From a Veteran,
"Ever since Tricare for Life chose to force us away from using our local pharmacy for first time/can’t wait prescription fills, the service has been abysmal. For example, when an antibiotic is ordered, waiting for mail order from ExpressScripts is not timely care provided. It needs to go to a local pharmacy. The local Walgreens and CVS don’t provide personalized or (frequently) timely service either, saying they don’t have the Rx in stock. Knowing when an Rx is ready is, therefore, dicey since they aren’t good at notifying when the Rx actually comes in.
Today, I went to pick up a prescription, attempting to use the drive-in window. It was blocked off. Inside, the line was 10 or more deep. When I finally got to the counter, they told me they couldn’t fill the Rx as prescribed and needed to speak with the Dr. This type of service never happened when I could still use my local pharmacy of choice. They knew me when I walked in and actually notified me when the Rx was ready.
Whoever let the contracts force out the mom-and-pop type pharmacies to the big box ones HAVE NOT DONE THIS, RETIRED VET ANY favor. Calling Tricare for Life was next to useless. The first two I spoke with told me I’d have to talk with ExpressScripts. ExpressScripts told me I’d have to talk with Walgreens. I told them I’d tried that, so they transferred me to a Humana Tricare extension, which in turn transferred me back to ExpressScripts."
Please forward this to your legislators and let them know that veterans deserve choice of pharmacy and local pharmacy access is critical to their survival and the survival of all Americans.
Thank you for your support,
Loretta Boesing, Patient Advocate