Extra Admin Charge at Chemist for Meds without a Script

LScholarsenvy on 12/07/2023 - 07:16
Last edited 12/07/2023 - 10:45 by 1 other user

Hi.

My wife went to my local chemist that we have been using for over 10 years to pick some meds for her and I requested her to pick up my meds as I had run out and my script was with me so I sent her a picture of the script and told her that I will take the script to the chemist in the next day or so.

When my wife requested, the pharmacist went and spoke to the person in charge and my wife was advised that they will give meds for 5 days and it will cost an extra $5 for admin. My wife was a bit disappointed and came home. When I came home later, she was upset and mentioned that the chemist, we felt was part of our community, was trying to hit us with admin charges and felt there was no community spirit. She said they could have charged me for the whole script and dispensed part if need be and release the rest when I took the script in.

So I went to get the meds later and enquired about the $5 and the lady mentioned that this was a rule that came into effect since 1st July, which to me sounded like a load of BS. I am aware that the government has boosted the payments to chemists so did not think they are strapped for cash.

Anyway, thought of reaching out to the OzBargain community to understand if this sounds fair or not.

Health & Beauty

Comments

  • morse on 12/07/2023 - 07:41
    +33

    They are protesting the changes where some scripts can be made for 60days instead of 30 as they miss out some dispensing fees from the gov, so probably putting up costs elsewhere. Take your business to another pharmacy if you can. The pharmacy guild is all about pharmacy owners making more profits, it doesn’t represent the profession of pharmacists very well at all. I understand they need to be profitable businesses but they shouldn’t be holding the public to ransom, as they have a responsibility to provide medicines to the public which comes with their right to sell medicines.

  • Motek Benzona on 12/07/2023 - 07:47
    +24

    We seem to be in a society where entities are just making up charges for whatever they like whenever they like and, the sad thing is, the masses are actually paying them! People are just accepting they are walking ATM's for total nonsense like they are asleep or something

    As only one example I got an SMS from a handyman on Tuesday, this company has not turned up twice in three months. The SMS said "make sure someone is home or there will be a non attendance charge" I replied "where do i send my invoice then pal"

    Charging extras for doing what people are meant to do is EVERYWHERE. Simply do not use these businesses and thet them collapse.

    • 2esc on 13/07/2023 - 12:30
      +1

      A lot of tradies etc don't even have the courtesy to let you know they are not able to come or are running late

  • Lord Fart Bucket on 12/07/2023 - 08:12
    +14

    Vote with your feet: go to another chemist.

  • Mokr on 12/07/2023 - 08:14
    -1

    Pharmacists don't make much as you think

    • morse on 12/07/2023 - 08:30
      +19

      Pharmacists don’t, but pharmacists who are pharmacy owners do, which is why pharmacists who work for pharmacy owners don’t earn much.

    • JIMB0 on 12/07/2023 - 10:07
      +4

      I've never seen a poor pharmacy shop owner or jeweller.

    • 2esc on 13/07/2023 - 12:33

      Depends on what is considered much.

  • MS Paint on 12/07/2023 - 08:26

    Seems fair to me. It's a chemist not a charity.

    • Lord Fart Bucket on 12/07/2023 - 08:30
      +2

      Correct. They make most of their money selling crap like vitamins, etc.

      • MS Paint on 12/07/2023 - 09:18
        +1

        Community spirit does not pay the rent.

        • morse on 12/07/2023 - 09:37
          +5

          But a taxpayer subsidised (with the purpose of supporting the community) business model does.

          • Protractor on 12/07/2023 - 11:40
            +1

            @morse: I agree. Great model. Now if we could only get a better immigration model (and minister) to allow living within it's capacity and the capacity of all other social policies.

  • Porker on 12/07/2023 - 08:28
    +1

    Pharmacies generally have a 'dispersing' fee, that is, there is a charge to dispense your medication. Most however absorb the fee and have done for a long time.

    Whether related to the new Government allowances or other, it could simply be that the pharmacy is now charging the customer the fee or simply unable to absorb it.

    Peoples objection is simply likely because they're used to not paying it.

    Rhetorically, if the community butcher had to increase their price to continue to operate, and one had been going there for 10 years, would they continue to go there?

    Just some things to be aware of before saying the pharmacy is money hungry.

    If unhappy with the price then simply shop around but one may find that the price increase is common to all. Eg. Credit surcharge is now commonly transferred to the customer where most stores previously absorbed it. Increase in costs are being transferred to customer via increased product prices

    • terrys on 13/07/2023 - 11:10

      "if the community butcher had to increase their price"

      Now try the proper comparison - "If the community butcher started charging you a $5 "counter" fee for passing your purchase over the counter to recover costs…"

  • holdenmg on 12/07/2023 - 08:32

    For Patients

    What is Continued Dispensing?
    Continued Dispensing is the supply of an eligible medicine to a person by an approved pharmacist, where there is an immediate need for the medicine but where the prescriber is unable to be contacted and/or is unable to provide an electronic PBS prescription or owing prescription. The supply of medicines under these arrangements is subject to a set of professional guidelines for pharmacists. Only one supply of medicines can be provided under Continued Dispensing in a 12-month period.

    What should I do if I have run out of my PBS medicines and/or prescriptions and cannot see a doctor to obtain a new one?
    If you are unable to see a medical practitioner face-to-face to obtain a prescription, you should check whether they can provide a telehealth appointment, and then send the script to you or your pharmacy electronically. If they cannot, you should talk to a community pharmacist about other options. This does not have to be your usual pharmacist, but they may need to contact your usual prescriber or pharmacist.

    Do I have to see my doctor to get a follow-up prescription to give to the pharmacist under Continued Dispensing?
    You do not need to obtain a follow-up prescription for medicines that are supplied under the Continued Dispensing arrangements. However, you will need to see a doctor to get a prescription for any future supplies of these medicines within a 12-month period.

    What medicines can I get?
    The medicines currently available under Continued Dispensing arrangements are predominantly for the management of chronic disease, such as asthma and other lung conditions, diabetes, high cholesterol and heart disease. Oral contraceptives and medicines for the treatment of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) may also be supplied. For a list of all the medicines available under Continued Dispensing, please refer to Schedule 1 of the current Commonwealth legislation.

    What will I have to pay for these medicines?
    You will have to pay the relevant PBS/RPBS co-payment, depending on your concessional status. If you have reached your PBS/RPBS safety net, your PBS/RPBS prescription cost will be reduced to the applicable PBS/RPBS co-payment rate.

    Will these medicines count towards my PBS/RPBS Safety Net?
    In most cases, these medicines will count towards your PBS/RPBS Safety Net. However, for certain PBS medicines, there is a Safety Net 20 day rule. This means that for these medicines a resupply within 20 days of having the previous medicine supplied will not count towards your Safety Net. If you had already reached the Safety Net threshold, you will need to pay the relevant pre-Safety Net PBS co-payment, not the reduced Safety Net amount. Your pharmacist will be able to discuss this further with you if this is relevant.

    https://www.pbs.gov.au/info/general/continued-dispensing

  • brad1-8tsi on 12/07/2023 - 08:56
    +2

    When I lived in a small community I considered the local chemist a part of that but I also knew they weren't my mate and they came to work every day and worked long hours to make money.

  • Sinnerator on 12/07/2023 - 09:10
    +3

    Any community spirit tied in with a for profit business is complete rubbish PR

  • leiiv on 12/07/2023 - 09:19

    So TLDR, what was the $5 admin fee for? Is it because someone wants to buy medicine from someone else, or because of no physical script provided, or something else?

    • Scholarsenvy on 12/07/2023 - 09:32

      I was told it is additional cost to cover when they have to release the remaining meds and update the script.

      • leiiv on 12/07/2023 - 09:43

        Sorry, I still don't understand. Do they charge it to everyone then? If not, in what case they will charge it?

        • Scholarsenvy on 12/07/2023 - 09:47

          my wife had her script and she was charged the medication cost only. As for mine since she did not have the hard copy of the receipt, they were going to dispense the meds but only release a few days worth with an extra admin charge. And i had to go later and get the remaining medication by providing my script.

          • CodeXD on 12/07/2023 - 09:56
            +8

            @Scholarsenvy: I think that is fair price for them to give your wife your medicine even tho she did not have your script available. It would have been dodgy if they charged her the admin fee without telling her first.

            This sounds like poor planning on your part - out of meds and didn't give your wife the script to pick it up even tho she was already going to chemist.

            Technically they shouldn't even have given your wife the medicine without an active script.

          • brendanm on 12/07/2023 - 10:19
            +4

            @Scholarsenvy: That seems pretty fair. Hardly something to get upset about.

            • Protractor on 12/07/2023 - 14:11
              +2

              @brendanm: Yes, a $5 re-education on how to do the smart thing next time

  • jv on 12/07/2023 - 10:23
    +1

    was trying to hit us with admin charges

    You expect people to do work for you for free ?

  • Protractor on 12/07/2023 - 11:14
    -1

    The pharmacy is 100% spot on,here. Generous to a tee, in fact
    If they did what your 'expect' (demand) in this scenario, and one of the staff is a casual who LAGS on this pharmacy, who deals with their penalty? You? I dare say this pharmacy will probably adjust the way it perceives you going fwd.
    Maybe your wife was upset because she predicted you would overreact like this,for letting you down?

    Next time, plan ahead, go yourself (in time) and ask technical questions of the pharmacist yourself.
    Your wife & that pharmacy did very well by you.

  • jv on 12/07/2023 - 11:15
    -6

    I am aware that the government has boosted the payments to chemists so did not think they are strapped for cash.

    They've actually reduced the payments they get for PBS medications. The government has halved the dispensing fee they get.

    • morse on 12/07/2023 - 11:29
      +4

      Nope. They only halved the frequency of the dispensing for some (not all) medications, and only if this is how the doctor chooses to prescribe ie only when clinically appropriate. This saves the tax payer and the consumer time and money. If it’s clinically appropriate for a script to be given for 60days, it means less dispensing costs, less GP costs (for both gov and patient) and greater availability of GPs as their time is not taken up seeing patients that don’t need to be seen that frequently. Other incentives have been increased for pharmacies.

      https://www.health.gov.au/ministers/the-hon-mark-butler-mp/m…

      • jv on 12/07/2023 - 12:45
        -2

        Nope. They only halved the frequency of the dispensing for some (not all) medications

        Which reduces the payments to the pharmacists.

        • morse on 12/07/2023 - 12:56
          +5

          Because they are also doing less work. It’s ridiculous to make patients go into pharmacies more often when not clinically indicated just so the pharmacy owner can make more money. It’s also only some medications, so it’s not half their total revenue from dispensing fees.

          • jv on 12/07/2023 - 12:59
            -3

            @morse:

            Because they are also doing less work.

            and getting reduced payments…. and not being compensated by the government who caused this…

            • Protractor on 12/07/2023 - 14:10
              +1

              @jv: Govt is there for the consumer in this case, not the pharmacy and their profit or convenience. People who are now better off, and most Drs love it (so far)
              As the country ages, pharmacies will have twice the ppl as now, so swings & roundabouts.

              • jv on 12/07/2023 - 14:18
                -1

                @Protractor:

                Govt is there for the consumer in this case

                Yes, but government needs to compensate the pharmacists.

                Similar to when they make up other rules that affect other businesses and individuals…

                • morse on 12/07/2023 - 14:30
                  +1

                  @jv: They don’t need to compensate the pharmacists for changing gov policy. The pharmacists have plenty of opportunities to make money from providing these public services and being paid to do it through subsidies. Government purchases services from private business as required. The frequency of that particular service is now less, so they are purchasing it less.

                  If the gov came up with an amazing successful strategy where people exercises more and ate healthy and needed less medications, should they compensate the pharmacies for that too? If they find out a particular medication causes more harm than good so recommend it is not prescribed should the gov compensate pharmacists for less sales of the harmful drug? Things change, smart businesses are prepared and have multiple revenue streams. Pharmacies have lots of ways to make money.

                  I’m starting to think JV might be in the pharmacy business.

                  • jv on 12/07/2023 - 14:39

                    @morse:

                    They don’t need to compensate the pharmacists for changing gov policy.

                    'need' is different from 'should'.

                    Like when Dan stole the taxi licenses off the owners so Uber can rip people off with surge pricing…

                    I wonder if you'll change your tune when the government eventually takes all your super and decides it goes to consolidated revenue, without any compensation.

  • Colin2905 on 12/07/2023 - 11:15
    +4

    I use the MedAdvisor app to manage my one medication, and my wife's several medications. A few days ago the app reminded me that I was on my last repeat and I'd need a new script soon. I'd usually just make an appointment with my GP (which is now $98, less the Medicare rebate), but this time her first available appointment was in two week's time, a day after I was due to run out. I book the appointments with another app (Ochre Health), which also has the option of "Repeat Prescription". I hadn't tried it before, but did so this time. It cost me $15.57, and the next day (because I'd ordered it late in the day) after my GP had reviewed it, I received a text message (e-mail is also an option) with the eScript link. Followed that, copied the code into MedAdvisor, and placed the order, which is now waiting for me (or my wife) to collect from the chemist. Easy-peasy.

    TLDR; eScript, FTW.

  • Gnilgorf on 12/07/2023 - 11:23
    +4

    Relayed this post to my in-house drug dealer (aka pharmacist wife) and we were both taken aback at the extra admin fee required given that dispensing fees are generally baked into the pharmacy's costs, even with the recent government changes.

    But the lack of a script does change the scenario somewhat.

    What i've now learnt is that in this scenario (running out of a required drug & forgot to bring script), it's completely up to the discretion of the dispensing pharmacist, and it's largely to ensure you don't miss out of required meds. You did say you had run out after all.

    On one hand, as you've been going to them for years, they were comfortable enough to dispense to you anyway. Yay, community~!

    On the flip side, it is a risk they take on. And if anything, take the fee as a gentle reminder to always drop your scripts off.
    Apparently there is some abuse of this discretion system, with people asking for extra opioid drugs…

  • mbck on 12/07/2023 - 12:11
    +1

    Maybe you should get your things in order. They could've just said no.
    See the 5 bucks as the convenience of getting part of your script now, than later.

    Another it's your fault, not mine. And using "community spirit" emotional blackmail. Sheesh

  • [Deactivated] on 12/07/2023 - 12:14

    I cry a little every time I see people at the pharmacy carrying baskets with a 'Leaning Tower of Pisa' made up solely of medication boxes

  • kanad on 12/07/2023 - 13:53

    Next time get a SMS script. These can be forwarded or emailed to anyone.

    • jv on 12/07/2023 - 14:41

      Next time get a SMS script.

      Can I get one for my wife, and limit her to 20 SMSs per day?

  • Joey2scoops on 13/07/2023 - 08:32

    Sounds fair enough to me. If you just take in a script and pay the PBS rate that is one thing. But if that script has to be split and dispensed in two parts then a $5 fee is reasonable for the extra work involved. Many pharmacists charge also for putting your meds into Webster packs and some don't. Doesn't mean you're getting ripped off, just covering the extra work involved.

    Just because you perceive a business to be part of your community doesn't automatically entitled to "mates rates" unfortunately.

    • Motek Benzona on 13/07/2023 - 08:37
      -2

      So you support ridiculous surcharges made up out of thin air? Please give me your wallet

  • jacross on 13/07/2023 - 08:50
    +1

    To be honest I'm more surprised they'd dispense anything without the actual script. How does that work?

  • eyeballz2770 on 13/07/2023 - 17:34

    If you choose to use a different chemist, check if they hold your scripts on file.

    Our local chemist does (husband and wife team with staff) and are great at reminding us of how many refills we have left. They don't charge a dispensing fee, either. They also embody the community spirit magnificently; they have always advised us how we could save money. In fact, we were overpaying on my scripts and the wife told us how to go about getting a rebate which was over $700. When my husband went to pick up his meds in May, they had a brand new glucometer waiting with my name on it.

    They're the only chemist we've used as they're wonderful.

  • GraemeW on 14/07/2023 - 06:00
    +1

    Well I’m a pharmacist and have given people scripts owing and know do a fact a lot of people are not very concerned about keeping their end of the bargain. I even lost a friend as. Client because my staff kept asking him for script..The $5 would not even cost of the extra administration.. let alone improve surety of getting the script within 24 hrs to comply with the law

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