellent source and cheap coupons. I've even taken the paper prescription with an old bottle that shows the last prescription was filled at a different pharmacy. And if that doesn't work be prepared to walk away... say thanks very much but I was counting on using the coupon, I'll have to send it to a competitor and take advantage of someone elses offer. The manager would cringe at that. Good luck
Tracy, I have done what you suggested to get the Rite Aid gift card a few months back. Today I dropped off my new script at Rite Aid. I later went to Walgreens and asked them to transfer the script. The walgreens pharmacist told me I wouldn't get the gift card because it was still a new script!
I then went to walgreens.com and put in to have the script transferred from Rite Aid to a different walgreens. Hopefully this store will be friendlier.
Hi Lisa, sorry you've had so much trouble. Don't hesitate to ask for help from the manager. Tell the manager that you had your prescription "transferred" to his store in order to use their coupon. Tell them it's hard to believe they would turn away business (the reason for the coupon in the first place) and send you running to take your money elsewhere. And if that doesn't work politely reiterate... You want me to take this prescription to ANOTHER PHARMACY-HAVE IT FILLED THERE???, and then have it transferred here NEXT MONTH, in order to use this coupon??? Call me crazy but that just seems like you are SENDING ME RIGHT TO YOUR COMPETITOR TO DO BUSINESS. Is that what you are saying? Watch the look on their face when you put it that way. Always be super nice no matter what the response is. If they still say "NO". Smile and tell them you have a POLICY too... NO COUPON, NO BUSINESS!
Tracy, thanks for your response. I waited a day and then went online and requested the transfer directly from Walgreens.com and selected a different location. When I went to pick it up the clerk was near the end of her shift so she barely looked at my coupon and had no problem giving me the gift card. I was all set with my responses, but didn't end up needing them.
I find this hilarious...I've worked in a chain pharmacy for almost 6 years and we laugh when people try to negotiate gift card coupons...to be honest...we don't personally care if you go down the street...chain stores are HUGE...not getting your prescription won't bother us one bit...i especially like to smile and say "Have a wonderful day"....its that kill em with kindness approach, gets under people's skin all the time...and when you try to get the store manager involved...you made the pharmacy team even more irritated...in summary....i would like to thank all of the gift card exploiters who have used every pharmacy in town...since we do not live in a perfect society when all pharmacies are connected...your adverse drug effects help destroy the US health care system...be smart, care for yourself and your family...fill your prescriptions in one pharmacy...then the pharmacist is able to adequately check for interactions and provide you the best care
Howdy PharmIntern! Thanks for your amusement for those of us who try to spend our money wisely. Perhaps YOU personally don't care if we take our business down the street but that's why you WORK in a pharmacy and don't OWN one. So yuck it up... cause it's someone like me you rent from or work for. Next time I need sound medical advise I don't think I'll be asking an intern pharmacist... I'll ask my brother-in-law the doctor. You can't even manage money... why would I consider you an expert on the US health care system??? Nice Smock
It's not just me that doesn't care, the majority of pharmacists at chain stores don't care because they don't own the store either. Rarely do I see gift cards for independent pharmacies, where the pharmacist would be more inclined to keep you. Remember...the purpose of these offers are for you to stay at one pharmacy, but people such as you exploit the system. It's very hypocritical for you to argue with the manager to keep you as a patient and then next month switch pharmacies for another gift card. To be honest, don't ask me questions. I can't answer them unless a pharmacist is shadowing me. And how dare you say I can't manage money...I'm working through school so I can pay for myself and not depend on others to pay for me. I am an expert on the health care system because I'm a major provider of the system, and yes, a pharmacy is part of the system. I wish patients would realize that by exploiting this coupons for gift cards that they are causing problems. But I also blame the corporations that come up with these coupons. There's a reason these coupons are not allowed for government health plan holders.
DEAR PHARMINTERN:
Let me clarify the purpose of the coupon. It isn't to keep me at one pharmacy for my safety and well being. The coupon is an instrument made by the advertising dept of your HUGE chain to generate business/revenue for your store. It's a tool to get me in the store to spend my money. That is why your pharmacy pays such a high dollar to create them. It's called advertising. So your "laugh at the customer... then kill them with kindness... it really gets under their skin" mentality absolutely neutralizes your employers effort to generate business/profit from that coupon sale. Make people really mad, intern, they won't show their face in here again... ha ha ha
Yes, you give a $25 store merchandise card for over-priced merchandise so that your employer can receive payment (and yes, less profit... but profit all the same) and perhaps repeat business in the future (whether that be next month or the month after... with another $25 coupon). So after giving you $12 in actual cost of the overpriced merchandise; the store still makes a profit from your $150 prescription they are billing your insurance company for. That's what pays your salary. Advertising. Coupons. And those nasty coupon carrying, question asking, wanting a good deal creatures you call customer.
Wisely utilizing coupons is NOT exploitation. It's a tool for the frugal, necessity for the elderly and Godsend for the ill. And NO you are NOT an expert on the health care system... you don't even have a clue. By your own admission, you're not even allowed to answer questions, remember, a pharmacist is "shadowing" you. That must say something about your knowledge and ability. You must think you are an expert for the management in your field; because you speak for them too. I suggest you take some business courses spanky and learn about profit and loss. You are COSTING your employer money by your high and mighty attitude.
I have a right to transfer my prescriptions wherever I see fit without being tagged fraudulent, without ridicule and without sarcasm. Please share your personal thoughts with the marketing/advertising department of your HUGE chain that doesn't care. I encourage you to send them a copy of what was written here. Hopefully, they'll thank you... with a pink slip.
You think we're really making a profit...let me give you a break down of insurance billing.
Let's look at a antihypertensive such as Diovan.
Price pharmacy pays for 30 tablets: $140
Price insurance company negotiates with the drug company: $90
Amount the insurance company gives to the pharmacy for its services: $5
So the pharmacy paid $140 for the drug, but we get paid $95. Add in that we're giving you a $25 gift card...comes out to us get $70 when we paid $140 for your medication. Do you know understand how promotions such as this worsen an already broken system? In order to make up, we must make those without insurance suffer by paying higher costs.
You may think that you are not exploiting the system, but you are. From your previous posts, you seem to be trying to bend the rules, and then calling the manager to help you get your gift card from the mean pharmacy. Also, the elderly don't qualify for the coupon....they have Medicare/Medicaid depending on the situation.
It is true I am not allowed to answer questions without being in "ear-shot" of the pharmacist...bc its the law and I follow the law bc I do want to practice as a pharmacist. This does not affect my knowledge or ability, we're just following the laws. I do not feel like an expert in the field of management. The pharmacy team is there to make sure that each patient receives appropriate pharmaceutical care. This is not possible when someone uses every pharmacy on the block. Remember different chains have different computer systems.
To be honest, I have taken a general economics course and 2 dealing specifically with pharmacoeconomics, so I'm not spouting out of my ear. And where the heck did spanky come from?
You do have a right to transfer your prescription as long as its legally done. I find it irresponsible on your part though because you worry more about money then your health.
Th pharmacy team worries more about giving every patient the best care. Those coupons are on the bottom of our list. But they are on the top of the "Things that have ruined pharmacy" list; along with the drive-thru.
I agree with the intern...people like tracy are annoying. at any pharmacy there are probably around 3-5 patients that continuously transfer prescriptions to get giftcards. I'm pretty sure the CVS pharmacy i work at will do just fine without these annoying customers. Also, pharmacy interns mainly need to be shadowed becuase they arent used to counseling patients. Not because they don't have the knowledge. Student usually are up to date with the newest studies since they are still in school. Oh n one last thing...if you are such an expert on profits/loss and blah blah, why do you need to get so many giftcards? Can't you make money the normal way????
To PharmIntern,
I totally support Tracy. She is wise! What’s wrong with using the system out there to save your money? Some numskulls came up with the coupon thing, and we will come up with ways to use it? Have you ever wonder why you are just an intern instead of pharmacist? It’s because you are a loser! You don’t care about the business of the place you work, but your upper management always care! If I was dealing with you, I will take your name down and write a letter to corporate. Then your store manager can get his butt in trouble as well. I can careless if your team mad, as long as I get what I want that’s all it matter. Whether you like it or not, that the way people do it. Don’t forget the income that you receive is from the customers. So keep your mouth shut and do some thinking before you say. I wrote a letter to CVS corporate about their sloppy customer service, and I transferred to Walgreen get my $25 gift card. If Walgreen does not treat me nice, I transfer to Rite Aid get $30. It’s all about business. CVS wrote me a letter to apologize about the experiences that I had, but too bad CVS incompetent techs were concern about the $25 gift card than losing $1230 business. That’s fine. Let’s the corporate do the math, and they will tell their incompetent employees what to do. The next thing we know the business in a big hole. LOL
People get rich by using their heads and use money wisely, I make 6 digits figures income but I still love to use coupons. I save my money for different investment. I don't want to be a TECH LOL. You know what I mean? I don't want to be a TECH all my life. That's why.
Thanks D! I knew there were other people out there that felt the same way.
Sibling of Walgreens Tech: Awesome argument [sarcasm]
"Have you ever wonder why you are just an intern instead of pharmacist? It’s because you are a loser!"--I hope you are a teenager.
I would love to know what happened that you encountered such horrible customer service. Please divulge if you will.
Wow, I haven't seen such hate and name calling in a while! I am saddened by amount of rudeness in your (PharmIntern) last comment. It was not so bad until we got to the "loser" and [sarcasm] comments. I am really disappointed in your lack of maturity. I am a coupon user! My family of 4 lives off of one income, we have one car, and are almost completely debt free! I use these coupons to help my family eat, I don't buy junk with the gift cards! I am glad that you are supporting yourself, but don't bad mouth people like me who aren't on welfare! I do more shopping at the stores that aren't rude or on their high horse about the gift cards. And yes I shop there with cash also!
Jen
My lack of maturity? If you clearly read the posts by Sibling of walgreen tech, you would have realized that I just quoted her immaturity.
I'm guessing people don't see the my main point:
By switching your prescription to every pharmacy on the block, YOU ARE KILLING YOURSELVES AND YOUR FAMILY!
I do not care if people come in ONCE and receive a gift card. But what annoys me is that next month they will go to the pharmacy across town to get another gift card. Then the patient expects to come back to our pharmacy and receive another gift card. NO!
I will go to stores where items are on sale, but I am not exploiting my health or my family's health.
Does everyone now understand my stance? People think I am the biggest anti-coupon person, but I worry about my patients' health. Because guess what...without your health, you got nothing.
Damn!! I NEED this coupon!!! But when I went to the website, it says "We're sorry, this item is no longer available. Please click here to view our current Weekly Ad Home."
Can someone PLEASE email me a copy of the coupon or a working link so I can print it?? I would REALLY appreciate it!!!
Thanks!
Dear Pharmintern, if we are KILLING OURSELVES AND OUR FAMILIES BY TRANSFERRING OUR PRESCRIPTIONS, why does your company print so many coupons enticing us to do so? By the way, my family is fine. None dead yet. Your immaturity is amusing. In reading Business Week last month I had to laugh, the biggest reason the CVS CEO was against the drive-thru pharmacy was because the company was afraid they were going to lose candy and soda sales - not customer health concerns - but CANDY AND SODA SALES. Your billion dollar corporation can't be losing money on filling prescriptions - or you wouldn't have your so-called job. Maybe that's what they are telling you - to keep your paycheck at a minimum. But the CEO says different in Business Week. Don't act like you are so high and mighty about everyone's health. Admit it you just hate to hand out $25 gift cards while you are punching the clock and standing on your feet for 2-1/2 hours to earn your $25. And don't make me laugh about students knowing more than experienced Pharmacists - could you imagine being in the hospital and having your surgeon tell you an INTERN was going to perform your surgery - because the student has more experience. RIDICULOUS! Just because these frugal folks like Tracy have found a better way to spend their money and time it erks you. Too bad. That's why you are behind the counter and not in front of it. If you hate YOUR JOB, YOUR CORPORATE POLICY, YOUR CUSTOMER - QUIT. Please let me remind you, because I think you've forgotten, you are NOT A PHYSICIAN and frankly YOU AREN'T EVEN A PHARMACIST. You don't save lives. You fill prescriptions written by someone with a post graduate, medical degree in their field. YOU FOLLOW THEIR ORDERS - AND DO IT WITH A SMILE. That's what you are paid to do.
Wow, what a heated discussion! I agree with Tracy and Cameron. If you don't like your job, leave it. Your corporate office creates these coupons/offers and you are blaming the customer for using them. Wouldn't be just as easy for your company to print a disclaimer on the coupon that the GC cannot exceed the cost of the prescription? Seems like they chose NOT to do that for a reason. Whatever the reason, it isn't for YOU to decide whether or not the customer DESERVES it. Pharmintern says she is so concerned for the customer? Did you even read what you wrote on 2-11? You don't CARE if people take their business down the street? If you were my employee, and I have 40+, I would fire you in a second. Your marketing department puts these coupons out for financial stimulus. Getting business. Keeping business. Repeat business. Cheaper than television or paid print advertising and you are squashing it at the door! Your job is not Coupon Judge and Jury. Leave the marketing aspect to the professionals. You need to focus on counting pills and ringing up sales. Leave the marketing/advertising portion to someone with an accomplished degree in their field. The funny part is that you and D insult the savvy GC users and you both could learn a little something - if you didn't think you knew it all, already.
Wow 2 responses in one day...if people would only carefully read what I wrote before they type away...so I guess I'll have to go through all the accusations...
Let's begin with Cameron:
"if we are KILLING OURSELVES AND OUR FAMILIES BY TRANSFERRING OUR PRESCRIPTIONS, why does your company print so many coupons enticing us to do so?"
-to be honest the big chain corporations couldn't care less what the customers did as long as the corporation is still making a profit...on the other hand the pharmacist usually cares and tries to avoid killing a patient by looking over the patient's medication history to make sure that the best therapy is being utilized
"Your immaturity is amusing."
-Please quote on my immaturity...Is it immature to actually care for the patients that come into the pharmacy in which I work at?
"In reading Business Week last month I had to laugh, the biggest reason the CVS CEO was against the drive-thru pharmacy was because the company was afraid they were going to lose candy and soda sales - not customer health concerns - but CANDY AND SODA SALES"
-Yeah I actually found that article hilarious, too. He's a pharmacist but once he got into the big seat, Tom forgot what it's like to work in an actual pharmacy.
"Your billion dollar corporation can’t be losing money on filling prescriptions - or you wouldn’t have your so-called job"
-The only reason that Tom Ryan's company (CVS) is booming is because they bought a prescription insurance company (Caremark) to become the supreme CVS Caremark. Otherwise, the insurance companies like to pay you less than you charge. Ask your physician, I'm sure he would love to tell you that even though he wants to charge $150 for your visit, the insurance company only wants to pay $50.
"Don’t act like you are so high and mighty about everyone’s health. Admit it you just hate to hand out $25 gift cards while you are punching the clock and standing on your feet for 2-1/2 hours to earn your $25."
-To be honest, I get paid the same amount either way. Actually, in the past, I was able to get a gift card if I got 2 people to transfer over. I wish I made $25 in 2.5 hours...my job would be even better.
"And don’t make me laugh about students knowing more than experienced Pharmacists "
-Still not sure where people think that I think I'm better than a pharmacist. The pharmacy works as a team...and as an intern I must practice under a pharmacist. So I pretty much am learning from the pharmacist on duty...please quote me if I'm wrong though.
"If you hate YOUR JOB, YOUR CORPORATE POLICY, YOUR CUSTOMER - QUIT"
-Actually, I really like my job. Even though the work piles up, and we get busy...I find it very rewarding bc I like interacting with patients.
"Please let me remind you, because I think you’ve forgotten, you are NOT A PHYSICIAN...You don’t save lives. You fill prescriptions written by someone with a post graduate, medical degree in their field. YOU FOLLOW THEIR ORDERS - AND DO IT WITH A SMILE. That’s what you are paid to do."
-No, don't go there! Uh oh, now you have EVERY pharmacist, intern, and tech ready to come after you like you're a witch/heretic or something. The two practices are completely autonomous. We are the drug experts and they are the diagnosticians. We do deserve the same amount of respect though. As do all health care providers (nurses, therapists, etc.) In reality, WE save the doctor's ass when he messes up a drug order. In my 6 years of working in pharmacy...I have yet to see a doctor save the pharmacist's ass. They usually have to fend for themselves against the wolves. Plus, we are not a vending machine! The pharmacist reviews and fills a prescription IF AND ONLY IF the pharmacist determines in his/her professional judgment that the order is suitable and appropriate therapy for the patient. O yeah, the pharmacist has a doctorate, too. So next time, you better address your pharmacist as Dr. so and so.
If you feel that pharmacists are just the physician's slaves...you have another thing coming honey. You are the stereotypical patient. I think you fail to realize the contribution of pharmacists. In the big chains, the majority of pharmacists see themselves as a pharmacist not a Rite Aid/CVS/Walgreens pharmacist.
Now for dana:
"Your corporate office creates these coupons/offers and you are blaming the customer for using them."
-I don't care if a patient comes in to use the coupon, and STAYS to get all their medications at ONE pharmacy. I don't blame the patient, but I feel that it is irresponsible because they are not taking his/her health into consideration. Pharmacies are NOT connected, so we have no idea if you filled something down the street or not. Say you go to many different doctors (a very common scenario)...doctor's do not always share info between each other so one may prescribe a drug that interacts with another one you're already taking. If you fill both meds at different pharmacies...who is going to tell you that taking those drugs together can cause extremely high potassium levels which may lead to significant heart problems.
"Did you even read what you wrote on 2-11? You don’t CARE if people take their business down the street?"
-I care and worry that patients use one pharmacy. Well there is one aspect pf health care that I have not touched upon. Patient-centered care where the patient must put some effort into his/her own health care. If our pharmacy tries to do our best for the patient and he/she gives no effort or refuses, then it is pointless for us to intervene.
"If you were my employee, and I have 40+, I would fire you in a second"
-Thanks for your empathy, but I have not been disciplined in the 6 years. So they must like my work.
"Your marketing department puts these coupons out for financial stimulus. Getting business. Keeping business. Repeat business. Cheaper than television or paid print advertising and you are squashing it at the door! Your job is not Coupon Judge and Jury. Leave the marketing aspect to the professionals."
-To be honest, I have not refused a coupon unless it was against the law. The pharmacy team is there to ensure the best health care for the patient...this does not gift cards, though.
"You need to focus on counting pills and ringing up sales."
-I'm going to ignore that comment and try not to get frustrated by the ignorant public image of pharmacists. You do realize that retail is only a portion of the entire profession. Okay, probably not.
"if you didn’t think you knew it all, already."
-I don't know everything, hence my status as a student. By this title it means that I am learning and want to learn. But I do have a strong knowledge of the area that this discussion leads.
In summary: I wish patients would not switch to a different pharmacy every month in order to get a gift card. Stay in one pharmacy. Get to know your pharmacist and team, because they could be a life saver in the long run.
One last question for thought: If a doctor gave out giftcards every month, would you switch doctors? Not so easy is it?
Personally, I don't blame people for taking advantages of the savings offered to them. I think, however, that it is irresponsible of the corporations in the interest of public health. Now I know everyone is just out there to make a buck, but I feel that health care facilities should separate themselves from this mentality. For comparison, most physicians in private practice work in a business atmosphere as well. They have to make money to stay afloat, but you don't see family physicians offering discounts to get your next check-up from them as opposed to your regular doctor. Why is this, because it hurts the overall continuity of health care. There is a reason why medication errors kill between 50 and 100,000 people each year (more than breast cancer and AIDS). Just think how many more people will be injured or killed if this current trend for the pharmacy business model continues. If you don't believe these numbers, I invite you to do some research for yourself. http://www.baxter.com/about_baxter/news_room/downloads/ps_medication_errors.pdf. I think this country would be much better off if pharmacies were able to remove themselves from this retail driven environment and concentrate on what they are supposed to be there for, improving health care. The whole point of having a pharmacy is to have a central place that sees the whole picture of any therapy that you may be getting. By moving your prescriptions from pharmacy to pharmacy, you hinder the pharmacists ability to do their job properly and double check to make sure that the medicine your getting from your family doctor isn't going to interfere or cause toxic effects with the medicine your getting from your urologist. If you think that these offices are calling all of your doctors to make sure that what they are prescribing isn't going to be a problem, you are mistaken. Most physicians I have seen aren't in the room with you for more than 3 minutes, so I can assure you they are not on the phone with all of your other providers double checking their work. So, in the future if you do take advantage of the discounts that are offered to you you by unconcerned corporations, think to yourself who is watching your back with this prescription and make sure you take the time to inform the pharmacy you are transferring to of all of the other medications you are taking and/or other conditions you may have.
I think this country would be much better off if pharmacies were able to remove themselves from this retail driven environment and concentrate on what they are supposed to be there for, improving health care.
-Would you like to lead this pharmacy movement? I think you would have the majority of pharmacists, techs, and interns behind you 100%! Although pharmacy is trying to get away from the business model, large corporations give pharmacists the positions, so it may take a long time to completely rid of the old image of pharmacists.
I think I'm going to have a BOWEL movement! FarmIntern, who self admittedly makes less than $10 an hour speaks for the majority of pharmacists, techs, and interns 100%! It's a coupon. Get over it. You must sit at your computer just waiting for the next opportunity to vomit up your rhetoric. Maybe the pharmacist where you work can give you something for that! We get it; you're Mother Theresa in a Tunic. I'll pay you $10 an hour to shut up! How bout you start your own blog and leave this one to us coupon shoppers?
No I'm just procrastinating and I find some people's comments HILARIOUS. Such as people put words into my mouth...LOL! Apparently, I've been demoted to $10/hour....that's about half of what I make right now. And I usually say that the MAJORITY of...when did 100%=majority. If I was vomiting I would be chugging the Cola Syrup. Since I'm Mother Theresa in a Tunic, I can't accept your pay, but if you are willing to donate it to my tunic is wide open.
One last question: Why is Dan on a webpage for deal seeking moms?
Yeah, I'm sure your tunic is wide open. Try a singles' bar. Your rhetoric dated 3-16 says your job would be even better IF you DID make $25 in 2.5 hours. Get out your calculator Einstein, that equates to $10 an hour. Dee dee dee. You said it, moron, not me. I just repeated it. And thanks for proving my point - less than an hour went by before you jumped back on the blog. You may find us HILARIOUS. Still much better that than PATHETIC.
Why aren't you on a webpage for morons? Do you even know what the word procrastination means? Stick to counting pills and making change. That's probably as challenging as life should get for you.
I am a pathetic loser. I have nothing better to do than stick my nose in other people's business. I write long dietribes about how pharmacists have doctorates; but I alas do not. I cling to their successes and claim them as my own. Although I've been an intern for the last six years, I am an expert in Every Given Field. Just ask me. But you don't have to as I give advice to those who do not want it or need it. I only give you permission to use the coupons my employer prints out if you STAY at my pharmacy. These are my laws. ABIDE!
Tara,
I bet you never could have guessed how heated this post would get. I am amused every time I check my email and find these guys fighting again! And all over a coupon!
I give up on trying to let everyone here see the real situation. But all you care about is money for yourselves, and could give a crap about the rest of your Americans. HELLO! WHEN YOU GO TO 10 DIFFERENT PHARMACIES WE DON'T KNOW ALL OF THE MEDS YOUR ON! THIS EQUALS TO A HUGE INCREASE IN MED ERRORS AND ADVERSE EVENTS!
This group would probably think universal medicine is evidence that the commies were taking over our government. Most of you are too blinded by the almighty dollar. So take your welfare or SSI check and go buy your pack of cigs and then buy your heart meds.
I may be pathetic, but I'm right with backing from experts in health care. Why the hell should I be listening to people who only care about themselves and will then bitch and moan that their doctor visit is getting too expensive. LOOK IN MIRROR FOR ANSWER!
P.S. Your very mature too there dan.
COUPONS, COMMIES AND HEART MEDS, OH MY!
IT'S A COUPON DEAR, GET OVER IT! A COUPON. A C-O-U-P-O-N. YOU WORK AT THE PHARMACY - DON'T THEY HAVE SOMETHING YOU CAN TAKE? I'M A BIT SCARED YOU'RE ALREADY DIPPING INTO YOUR WORK. MAYBE A VISIT TO YOUR LOCAL PHYSICIAN WILL FIX YOU UP. I KNOW WHERE YOU CAN GET A COUPON. LOL WHAT A WEIRDO.
I'M OFF TO "LOOK IN THE MIRROR FOR ANSWER" CIAO
LOL You guys crack me up. RACH - did you ever find your coupons? I have a bunch but don't tell PharmTard. She might put me on the list and then I'd have to name names. If you still need em let me know. Ebay has a bunch too. Good Luck
intern,
SHUT THE HELL UP! ring me up and give me my 25 bucks. pharmtard/dan(or whatever the schizo wants to call himself) got it right-WEIRDO! you work for these companies so you do what they tell you to do. you prolly think your job is worthless so you pull arguments like this.
I agree with Mona and Dan. Shut up - shut up - shut up! Shouldn't you be at some communistic pharmacy convention or something? lol Leave us little coupon hunters alone. We don't like your kind around here.
What a hypocrite, PharmIntern says she used to get $25 for every two people she could get to transfer prescriptions. Guess it's okay when she gets paid.
I don't think she knows what she gets paid. Scary that this is the person that counts out your pills huh? I'm more afraid of that now, than changing pharmacys! Ew and please... close your tunic.
uh....1..2..7..10......30
Dur, I have no life and want to deprieve customers of valid coupons. O and like to dress like mother theresa
Hypocrite! It's okay for you to encourage folks to change their pharmacy when YOU receive the GC and then you criticize those of us for using coupons? TSK TSK TSK ! I did read through your posts and they sure didn't start off with you caring about the customer! You flipped THAT around when you were called on the carpet for not treating people with respect! You are a rude and hateful person. I feel so sorry for your co-workers and customers.
Not that I am all into these blogs.. or posts.. im not very good on computers, other than my pixis at work... but I had to do this for an continue ed course and the effects of polypharmacy.. I think what the intern is trying to get across is this, it's not a wise decision to go to pharmacy to pharmacy, becuase when you end up going to the ICU or ER and need a list of medications to give to the on call doctor and you use many pharmacys they cannot correctly ID all the drugs you are on, and let me tell you giving heprin to someone that already takes a thinner, is deadly, it's just not a good idea, and I think he is just trying to say it's not a wise decision to do that. Thats being a good intern and just stating the facts that every medical book will tell you. ( Lewis or Potter and Perry and two great books if you are wanting to look this up) The whole coupon deal, I mean this is just a "post" to say yes you can get a transfer coupon to use at a pharmacy... great grand wondeful.. I personally don't have the time or energy to go from place to place, its great to get a free giftcard here and there, but I mean I don't personally care to go here and there, I work.. A LOT but Kmart did send out a thing in the mail and my husband got it, and it said if you switch they would give you a 20 or 25$ gift card something like that, thats the only thing I know about the gift card, we didn't do it, I really don't care if I get a gift card... but honestly are you all grown adults?? I just think its really rude to make fun of people's wages, or anything like that, we all started somewhere and I just do have to say one thing, to be an intern is tough I was there once as a nurse student, and I made squat... but once that is over the pay is not so bad, and some people believe it or not like what they do regardless of the pay, nurses do not make very much and I like it becuase I like to take care of people, I just don't think it's appropriate to make fun of wages people are lucky to have a job these days... and as far as the coupon goes, possibly check the mail I know thats where I get them all the time. I hope you all just relax, take a deep breath, and thank you for giving me material to write about for my AEU class.
IowaNurse
I think everyone above is missing the real arguement. It's not the coupon users, it's the coupon producers that are the problem. To all of you who use the coupons.....it's not you that those of us in the profession hate. If there's a coupon, why wouldn't you use it? Our big problem is with the corporations who present these coupons to the public. The biggest problem with pharmacy was caused by pharmacy itself. The traditional "corner pharmacy" started out as a "soda shop," so to speak. From then on it has just become increasingly more far removed from what it actually is...a health profession. That's right, a profession. Pharmacists are doctors. They are doctors of pharmacy. They are the experts on medication and to be simply viewed by all of you people above as just a person who sticks your pills in a bottle is incredibly insulting, but it's really not your fault. It's the image you've been given by corporations, and it needs to change.
What I would like to see is a general movement to educate the public on the value of a pharmacist. For example, I'm sure that none of you in this trail of insults is aware of the fact that there are pharmacists who work in hospitals that see patients on a daily basis, and based on their reviews of patients actually recommend therapy courses for the physicians to carry out. When it comes to medicine, pharmacists know more than physicians. That is simply a fact, even a physician will attest to. When it comes to diagnostics, physicians know more than pharmacists. Each of us in the medical profession has his/her own specialty and we work together for the common goal of providing patients with quality health care. No one is anyone's "slave."
Now for the retail setting: Let's take an antibiotic for example. A pharmacist will check a patient profile to see that the patient is not on any other medications that could interact with the antibiotic, he/she will check the prescribed dose against the recommended dose based upon the diagnosis (including dosage by weight for children). The pharmacist will check the final prescription to make sure your insurance was billed correctly and that the technician entered in all of the directions correctly. Finally, this pharmacist will tell you everything you need to know about your medication, including how to use it, what to expect while you're taking it, and what you should avoid while taking it. Counseling is another thing the general public does not always see the value in. It is very frustrating to have eyes rolled at me when I tell a patient they need pharmacist counseling on a medication they have never taken before. Most people think of antibiotics as no big deal. When in fact, any drug is a big deal. It is a chemical substance your body does not want inside of it and not used properly, ANY medication has the potential to be extremely disruptive to your body, if not fatal. Did you know that there exists an antibiotic that is so sensitive to alcohol that you can end up on the floor puking your guts out if you use mouthwash while you're taking it? I would not consider this common knowledge for most people, and this is just one of the few warnings you may miss out on if you skip pharmacist counseling.
Pharmacists are an incredible wealth of information and knowledge and it is simply a shame that the general public does not know about it. There is nothing wrong with wanting to save money, but these coupons are truly not a safe thing. Pharmacy-hopping tremendously increases the possibility of adverse drug events, whether you believe it or not. It does. I once encountered a woman who stopped taking her blood pressure medication for a week because she figured there'd be a coupon coming out soon and she could get a gift card when she transferred it. While this comes down to personal responsibility, and not everyone would make that same mistake, the fact of the matter is these coupons should not be allowed. They are not safe, they cheapen and insult the value and knowledge of pharamcists, they turn health care into a game of "lets make a deal" and that's simply not the way it should be.
Pharmacy as a profession is making a call to stop the production of these coupons.
T,
I understand your argument and I appreciate that it was intelligently written and respectfully given. You are a rarity among pharmacists today unfortunately. I cannot tell you of one instance where my "pharmacist" tried to give me any advice, counseling, etc. about any medication that I was to take or that I was to give to my children. Not at one of my many pharmacies that I have chosen to use, maybe for convenience or for a coupon, I have tried quite a few. You know what I get. Sign that saying you've waived your right to counsel and that you have no questions. I am not asked if I have any questions or concerns, nor am I offered any counsel, instead I am just told to sign and pay. Over and over. So it may well be the fault of the corporations for putting out the coupons, but for us to use them is pretty smart on our part, because as far as I am concerned there aren't too many pharmacists out there any more who give a hoot about counseling their patients. Again, I will reiterate, I don't think that you are one of those who don't care about your patients, T, you were very smart with your comment. Unfortunately, more of the pharmacists that I come in contact with are far more like the rude intern.
Bonnie,
This is completely aside from coupons.
There are a few reasons that I see in the stores I have worked for why the pharmacist does not counsel much.
1. The corporations care more about volume of prescriptions. That's where THEY make money. Even though part of the prescription fee is for the pharmacist's counseling. So the pharmacist is swamp with so much work and the corp. keep adding to the pharmacists duties.
2. The tech should have asked if you wanted counseling. I think almost all states require at least the question. Some states require that all new prescriptions are to be counseled. So only some states mandate that a pharmacist counsel patients on new prescriptions.
3. Like T said, the public views the pharmacist as the pour, lick, stick person and the doctor is viewed as the all powerful god of health. I know that view is slowly disintegrating bc of the information that is open to the public now. So many patients are not receptive to counseling from teh pharmacist, bc they think they know what to do. Also, I'm sure its partly beause the patient is a little scared and turned off of talking to another random person if they do not know the pharmacist well enough. Others do not even care. Someone came in for a refill and I asked which one they wanted refilled. They told me they did not know the name. I asked her what was it for and they told me, "I don't know. I just take what the doctor tells me to do." I cringed at that thought. The patient needs to be a part of his/her own care. So from experience, I have seen a pharmacist or two get discouraged from patient's lack of interest in getting counseled.
I'm pretty sure pharmacists would LOVE to counsel all day. Would you want to stay behind a counter and keep looking at prescriptions and pills all day? Whenever a patient comes up for consultation, many of the pharmacists I have worked with jump up and get new energy.
I'm sorry if I came off rude. The coupon issue is both the corporation's fault and the public's. The corporation worries more about money and they feel the coupons would cause the normal everyday person to see what their store is like and hopeful stay. Most patients that use the coupon stay around, but there are a few that do hop around. Now that you have seen multiple people warn you about the dangers of polypharmacy/pharmacy hopping do you see where I'm coming from in my view thats its irresponsibility. People do have the ability to say, "No, I am going to do the better thing for the health care system and myself/family and not go pharmacy hopping." I have NEVER denied a coupon for a patient. I received a giftcard myself if I got 2 friends/family to transfer over to my pharmacy. That's the only reward I have received. The only reason I would deny a giftcard coupon is because it's unlawful for Medicaid or Medicare patients to receive the offer. And I do not hold it against the patients. I even told a young woman who came with 3 coupons bc for some reason my pharmacy decided to mail 3 coupons together. And I explained and made the corporations look bad. I did not scold the patient.
Ok, it became a ramble, but don't let your "perceived" view of me give pharmacy a bad image. And give your pharmacist some respect. Let's hope no one goes off the wall and come up with more immature comments about me....
Bonnie,
PharmIntern is right. Most pharmaicsts do want to counsel their patients. The act of checking prescription after prescription gets extremely tiresome after a while and they enjoy the interaction with people. I work in a state where any prescription marked "new" must be offered counseling BY THE PHARMACIST, not the technician. What we must do is ask the patient to step to the consultation window before we give them their prescription, and have them wait for the pharmacist. I cannot tell you how many people have yelled at me, rolled their eyes, and even told the pharmacist "I've taken this before and you're wasting MY time." It's so discouraging when we try to do what is best for the patient and it is not well-received at all. People can't take 3 minutes out of their day to wait for something; it's disgusting.
I have recently moved out of state, and since then I have had a few new prescriptions. I am not a pharmacist, I am also an intern, and I have not ever been offered counseling, even when I was given antibiotics. I was extremely surprised and I asked for counseling, which the pharmacist was very willing to give.
I came across this thread while searching for the kind of coupon in question, and I am really glad that both T & the intern were as tenacious/outspoken as they've been. In this struggle to cast blame within what I think we can all agree is a terribly flawwed system, I want to stress the existence of someone who, like myself, is willing to go as far out of her way to research meds before she takes them (or gets a script filled) as she does to find a deal; that is, someone who is sensible to the risks it presents. Unfortunately an element of the worst case scenario/common complaint/LCD is going to exist despite whatever changes you make to a given business model... There are problems that cannot be anticipated. I don't say that to encourage people to accept things as they are but to prompt regard for the ballance that's often struck. It isn't unwise to jockey for $25 giftcards as a function of your regular expenses, particularly with respect to the fact people often simply transfer scripts for meds they're already taking...
But again, that ballance is disrupted when you introduce a new one.
(Hopefully most people know to do some research & ask informed questions at some point.) Even if you remove the pharmasists from the business environment, you still have the drug reps who approach physicians with incentives to write specific scripts; and, yes, people who inherently trust their health-care providers' expertise. Anyway, I'm glad these people devoted their time to this. Unlike most threads I stumble across, this one ends up being quite informative.
If i have a new prescription for my daughter and have submitted it to walgreens but have not collected it yet. What can i do in order to get the $25 gift card? Was thinking of taking prescription back from Walgreens n send it to Walmart since i have a store credit from Walmart.
Hi there, i have a new prescription for my daughter which i just sent in to Walgreens but have not gotten the medication from them yet. How do i go about to get the $25 gift card? I was thinking of getting back my prescription from Walgreens and bring it into Walmart since i just remember i have a store credit with Walmart.
Grace, if it's a new prescription, they likely won't honor this coupon as it's supposed to only be used on transferred prescriptions. It wouldn't hurt to call and ask though.
Hi Tara, where can i get this coupon? I called and asked and it seems like the prescription is going cost around $100 so it will be good if i could get a $25 discount on it. If i transfer it to Walmart or anywhere else, would i get a discount card on it? Cos i do not have insurance and have to self pay.
Grace, it looks like this particular coupon is gone, but there is one available for Rite Aid right now. Sorry!
Hi Tara, thanks for answering my question, however there are no Rite Aid in my area. Nevertheless, it was nice of you to help.