Has anyone not been able to fill a prescription with Express Scripts?

SGM Steve Wettstein — Wed, 21 Oct 2015 05:59:08 -0400

I read this article and was kind of surprised. Has this happened to anyone?

http://www.armytimes.com/story/military/benefits/health-care/2015/10/20/drug-shortages-hit-tricare/74272950/

Drug shortages hit Tricare

Tricare officials say the problem stems from drug shortages that are an "increasing problem across the industry.

Response by PO1 John Miller made Oct 21 at 2015 6:43 AM

PO1 John Miller — Wed, 21 Oct 2015 06:43:38 -0400

I haven't, but I also don't use my Tricare benefits personally. I use the VA health care system for my medical needs. I still use Tricare for my wife and daughter though and haven't had an issue with filling scripts for them.

Response by SGM Erik Marquez made Oct 21 at 2015 9:16 AM

SGM Erik Marquez — Wed, 21 Oct 2015 09:16:06 -0400

My wife fills 4 different meds, I get two, never been an issue.
The only ones I have not been able to get filled are the Schedule II stuff....and even those can be done, but you have to send in the original paper script, and then wait.

Response by SSG Leo Bell made Oct 21 at 2015 9:57 AM

SSG Leo Bell — Wed, 21 Oct 2015 09:57:16 -0400

The only one I know you can't refill are the opioids

Response by Sgt David G Duchesneau made Oct 21 at 2015 10:00 AM

Sgt David G Duchesneau — Wed, 21 Oct 2015 10:00:04 -0400

Never mind one, hell, I have six with no problems!

Response by PO3 Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 21 at 2015 11:06 AM

PO3 Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 21 Oct 2015 11:06:51 -0400

lucky my civilian job provide a very good health care insurance before I needed to use Tricare that much.

Response by LCDR Rabbah Rona Matlow made Oct 21 at 2015 12:38 PM

LCDR Rabbah Rona Matlow — Wed, 21 Oct 2015 12:38:43 -0400

Thanks to the DOD contract, Express Scripts (ESI) is only allowed to use one wholesaler, so when that vendor runs short, we take it you know where. In general there is a problem with the Big Pharma these days in that they want to focus on the very high margin name brand drugs and often sideline production of more mundane (read less profitable) drugs. There are a series of flaws in this system.

One of the biggest flaws that I see is that ESI is both the pharmacy benefits manager AND the pharmacy. They also are the adjudicator of all grievances against them. DOD (OSD Health Care) has appointed ESI as the fox guarding the hen house...

Response by SSgt Alex Robinson made Oct 21 at 2015 12:53 PM

SSgt Alex Robinson — Wed, 21 Oct 2015 12:53:46 -0400

Express Scripts is not my first choice. They have lousy customer service and you have to go thru too many steps to get refills or new prescriptions filled...

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 21 at 2015 1:14 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 21 Oct 2015 13:14:20 -0400

I have "My Healthy Vet", in which I order mine on line and they are mailed to me. You can also look at different records about yourself and what appointments you have. I would suggest looking into it. All you have to do is sign up at the VA.It has to have an approval signature from the VA. It's very convenient and I never run out of melds.

Response by MAJ Jim Woods made Oct 21 at 2015 1:16 PM

MAJ Jim Woods — Wed, 21 Oct 2015 13:16:20 -0400

I also use the VA web site for my refils....My Health Vet.

Response by MSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 21 at 2015 1:51 PM

MSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 21 Oct 2015 13:51:32 -0400

It's simple....get a prescription and go to local pharmacy and get it filled.
I had to do this several times.....not like they can help it if the drug is not available .
Not like E-Scripts is a God given right
It's a shame but there are other avenues to get medication if needed.

Does it suck....yes.....but our copays are still better at local pharmacies than anything else out there.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 21 at 2015 3:34 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 21 Oct 2015 15:34:23 -0400

Can't do it in Germany.