Will the Pharmacies here Honor the prescription that is given by a Philippine doctor?

[J.W. 4]

Hi my mom has diabetic and she has prescription from her doctor for her insulin shots. When she arrives here and the health insurance don't kick started yet. Can we present the prescription (Rx) given to her by her doctor and get her insulin meds? Will the (Rx) prescription be honored?

Hope someone can answered this one...

[NigeriaorBust 4,087]

I believe that a doctor has to be licensed in the US. But she can bring a supply with her. Hopefully you found affordable insurance with her pre existing condition

[Inky 1,110]

Have you called the pharmacy and asked? Or checked your state department of health rules and regulations?

Its likely that they will not allow a prescription from another country but you would do better to call and ask. I know Texas has some exceptions for prescriptions from Canada and Mexico.

[Lexlee08 18]

Not here in CA, you have to be licensed MD to prescribed anything, what you can do for the meantime is go check with a family doctor in your area that will take cash payments for your mom to be seen and get a generic prescription from that doctor and have this Rx be filled up at either Costco or Walmart for $4-$10/prescription.

[J.W. 4]

Thank you NigeriaorBust, Inky, and Lexlee08. I'll try and call our pharmacy here if they will honor it.

@Lexlee08, we might do that. Go to our doctor here and just pay the whole doc's fee and have her prescription filled if we can't have her PI prescription honored.

Does WalMart/Sam's/Kroger's/Costco's Generic $4-$10 need an insurance? Or is it okay without it? I know WalMart preffered Humana. I got the pamphlet for it.

[Tim/Mav 305]

J.W. I agree with the other posts. However, existing Medical subscriptions are allowed. But, you know doctors. Proof of existing Medical prescriptions by other Doctors, no matter what Country will be be re-evaluted here and continued or posible changes. I assume it will be a One-time check-up with a doctor. I suggest a Family Practitioner that will call-in prescriptions as needed and won't charge for calling the Pharmacy for a re-fill of a Prescribed drug, simply request a refill when needed. Your doctor can also ask for a Prescription to be refilled without any consent for such a common ailment. Try and find a Local Doctor near home so this does'nt have to be waiting on the phone forever.

[J.W. 4]

@Tim/Mav, okay thanks for that tip. Noted.

[LIFE'SJOURNEY 970]

A pharmacist will not honored a prec written from a doctor from another country because the doctors DEA number must be verified in order to honored his prec. The DEA database do not have information on all doctors worldwide. Insulin is not one of the drugs that are listed on the $4.00 list at Walmart or Costco.

In order for a new doctor to write your mother a presc, he/she will have to do a new consultation, with the results from their own lab work request. This is a requirement per law and medical liability. You should have brought your mothers complete medical records from her physician in her home country. Note the medical records should have been translated into English, unless the new physician can read/speak the language.

[Lexlee08 18]

Have you looked online JW? I'm not sure of the safety of the medications online but that'a another option to look into. Also, Walgreens has this program that if you pay $20/month (I think, not sure), you can get generic name meds cheaper if you get it obviously from them.

[J.W. 4]

Thanks Life'sJourney, I'll tell them to bring her medical records when they come here. No problem in translations since they usually use English in documents there in the Philippines but I will mention this to them. Thank you.

Lexlee08, thanks. It's not my forte since I haven't bought any meds online. My sister knows more about this, she has experience, so I'll pass this on her court, lessen the burden on my part. But yes, I will look into that.

Their time to come here is fast approaching...and I want to be ready so their transition is quite as painless as possible.

Thank you for all the help, I so much appreciate it.

Edited February 15, 2011 by J.W.

[Sergi9 110]

Have you looked online JW? I'm not sure of the safety of the medications online but that'a another option to look into. Also, Walgreens has this program that if you pay $20/month (I think, not sure), you can get generic name meds cheaper if you get it obviously from them.

Injectable insulin needs to be refrigerated and since the patient can die or go into a Coma without it, it is hardly the drug you want to order by mail.

As for the ease of getting new prescriptions, it should be one trip to the URGENT CARE initially, bring her and the scrip or the actual bottles with you. You should have no problem getting a new prescription. Also check with your state she made need a prescription for the syringes as well.

This is not the kind of disease the doctor will have an "issue" honoring the original diagnosis or prescription as again delay and monkey business can end up killing or hospitalizing the patient.

[tmma 467]

Injectable insulin needs to be refrigerated and since the patient can die or go into a Coma without it, it is hardly the drug you want to order by mail.

As for the ease of getting new prescriptions, it should be one trip to the URGENT CARE initially, bring her and the scrip or the actual bottles with you. You should have no problem getting a new prescription. Also check with your state she made need a prescription for the syringes as well.

This is not the kind of disease the doctor will have an "issue" honoring the original diagnosis or prescription as again delay and monkey business can end up killing or hospitalizing the patient.

It is possible to get meds that need refrigeration shipped (I've done it). It's expensive though.

edit- IMO best bet---urgent care clinic here with empty bottles and med history in hand...like someone else already said.

Edited February 15, 2011 by tmma

[J.W. 4]

@Sergi9 and tmma, Yes we have urgent care here just across the street. Walking distance. And yes, we need prescription of the syringes here in TN. But her meds are not separate. It's one injectionable pen shots thingy, I don't know what's it's called. But I might also tell my parents about the syringes prescription.

Thanks for the reminder and tips.

[LIFE'SJOURNEY 970]

@Sergi9 and tmma, Yes we have urgent care here just across the street. Walking distance. And yes, we need prescription of the syringes here in TN. But her meds are not separate. It's one injectionable pen shots thingy, I don't know what's it's called. But I might also tell my parents about the syringes prescription.

Thanks for the reminder and tips.

It is nice that those on VJ are giving you some information, but your mother has a medical condition that has to be monitored. An urgent care center probably won't treat her because she needs to be seen by a specialist. The medication (insulin and needles) will need a prescription from a doctor that has a valid DEA number in the US database. Your mother has a life threatening medical condition that needs to be evaluated and treated by a medical doctor. There will be no short-cuts around getting her the proper treatment. Yes, mother probably can bring with her a 3 to 6 months supply of insulin to help her into the transition, but your mother must be seen by a specialist for her condition. Having the medical records will help her future doctor to evaluated her care in the past.

[J.W. 4]

@LifeJourney, yes I know that. What I'm asking is for the meantime if their medical insurance doesn't start yet, we have some way of getting the meds.

They have medical insurance covered there in the Philippines too and we asked if it will be honored. They said it will but we have to pay the whole amount first then we'll be reimburse the cost. (That will be a pain in the B***) But anyway, if we don't use their PI medical insurance since we'll be waiting to get them on their own medical insurance here, we need something just in case. I know a diabetic specialist already here in TN and a center where they teach/support group for diabetic patient.

Thanks for that, 3-6 months supply might be okay until she needs to be seen by the doctor, and I bet she'll have her insurance then set up. Thanks for the help and concern. I'm grateful for it. Shows people cared.

Love VJ!

Edited February 15, 2011 by J.W.