This is Part 2 in our two-part series on why pharmacists may not fill your prescription. In Part 1, we cover issues like illegible handwriting on scripts to a pharmacist’s moral beliefs.
Here are three additional reasons why prescriptions can be denied and what you can do about them:
1) The prescription appears to be altered
Pharmacists must make sure that patients are presenting a valid prescription, so they may question prescriptions that seem to be damaged in some way. Was it taped back together? Does it include scratched out information? Is it crumpled up or written in marker, colored ink or calligraphy pens? Additionally, if any information concerning the date, strength, quantity, or directions on the prescription appears to be altered, your pharmacist may not fill your medication.
Alterations on a prescription, even if they are from the doctor, can make the pharmacist second guess its validity and prompt them to verify its details with your doctor—which is usually not a fast process.
What can you do?
If you give your prescription a once over and notice the doctor scratched something out or messed up when writing the prescription, kindly see if they would start over and write you a new prescription. Asking the doctor to rewrite the prescription will prevent the pharmacy from questioning the prescription, thereby saving you time at the pharmacy.
If you must bring in a prescription that has “been through the mud” (literally or figuratively) keep in mind the pharmacist may not be able to fill your prescription without verifying the information.
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