Posted on Oct 21, 2015
SGM Steve Wettstein
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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/
Posted in these groups: Drug DrugsExpress ScriptsTRICARE
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SSgt Alex Robinson
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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...
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SGM Steve Wettstein
SGM Steve Wettstein
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SSgt Alex Robinson Thank you for your reply.
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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.
SGM Steve Wettstein
SGM Steve Wettstein
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MSgt Ronald Stacy Exactly. Thank you for your reply John.
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MAJ Jim Woods
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I also use the VA web site for my refils....My Health Vet.
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SGM Steve Wettstein
SGM Steve Wettstein
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MAJ Jim Woods I also use it for some of my meds. The problem with using the VA for some of my meds is that they can only prescribe what is in their inventory and they do not have the only muscle relaxer that I have found that works for me. Thank you for your reply.
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Has anyone not been able to fill a prescription with Express Scripts?
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SGT Infantryman (Airborne)
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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.
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SGM Steve Wettstein
SGM Steve Wettstein
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SGT (Join to see) I also use it for some of my meds. They do not have all of the ones I need and do not fill out prescription forms to take to pharmacies so I use Tricare for those that they do not have. Thank you for your reply.
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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...
SGM Steve Wettstein
SGM Steve Wettstein
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LCDR Rabbi Jaron Matlow Roger that Rabbi. Thank you for your reply.
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You're welcome, as always...
PO3 Electrician's Mate
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lucky my civilian job provide a very good health care insurance before I needed to use Tricare that much.
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SGM Steve Wettstein
SGM Steve Wettstein
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PO3 (Join to see) Thank you for your reply.
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Sgt David G Duchesneau
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Never mind one, hell, I have six with no problems!
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SGM Steve Wettstein
SGM Steve Wettstein
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Sgt David G Duchesneau Thank you for your reply.
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SSG Leo Bell
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The only one I know you can't refill are the opioids
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SGM Steve Wettstein
SGM Steve Wettstein
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SSG Leo Bell DEA upgraded most opioids. The results is you have to try and get a doctor's appt monthly. Thank you for your reply.
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SSG Leo Bell
SSG Leo Bell
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SGM Steve Wettstein - SGM Syeve Wettstien
I call in to get my refills monthly and go in every three months for a the regular testing.
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SGM Erik Marquez
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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.
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SGM Steve Wettstein
SGM Steve Wettstein
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SGM Erik Marquez Erik I haven't had any problems........yet either. Thank you for your reply.
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PO1 John Miller
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SGM Steve Wettstein
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.
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SGM Steve Wettstein
SGM Steve Wettstein
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PO1 John Miller Thank you for your reply John.
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