I went to the Prime Mail site to sign up for mail order prescription services and selected "Transition Prescriptions from Retail to Prime Mail". I requested they port over three medications. Prime Mail was to contact my doctor in order to authorize future orders. I specifically checked the box on the order form that said, "Do NOT fill this prescription at this time" (empasis, Prime Mail).
Several days later, I received an email and a phone call advising me that my prescription could not be filled at this time since it was too early. Since I had asked that the prescriptions not be filled, I called Prime Mail customer service to find out what was going on. The CSR was "unable to cancel my prescriptions because they were still processing", but did remove my card information. I was advised that whenever a doctor sends them a prescription, they automatically fill it, send it out, and either charge a card on file or bill the customer.
I asked what would happen if a doctor sent a wrong prescription or the wrong strength, I was advised that would not be Prime Mails issue, that the charge would be completed. I was advised that when the prescription was being processed, I would get an email and a chance to refuse it, but if I missed the email did not refuse it, it would be charged and could not be returned.
I did not understand and was not able to get a real answer from the CSR as to why they were processing a prescription that I absolutely did not want processed and why she was unable to cancel the other prescriptions. A few days later, I got an email and phone call that another prescription was being processed. I again contacted customer service, was advised this time that though I had selected not to refill at this time, they sent the doctor a FAX(!), but he failed to respond in kind (I'm assuming because he lives in 2016, not 1985), but he followed the current guidelines and sent my prescription electronically. I was advised that since he did that, the system did not know not to fill the prescription.
When this happened again with the last prescription, I asked to be removed from their system. If my doctor's office had made any mistake in sending a prescription to them, I could be charged up to $399 and would be liable for that amount, regardless of whether the doctor or doctor's office made a mistake.
When I walk into a brick & mortar pharmacy, they receive a prescription, fill it, notifiy me that it is ready, then I have the choice to pick it up, cancel it, or pay for it in any manner I choose at any time I choose. How many patients have had cards charged when they were not expecting it? How many patients have had the wrong prescription sent out and not had any recourse?
I contacted Blue Cross, Blue Shield, as I was advised by the last Prime Mail CSR that they would be the ones to remove me from the Prime Mail system. BCBS was unable to do that, since Prime Therapeutics is my pharmacy provider, but they did take a complaint and log it.
I will be moving to a MarketPlace plan at the beginning of next month. I found out through BCBS that Prime Therapeutics will be my pharmacy provider then, as well. I will not be able to take advantage of the mail order savings because I do not want to be at the mercy of Prime Mail.
When I am billed, it is just a fraction of what the insurance company is billed. This system is, I think, fraudulent. Prescriptions should never be sent "automatically", but should be filled, sent, and charged when the CONSUMER wants, not when the pharmacy decide.s