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CVS Pharmacies Will No Longer Fill Pain Prescriptions From Some Doctors
November 30, 2011
The pharmacy chain CVS said Tuesday it has notified some Florida doctors that it will stop filling prescriptions they write for certain controlled substances such as the painkiller oxycodone.
The company did not detail its reasons or how many doctors are affected. But it pointed to trying to stop prescription-drug abuse, an issue that has made Florida a magnet in recent years for users and traffickers.
“While we regret any inconvenience this may cause for our customers, we treat the dispensing of controlled substances with the utmost care and seriousness,” company spokesman Mike DeAngelis said in an email. “CVS/pharmacy is unwavering in its compliance and measures to prevent drug abuse and keep controlled substances out of the wrong hands.”
Paul Sloan, president of the Florida Society of Pain Management Providers, described the move as “blacklisting physicians.”
“This is just another hysteria driven response to a problem that is based on false data provided by Florida medical examiners and law enforcement,” Sloan said.
In the North Escambia area, CVS operates stores in Century, Cantonment and Pensacola.
The News Service of Florida contributed to this report.
Comments
46 Responses to “CVS Pharmacies Will No Longer Fill Pain Prescriptions From Some Doctors”
If you don’t have chronic pain, you have no right to voice any opinion about pain relieving medications. I suppose it would be much better for people in chronic pain from various conditions such as cancer, to just kill themselves and save everyone a lot of trouble. If tylenol worked don’t you think people would take them, it would save them alot of money and doctors visits. I hope you people develop chronic pain and have a pharmacy say, too bad, suffer. We would see how long you would live. I hope you can live with the death of people, who could live with medication and doctors care but would rather die than suffer through days of pain, when it hurts to move, evnen to go the bathroom.
throw out the baby with bathwater.
Bottom line DR’s prescribe pain medication as patient states thier pain level is on top of MRI’s and other factors before precsibing any pain medication. They also have lines of questiong to weed out seekers/addicts they do all they can. It’s not fair the people that do need it should suffer.
Not all Pain management DR’s over prescribe. Patients are ODing because they are NOT following the DR’s instruction when taking these drugs.
It’s not the Dr’s fault it’s the patients.
i think they should either stop making the drug all together or make it only legal in hospital and nursing homes ect . I have had two major back surgeries and most of the time I suffer in pain because I can not get my prescriptions filled. I am paying a medical insurance premium for a service i can not utilize. not fair! Hospitals are going to be over run with people in severe pain just because they can not get their prescriptions filled. I can sympathize with this pain killer explosion but will someone sympathize with my pain
I have been on narcotics for many years due to being bucked off a horse. I am in severe pain and have gone through depression from coming to terms with having limited abilities. Those who abuse it make it hard for those who take it as prescribed. I am currently going to collega and about to graduate to go on to attain my doctorate in psychology. I made the Presidents likst last semester so I think each individual case is different. Its just sad when the ones that don’t abuse it ARE CATORIZED IN WITH THOSE WHO DO ABUSE IT!!! AND TRUST ME IT STINKS!!!
i think that is a very good idea. i think they should do away with ALL pain killers. I have seen too many people hooked on them where they couldn’t even get out of the bed. What did people do back in the day when they didn’t have pain killers?? And tylenol and Ibuprofen does help kill pain its just people are so used to the STRONG stuff that the little stuff don’t help anymore.
If you have a major problem you have to live with for the rest of your life;such as your back and your head,what are you suppose to do?’especially if you tried ibpurofen,tramedol,and other,although there are no history of drug use what type of painkiller is similar to lortab
I HOPE CVS GOES UNDER! THEY SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED TO GO OVER A DOCTORS HEAD! SHAME ON THEM!
My wife has been prescribed oxycodone for severe back pain for several years. It took me over a year to develop a relationship with our local CVS pharmacy so that they were comfortable filling her prescriptions. Our doctor goes by the book and has never been investigated nor implicated in any kind of drug scandal. Perhaps you compassionate people who think that everyone who has a prescription for narcotic pain releivers is a junky, don’t realize that these prescriptions cannot be filled early, so that my wife can only receive her medication the day before she runs out. That did not prevent CVS from cutting us off without notice, leaving me to travel from pharmacy to pharmacy in a vain attempt to get her prescription filled before she went through withdrawal. Finally she had to go back to the doctor and get the prescription changed to a different narcotic, just as addicting but not as effective. Thank you CVS and thank you to all you self-righteous horses asses who have opinios but have no idea what is really going on here. Do you really think that this has anything to do with CVS protecting you? This is about ignorant knee-jerk reactions to media coverage driving politics as usual.
How is the public to know who the “bad” drs or “good” drs are. Why is the list so hush hush between cvs and the dea? Is it just a dart thrown at the phone book to determine if I can get my needed medications filled?
Once again, those of us who have legitimate medical reasons for taking these pain tablets are being punished along with the physicians who prescribe them.. Don’t the idiots at CVS, and those who think this is a good idea; know that the habitual drug seekers WILL GET the drugs they are looking for. It only causes problems for the ones who need these meds. We have to pay the price and go thru the inconvenience and suffering.
This is stupid. Ill never shop at cvs pharmacy again. Throwing some doctors under the bus like that isn’t fair
This action by CVS is totally immoral, another righteous move by people who have no moral right to override a doctor patient relationship.
I receieve Oxycodone for my multiple sclerosis.. A disease at times extremely painful.
Despite this, I have had to often goto dozens (once 27) of pharmacies to get it filled. Some refuse because they feel the medication is only used by druggies, despite not knowing details of my condition, others are out, maybe some dislike my Dr I don’t know.
Before I was sick, I like many of you said ” well it will only hurt the addicts or abusers or bad drs, legit ones will be fine”. The truth is that’s wrong. Innocent people are hurt everyday, and as CVS goes more pressure an supply demands shift to Walgreenswho is already limited in supply by state laws. So people have to goto Indy pharmacies who refuse insurance and charge hundreds of dollars.
I’ve been there.
And before any of you call me delusional – I’m an elected state official who is running for reelection in 2012. My personal health is my business, but I am shocked enough by this lack of consideration for pain patients to speak out.
Like the article states…this is for certain Doctors not ALL doctors…if your doctor is on the list then I would assume get a new doctor
I work for cvs and it is a huge problem. If you fill one prescription for the abused narcotics the next thing you know people are literally coming in nonstop with their prescriptions. The pain clinics and bad doctors are the ones who created this problem. Legitimate people will be ok. Drug addicts will not. There is a reason why the “bad” docotrs are being arrested and the clinics closed. It should of been done a long time ago. And I hope CVS is the first of many.
REGARDING:
“u say if someone buys drugs from a pharmacy and dies from an overdose and they can be sued you sir are wrong”
I’m wrong in believing people can be sued for harm done by their actions? How so?
AND“
“ I’m guessing ur the type of person that would sue McDonald’s for making u fat”
Naw, it’d have to be Burger King. I don’t usually eat at McDonalds. So you believe if anyone believes law suits exist, they must be sue-happy. I guess people who believe in the Easter Bunny must be rabbits.
AND:
“ if u need someone to tell you what u can and can’t do u need to join the military”
My father always discouraged it. He believed I’d be court-martialed within the first day for not obeying orders.
More important, though, is that you wish you could order CVS to obey you. Were you a drill sergeant in another life?
AND:
“This seems as though CVS pharmacy is playing Judge, Jury and executioner here. How can they decide what Dr. should be writing prescriptions.”
Maybe they consult with their Ouija Boards. It looks as if they believe some doctors may be abusing their privileges since there are doctors they didn’t decide to write off. It’s interesting that you believe they should not be allowed to use any discretion.
AND:
“ what they’re doing is forcing these people to eventually turn to illegal means of pain relief and in K.C> it’s not hard!”
If a thousand people are selling heroin and I decide to not sell heroin, I’m forcing people to buy it illegally?
Something’s messing up some minds here. Maybe too much of the wrong prescription?
David who shops elsewhere anyway
believing in freedom to sell or not sell
Kudos to CVS. Having a family member who deals with these people everyday, it’s a smart move that may help keep employees safer. Those up to no good will more than likely go elsewhere. Good riddance. I have no problems allowing people to od if they so choose. I believe it’s called natural selection. The problem is, these are getting sold on the street to kids. At the end of the day, CVS can do what it feels is best for it. There are plenty of other pharmacies who will be more than happy to fill prescriptions.
It’s an honorable idea but unfortunately unless every pharmacy also blacklists the drugs and docs it’ll never work. These drug users will just seek out another physician or pharmacy who is willing to enable their addiction. For those that are afraid they won’t have pain meds for legitimate pain,I’m sure as long as your doc isnt one of the many over prescribing narcotics your pain meds will still be available for you and if he is you probably want to find a new doc anyway because yours might end up like the two in Jay.
REGARDS TO DAVID:
You sir are obviously missing the point let me start by saying no they are not legal you should be able to go in and by them without consent from any doctor and u say if someone buys drugs from a pharmacy and dies from an overdose and they can be sued you sir are wrong so I’m guessing ur the type of person that would sue McDonald’s for making u fat or if u had a family member pass away from a heart attack cause of eating fatty foods u goin to sue the grocery store that sold those fatty foods it’s common sense to know what’s good and not good for u as for medications such as painkillers that’s why there’s a pharmacist to give u the pro’s and con’s of certain meds everyone in this country is soooo petted and babied I’m sorry but if u need someone to tell you what u can and can’t do u need to join the military
This seems as though CVS pharmacy is playing Judge,Jury and executioner here.How can they decide what Dr. should be writing prescriptions.They are black listing Dr.s?well, II never shopped there anyway.But now I’m going to try and spread the word to Boycott them.I work at a Large company with over 1,500 regular employees in Kansas City Missouri and I’m going to start passing out hand bills on this immediately.What next.
Also, where I’m from they don’t wanna sell good law abiding citizens medication for intolerable pain then what they’re doing is forcing these people to eventually turn to illegal means of pain relief and in K.C> it’s not hard!
I say good for you CVS, you should have did this a long time ago. There are way to many folks running to the doctor to get pain pills and don’t need them anymore than I do. If you need drugs then maybe your best bet is to move on to another drugstore.It’s about time they realize there are to many folks running to get drugs and they are all fine and dandy as long as they have drugs let them get out and they are so bad off you think they won’t make it another day. I am glad of CVS for this
@ CJ:
Regarding: as for the addicts it’s not yours mine or anyone’s responsibility to look after them and babysit them and make sure they’re doing the right thing.
You never know, with the legalization of narcotics, the odds of having to babysit someone is exactly what concerns myself.
Those who are abusing the pain meds unfortunately haven’t killed enough of their brain cells and will figure out to go to another pharmacy. For those who will jump on their soapbox I said for those abusing the pain meds…
REGARDING:
” CVS is trying to control people-s and doctors- lives the same way our lovely government is. If you give the states the right to legalize these substances, we would not have the problems with any of the drug trafficking — therefore reducing crime. That has already been proven in other areas of the world. It’s not mine, the government’s or the pharmacies’ or anyone’s [right] to tell people how to live their lives” (more or less)
It looks to me like CVS is trying to decide how they conduct business. Those who don’t like what they do are free to go elsewhere.
The states already allow the sales of these drugs under certain conditions. You’re probably thinking of some other drugs, not the ones sold at pharmacies.
You are free to live your life as you see fit as long as you don’t endanger the lives of others (or you should be). You are also free to sell or not sell things to others. CVS seems to be exercising its right to limit sales.
Unlike some, they aren’t just in it for the money.
Or– if you had a jaded outlook — CVS might be trying to save money. Under the Constitution everybody is free to sue for redress of wrongs. If they sold drugs to someone who then died or harmed others, the families of those harmed could sue CVS whether sales were legal or not.
David for freedom and safety
CVS isn’t going to stop filling all narcotics prescriptions, just some from certain Dr.’s. Probably general practitioner’s who do not need to be dispensing these drugs so freely. If you are using a pain management clinic etc… You will probably be fine. As for the woman with cancer.”oneofthesheepintheflock” If you have cancer then there is NO doubt that your Oncologist is writing your scripts. That being the case you will have no problems getting you meds. through CVS. They are cracking down on the family docs dispensing to many pain killers.
Good grief, some of these comments would leave one to believe they have outlawed all meds for everyone!
@. DJC
You just said exactly what I’ve been trying to say its not the governments responsibility to control what anybody does with their life all the government is supposed to do is keep our borders maintained and protect our country NOT!!!! To tell ppl what they can and can’t do it should be up to the states to legalize it or make it illegal not the government this is just another situation where war on drugs will fail again and the criminals will keep getting them and selling them to addicts and when the addicts can’t get them they resort to stealing them so yes legalizing it would get rid of the criminals as for the addicts it’s not yours mine or anyone’s responsibility to look after them and babysit them and make sure they’re doing the right thing
@ CJ:
I totally disagee with you about legalizing narcotic drugs. I think these substances should remain controlled. They are very habit forming and ruin lives if misused. And you can bet if they were legal the main beneficiary would be the addicted abusers. People in pain nor addicts need unlimited access to prescription pain meds. That’s not the government trying to control people, that’s the government trying to keep the drugs from controlling people.
REGARDS TO JOE:
Exactly what I’m saying if these substances were legalized and not made so difficult to obtain we wouldn’t have these problems and u say they are being looked at who do u think is looking at them the ( DEA ) and who does the DEA work for our government. You say they’re doing this to stay afloat and protect themselves all there responsibility needs to be is that there’s not a minor purchasing these substances same thing for bars and nightclubs they’re only responsibility is to make sure there’s not minors purchasing alcohol these substances need to be legalized then CVS wouldn’t have to worry about lawsuits.
I do not think CVS is trying to control peoples lives or their doctors, i think they are trying to stay in business. if they have to spend a millon dollars in a law suite over rx drug abuse from scripts they filled, the money needs to come from somewhere. the best solution is to stop filling those rx meds. I do not think this is at all about control.
This is just another move in the world of “Free Enterprise”
consumers can always go elsewhere, there are many companies who will take your money and not ask questions. there must be more going on here as companies do not develope morals or sense of right and wrong over night.
CVS must have been looked at for some RX related case and has made a company wide policy to deal with the issue.
This is how businesses stay afloat, if they spend money on a RX legal issue they need to protect themselves from it happen ing again. Businesses need to adapt in order to make it today, this is how CVS will do it. I am not saying it is wrong, I am saying there must be more there that we do not know about.
REGARDS to David
The connection is simple CVS is trying to control peoples and doctors lives the same way our lovely government is if u give the states the right to legalize These substances we would not have the problems with any of the drug trafficking therefore reducing crime and that has already been proven in other areas of the world it’s not mine the governments or the pharmacies or anyone to tell people how to live their lives people that are addicted to these drugs are are going to get them some other way shape or form so doing this will only make them more desperate which leads to increase in robberies and even murder it’s already started with the robbery at the cantonment pharmacy !!!
I really dont get some of the comments. If you NEED the meds and CVS doesnt offer them, go to another pharmacy. Easy as that.
If I wanted a certain toothpaste and WalMart didnt carry it (their choice and their right) I would go to the store that does.
REGARDING:
“that’s why I’m voting for. Ron Paul cause our country is becoming a dictatorship if u don’t think so go ahead and vote for the other guy and you’ll see it’s only going to get worse!!!!
FREE COUNTRY!!!!! ”
If Ron Paul is elected President, CVS will go back to selling narcotics no matter who the physician is?
It’s amazing he hasn’t already been elected with such support.
David not seeing the connection
It all comes down to personal responsibility, The person putting the drug in thier mouth is the one who chooses to do so, we who see pain management doctors understand this and work with our physicians to control our pain without forming an addiction. This move will not fix the problem, until people see the drugs as something to not be taken lightly you will have these problems.
I think its “GREAT” that CVS are looking out for there community. Wish more stores would look into doing something like this…
It’s not ALL doctors and it’s not ALL pain meds. Have you people not read about the oxy mills and the abuse in our state? PEOPLE ARE DYING from drug overdose. I applaud CVS for NOT filing EVERY prescription just to make a buck, regardless of what the possible outcome to the patients could be!!!
Maybe it is obvious to CVS that the certain doctors that are being “blacklisted” are contributing to the abuse of prescription pain meds. Even people that have real problems dealing with pain can easily become abusers as well. It’s a sad situation.
So are they going to stop selling BEER & WINE as well…what about cigarettes?
I’m tired of all this it’s just another way the government can get their hands in ur pocket this is only going to create more problems have u noticed the robberies on pharmacies are starting to pick up who cares what people do with their lives unless the person is underage but really all this crap is going to also make it harder on people that really need the meds war on drugs is a JOKE!!!! if somebody wants it bad enough they’ll get it either the easy way or by gunpoint that’s why I’m voting for. Ron Paul cause our country is becoming a dictatorship if u don’t think so go ahead and vote for the other guy and you’ll see it’s only going to get worse!!!!
FREE COUNTRY!!!!!
What is this country coming to? Last I checked this was America but seems that we are going backwards. I agree that prescription drugs is a problem and also over the counter medicines(used in manufacturing meth ) but innocent people should not have to jump hoop’s because of this epidemic. Punish those in the wrong and investigate the situation a little better, font slap them on the wrist lock them up!!!
So everyone who get their pain meds or any other meds from CVS will go some where else now? They are going to lose alot of customers if that happen.
I have cancer. CVS owns my insurance company. I guess I’ll die screaming.
I went in for a free flu shot yesterday at the local clinic and asked the doctor during small talk about all this pain med hysteria.
He informed me starting Jan 1st, NO Escambia County Clinic will prescribe nor write another script for pain medications.
So if you were getting pain meds through an ECC location find another doctor before the 1st of next month.
I was told if anyone has chronic pain, or in need of pain medications and go to the ECC locations (that is ALL locations), they will be told to seek out a pain management doctor.
That is ridiculus! So now if someone is legitmately in severe pain they won’t fill a perscription? Yes, they are blacklisting doctors and I will no longer do business with them. Maybe more people need to exercise their freedoms while we still have them!
It is about time that our country wakes up and does something about the LEGAL drug problem we have. My hat is off to CVS. There are so many screwed up on pain killers. They are destroying families
That is just not right. It will hurt those who really need relief from pain.
did they publish the list, are any local docs on it?