Script database

[Jumbo]

Are any of you from the US familiar with any prescription clearinghouse or database which your state law enforcment or medical/pharmacy board uses to cross-check patients doctor-shopping? I'm not talking about individual pharmacy companies, which I hope everyone knows can check to see if you've filled similar script at one of its other branches. Waht I'm talking about is like an insurance company clearinghouse, where ALL information goes. Seems as if I've read of a pharamcy industry proposal that such be used to stop those dreaded script hounds. Any info?

 

[diatribe]

I know someone with narcotic scripts from 8 doctors all within 50 miles of each other. If this database exists, it doesn't work.

 

[Technical User]

hey diatribe that sounds like someone I know too! but its more like 11 doctors in a 90 mile area...i don't think it will happen . there are too many private companies(ma and pop pharmies) that are still out there that wouldn't be able to afford the system unless they started selling their oxycontins on the street

 

[AfterGlow]

on a related topic... do doctors get feedback from pharmacies that fill their prescriptions? I have 2 prescriptions for the same med from the same doctor because my health insurance changed so he wrote me out a new script. If I try and fill them both but at different pharmacies, will my doctor get notified?

 

[dopeman]

Afterglow it depends on the medication. I have a script for xanex and they NEVER call the doctor for them but it may be different where you live.

 

[GottaRockDoc]

A friend of mine is a VC, and the majority of his portolio companies are in the health industry. One of the companies does exactly this - provides a database system so that pharmacies and hospitals and independent medical providers can cross-reference prescriptions. It's not to bust people like us, though -- it's to prevent life-threatening mistakes from being made. (There's a profit motive, of course: it less mistakes are made then the cost of health care will decrease.)
It's a long way from being implemented, though -- but I suspect it will be. The medical profession, in my experience, is more concerned about profit (and avoiding malpractice suits) than anything else...and even the independent stores will ultimately need a fail safe such as this.
GRD

 

[Technical User]

hopefully my collection will be an arsenal of narcotics when/if this takes effect nationwide.
actually I'm just collecting for the end of the world or some shit like that...you can never be too safe...gotto have your meds

 

[Jumbo]

GRDoc, that's scary. Trust me, when databases are created, law enforcement can ultimately get access. TechU (sounds like a school in an Andy Hardy movie!), damn, you are a far-seeing and strong man. I might have a month or so, but more than that and my fingers get itchy to open those child-proof caps!

 

[EvMan717]

You can get away with multiple scripts from different docs over and over most of the time. Sometimes a doc will refuse to give good scripts, probably because he is a "do gooder" kind of guy. These people need to be kicked in the nuts

 

[SigmaSis03]

Afterglow, yes. I can tell you firsthand that pharmacists, at least those not completely jaded by their profession yet, do remain in contact with doctors when suspicious scripts show up or when they have questions of any kind. Also, if you're in a small enough area then they have contact amongst each other as well. People think that paying in cash (no insurance to run through computers) puts you in the clear for filling multiples of the same or similar scripts. That's not always the case. Chain drug stores are linked with those of the same chain, usually. And as I said, pharmacists talk. When I worked in a drug store, I watched as a woman was arrested because she'd been filling narcotic scripts all over town for weeks. A few recognized her, started talking to each other, and figured out what she was doing. You can scam pharmacies and it's not really that hard, but maybe harder than you think.