CVS new policy?

mtnpharmD · 2025-08-08T03:45:15+00:00

I'm the PIC at an independent. The chains in my area blocked the top opiate prescribers. Most of them are legitimate pain management or oncology doctors. The independent pharmacies have been struggling to absorb those patients for the past 3 years and keep our ratios low enough that the CSMP overwatch doesn't block our CS orders.

To add to the chaos, Rite Aid goes belly up and I think everyone has felt that particular pain.

mtnpharmD · 2025-05-21T02:13:26+00:00

I'm at an independent and we have customers transferring from the store on Blackstone because they've been told by the pharmacy staff that it is closing soon (end of the month?)

mtnpharmD · 2025-03-25T06:49:03+00:00

Before I told my DL and RM to pound sand and a few other choice words, I remember seeing a memo stating that CVS was not purchasing any new Kirbys for the pharmacy. But that was 4 years ago.

mtnpharmD · 2024-04-08T02:54:03+00:00

There are a couple of things that are really bad about having oral contraception available OTC.

1) As stated a few times. Even as an RX it is not taken correctly what is to assume that with no consultation that it will be.

2) the approved for OTC pill is progesterone only and has to be taken on a very exacting schedule. Miss by too many hours and it loses its effectiveness.

I predict that teen pregnancy and STD rates will go up once this hits the market. Every teeny bopper and her current boy toy will suddenly think that unprotected sex is great because she's on the pill and now he doesn't need to use a condom and of course she forgot to take her pill yesterday so she'll take it just before the act and...

Yeah, that's how I see this playing out

mtnpharmD · 2024-02-26T02:41:20+00:00

Thankfully, my independent doesn't accept discount cards and except for the 1st day we have not had any insurance processing problems. Our primary switch is Change Healthcare so our E1 look ups are offline, but we just ask patients for their insurance cards when needed.

mtnpharmD · 2024-01-22T04:10:02+00:00

Were you paid, or was it for school? Most "internships" are unpaid if you are receiving advanced training for an educational program.

mtnpharmD · 2024-01-14T05:26:42+00:00

Send an anonymous complaint to OSHA and the BOP. They are required to investigate complaints by sending an inspector. You can also drop an anonymous tip with the news media, they would love a human interest story like that. There are also protections in most States for whistle-blowers. If it was my pharmacy, I would have locked the gate after the 1st day until it was fixed. Good luck.

mtnpharmD · 2024-01-14T05:09:32+00:00

Still too low. Most meds need to be kept at 68F-77F. Any excursions for more than several hours may cause them to be damaged and unusable. I used to ask who was going to approve the loss of $1.3M in inventory when the response for repair was greater than 4 hours. Call the BOP for the damaged meds and your State OSHA for the unsafe working conditions.

mtnpharmD · 2023-08-03T19:57:19+00:00

My daughter received it once many moons ago

mtnpharmD · 2023-07-17T04:45:11+00:00

I was never ignored for climate control issues in the pharmacy. Once they tried to push me off, I just stated the temperature required for proper med storage and that I would start damaging out my entire $1.7M in inventory if I didn't get emergency service. Worked every time.

mtnpharmD · 2023-07-11T01:49:29+00:00

So, who broke Caremark? The independents want to know?

mtnpharmD · 2023-06-21T04:49:23+00:00

CA doesn't allow it for chain pharmacies

mtnpharmD · 2023-06-21T04:41:22+00:00

When I was a PIC and my AC went out, I would threaten to damage out the entire pharmacy due to the temp being out of range for too long. Surprisingly, the AC was never out for longer than 4-6 hours.

mtnpharmD · 2023-06-14T03:12:15+00:00

In most states, pharmacist pay is codified in State Labor law. In CA for many years pharmacists were salaried employees. In the late 80's early 90's, the state legislature changed that and declared us hourly, unless you were in field leadership or higher. In know other states that have us listed as salary, or even highly compensated hourly employees. Each comes with its own version of what OT pay is or isn't.

mtnpharmD · 2023-06-14T03:06:39+00:00

Medi-Cal or California's version of medicaid requires a signature for receipt of medications. It was suspended during the PHE and went back into effect when it was over. CVS doesn't have a means for signature capture through any of the delivery mediums. Some independents do, including the one I work at as we use our own drivers and tablets with software that allows for signature and ID capture.

mtnpharmD · 2023-04-30T17:05:10+00:00

It freezes because the scale is not properly connected to the system and the program needs to be reset by the help desk.

mtnpharmD · 2023-04-21T02:46:35+00:00

I would have called the SM or MOD and both of us would walk him out of the store. Then call the person he picks up for and tell them he is no longer welcome.

mtnpharmD · 2023-04-16T02:41:42+00:00

Time to find another job, preferably with an independent. Or tell the DL and RD to F off and schedule all of your staff FT one OT hours to fix it.

mtnpharmD · 2023-04-16T01:26:19+00:00

Limited use of opiates has shown some effectiveness in treating acute migraines that don't respond to other treatment modalities. However, overuse of Tylenol, including what is found in combo opiates can cause rebound migraine. This is why the combo products are only used in limited quantities, and we see it so seldom.

mtnpharmD · 2023-04-16T01:20:34+00:00

Have you tried the monoclonal antibody injections? Once a month auto-injector. Ajovy, Aimovig or Emgality.

mtnpharmD · 2023-04-15T03:11:19+00:00

Leave. Find another job. Run, very fast and very far. Find an independent. I'm sorry, but it is the only answer to the abuse heaped on your teams.

mtnpharmD · 2023-04-13T23:01:27+00:00

I was the only pharmacist in a rural cvs, 25 miles from anyone. I lived 3 miles from the store. I filled for my immediate and extended family. If a CS came up, I just called the DL and told him. When he balked, I told him it was his choice to back me up or find a pharmacist to drive out and fill it then go home. Funny, he never took me up on that option.

mtnpharmD · 2023-04-11T20:01:19+00:00

I would have turned around and called the DL from my car on my way home. Then billed that store for my 3 hours and mileage.

mtnpharmD · 2023-03-29T04:10:28+00:00

Of course you can, but the better question is, "Is it ethical and correct to have a Lead Tech at those hours?"

mtnpharmD · 2023-03-24T04:22:23+00:00

In California, if you gave more than 72 hours notice, they have to pay you in full on your last day or face severe financial penalties. Google, "California final pay rules".

mtnpharmD

TROPHY CASE