6 monthly prescription by vets - befuddled!

Red-1

Red-1

I used to be decisive, now I'm not so sure...
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Hi all,

This is about a vet prescription for my dog, he has a 6 monthly check and a 6 monthly prescription for Loxicom, for his old age pains.

His current prescription runs out later this month, on the 4th. I have ordered the Loxicom today, to be within the 6 months he is currently covered by. It was, in fact, the receptionist who advised me to do so last time.

I just had a phone call asking for more money, for another prescription. I pointed out that his prescription covers more days, and it was going to be sent today, but she says that no, because the medication bottle is for 6 weeks or so, some of the 6 weeks when he will be using it will be in the new prescription fee period, they want a new 6 month prescription fee paid before they will fill it today.

Surely the prescription fee is about the time for the vet to do the paperwork and send it? Which would be today? Which is still covered by the past 6 month prescription.

I'm well and truly befuddled.

I believe this would be an unfair practice.

I have asked for contact by the practice manager as the receptionist was getting quite irate. She said he would withhold the prescription for 3 more days, until it fell within the new period, if I would not pay it now. She said she could not 'let me off' with it, as it would be unfair to others. But, I am covered now, and the prescription would have been filled today.

Anyone have the words to explain to me how this would be correct? The dogs were vet checked 2 months ago, so the vet check would cover the full term of the medication, so it isn't about patient safety.

It is one of the vets taken over by a big chain.
 
That's not been my experience. Daisy's prescription ran out days after my last order. So she was medicated as per the prescription but by your example, without a prescription.
 
So that means that your 6 month prescription is actually 6 months minus 6 weeks-ish ... so only just over 4 months. That seems a bit unfair of them.

My vet prescribed loxicom as a repeat prescription of 'x times' 100ml rather than a set time period. I paid for the prescription as it is cheaper to buy online.

Are you thinking about changing vet practice?
 
teacups said:
So that means that your 6 month prescription is actually 6 months minus 6 weeks-ish ... so only just over 4 months. That seems a bit unfair of them.

My vet prescribed loxicom as a repeat prescription of 'x times' 100ml rather than a set time period. I paid for the prescription as it is cheaper to buy online.

Are you thinking about changing vet practice?
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Yes, this is what happened.

Yes, I am.
 
So do you get a prescription from vets and buy online ? I’m a bit puzzled why you are speaking to vets receptionist . When I get a prescription I lodge with online drug company and order direct . I don’t know but suspect I have had medication that I’ve still used after prescription ran out .
 
I use pet drugs online and have a specific amount plus a deadline to order with the prescription I'm given which is 6 months. If I was given less than that I would kick up a stink. It's not what you've paid for.
 
MurphysMinder said:
So do you get a prescription from vets and buy online ? I’m a bit puzzled why you are speaking to vets receptionist . When I get a prescription I lodge with online drug company and order direct . I don’t know but suspect I have had medication that I’ve still used after prescription ran out .
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Their policy is that you can't 'have' the prescription. You order online, then ring the reception and they ask the vet to send the prescription to Pet Drugs Online.

Receptionist called back to say they wouldn't do this, as the prescription, which she agreed was in date, would run out before all of the medication was used. She said either I paid for a new one now, or she would hold the prescription until after the 4th, so then I'd have to pay. Which is puzzling, as she was also saying I'd have to pay if I ordered now!
 
SEL said:
Very odd. My prescription stays on file unless its for a specific amount of the drug.
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This is what has happened before.

TBH, I don't care so much about the money as I do about the fuss. The receptionist was rather rude. I actually dread going there as the attitude is upsetting in general.
 
Red-1 said:
Their policy is that you can't 'have' the prescription. You order online, then ring the reception and they ask the vet to send the prescription to Pet Drugs Online.

Receptionist called back to say they wouldn't do this, as the prescription, which she agreed was in date, would run out before all of the medication was used. She said either I paid for a new one now, or she would hold the prescription until after the 4th, so then I'd have to pay. Which is puzzling, as she was also saying I'd have to pay if I ordered now!
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That seems wrong .
 
Red-1 said:
Yes, this is what happened.

Yes, I am.
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Thought you might be.

There is nothing stopping you from registering with another vet for one thing, and keeping them registered with this one for another. I know someone who was registered with one practice he is very happy with, except for the fact their monthly librela injections were charged at £90, whereas at another vet practice 5 miles away they were £50. So he was registered with that practice purely for the librela.
 
Red-1 said:
Their policy is that you can't 'have' the prescription. You order online, then ring the reception and they ask the vet to send the prescription to Pet Drugs Online.

Receptionist called back to say they wouldn't do this, as the prescription, which she agreed was in date, would run out before all of the medication was used. She said either I paid for a new one now, or she would hold the prescription until after the 4th, so then I'd have to pay. Which is puzzling, as she was also saying I'd have to pay if I ordered now!
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That seems an odd way of doing it. If I ask for a prescription, I’m asked to pay the fee for the prescription, after which the vet practice email me the prescription. I then upload the prescription myself to whatever online site I order it with, during the checkout process.
 
teacups said:
That seems an odd way of doing it. If I ask for a prescription, I’m asked to pay the fee for the prescription, after which the vet practice email me the prescription. I then upload the prescription myself to whatever online site I order it with, during the checkout process.
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Yep, same here.

Edt. But checking my previous order, I couldn't have my full monthly amount on my last order as my prescription was about to run out. So I just bought what I could have and then bought a new prescription.

So, yes your vets were correct @Red-1 .
 
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I think they are taking the mick, I'm new to this prescription from vet (dog stuff) but I can't see how they can control where you buy from if you've paid the prescription fee!
I got one prescription that could be used twice, I.e.for 2 x 10ml bottles of Caninsulin. I can buy those 2 bottles within the 6 month limit, or on the last day of the prescription (not buying from the vets)
 
I’m confused as the company should have the prescription on file, with the number of repeats on it. Vets should only be sending it once. Have you tried just ordering online from the same company ?
 
teacups said:
That seems an odd way of doing it. If I ask for a prescription, I’m asked to pay the fee for the prescription, after which the vet practice email me the prescription. I then upload the prescription myself to whatever online site I order it with, during the checkout process.
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The problem is people do this… and then do it on five other sites as well. There is no master system which checks so many vet practices will now only send prescriptions directly to the company you order from. Trust me they don’t want the extra hassle of doing this but they also need to show they are trying to stop the system being abused.
 
teacups said:
That seems an odd way of doing it. If I ask for a prescription, I’m asked to pay the fee for the prescription, after which the vet practice email me the prescription. I then upload the prescription myself to whatever online site I order it with, during the checkout process.
Click to expand...

This is what our practice used to do.
But it's been found out that people were using the same script at multiple online pharmacies as you only need to scan it in, and therefore getting alot more medication that the script wax for.
Have also known of people to doctor the date before sending online.
So vets now need to send direct to online pharmacy.
I think eventually all practices will have to do this.

Though Red if you have already ordered online with this script it should be stored with them so shouldn't need to go through your vets.

I buy Epilepsy meds online for my dog but as it is a controlled drug I have to send the script to them via post.
 
HorsesRule2009 said:
This is what our practice used to do.
But it's been found out that people were using the same script at multiple online pharmacies as you only need to scan it in, and therefore getting alot more medication that the script wax for.
Have also known of people to doctor the date before sending online.
So vets now need to send direct to online pharmacy.
I think eventually all practices will have to do this.

Though Red if you have already ordered online with this script it should be stored with them so shouldn't need to go through your vets.

I buy Epilepsy meds online for my dog but as it is a controlled drug I have to send the script to them via post.
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The prescription they give covers 6 months of medication. The person I spoke to last time reminded me to order before it ran out, which I did.

As I said, it is actually less about the money and more about how befuddled I am at the whole ordering procedure and how I'm made to feel bad about it. To confuse matters further, I have 2 dogs on the same medication and, instead of ordering 2 small bottles, I order one large one for doggos to share, then order for the other dog next time. I got a right telling off for ordering for the wrong dog last time. I dread ordering time, it seems like a battle every time. I just try to follow their instructions, but this time I feel well and truly shafted as I did follow the instructions, but they have changed the goalposts, and the receptionist was incredibly rude to me.

When she started shouting at me, I said she didn't need to be upset as I knew she was following instructions but I thought it was wrong so would like to talk to the practice manager. She shouted down the phone that she wasn't upset, whilst shouting. I had not raised my voice at all. That was when she said that she could withhold the prescription for 3 more days so I would have to pay the extra. She said she couldn't believe I was making a fuss about 3 days. I just said that I didn't understand as the prescription was still in date, and I wanted to talk to the practice manager about it.

She finished with a very pointed and sarcastic ;"Well, I hope you have a lovely day!" that was said in a rather spiteful way. TBH, I had just been trying to organise grief counselling about my husband, and was feeling rather down anyway, and the battle with the vet was all too much. Hence registering with a new practice.

The health check was still in date, as I did that 2 months ago, as I had a kennel cough vaccination early. I would understand if the dogs were due a health check. The prescription fee is supposed to cover vets time to write and do admin with it.
 
SOS said:
The problem is people do this… and then do it on five other sites as well. There is no master system which checks so many vet practices will now only send prescriptions directly to the company you order from. Trust me they don’t want the extra hassle of doing this but they also need to show they are trying to stop the system being abused.
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Never thought of that! Just had a look at my recent prescription and it actually mentions this at the bottom, fraud
 
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SOS said:
The problem is people do this… and then do it on five other sites as well. There is no master system which checks so many vet practices will now only send prescriptions directly to the company you order from. Trust me they don’t want the extra hassle of doing this but they also need to show they are trying to stop the system being abused.
Click to expand...

I asked this question once and was told that the online companies are supposed to check with the vet practice.
 
My current equine practice will email the prescription to me, for me to upload when ordering online - but before providing it they ask me to confirm which company I will be ordering from, and that name is included on the prescription. I'm able to order at any point up to the 6 month expiry date on the prescription (I think, I've always needed to order before reaching that point)
 
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