It’s nice to be able to send a script to an independent pharmacy for one. Usually, we’re transferring them from the independents.
This afternoon, someone called asking for the price of 40 capsules of Vancocin 125mg capsules ($615). They didn’t ask if we had them, so I just figured it was another pharmacy price-matching–that is, until they brought the script in four hours later. Of course, we didn’t have it.
Pt.: But I called earlier!
Me: Yes, but you only asked how much it was. I didn’t know you were coming in for it.
Pt.: Well, can you call another pharmacy? I have to start taking it in less than an hour.
So, I, being the nice person that I am, pulled out my list of other pharmacies, and started calling all the pharmacies up and down the highway. After the fifth call, the pharmacist started calling from the other extension, too. At the same time, I found it at an independent pharmacy that is close by (but whose price is $725) and the pharmacist found it at another one of our pharmacies which is further away (by a considerable distance.
The patient thought it over for a second, then decided to go our other store since we were cheaper. Since he was in a rush to get it, we offered (again, out of the goodness of our hearts) to get his info at our store and then transfer the script to the other store. So, we had him fill out a profile, and he whips out an insurance card.
Me: Sir, you didn’t say you have insurance. You can just go the closer pharmacy; it will cost the same there as here.
Pt.: But, I have a percentage copay (actually called coinsurance).
Me: Yes, but it’s a percentage of the Maximum Allowable Cost (MAC, a dreaded acronym in pharmacy, almost as bad as IRS).
So, we sent the patient down the road instead of across town. And it felt good to be able to help out an independent pharmacy. (Plus, I’m sure they were anxious to get that Vancocin out of their inventory.)
