Sample Hogs

hypnotic_nurse · Dec 16, 2004

When I worked in psych outpt, we never had a policy on samples, except that patients didn't get samples unless they had an appointment. Some docs either never thought to offer them or didn't want to mess with trying to offer them, so there always seemed to be plenty for the patients I assisted with.

And some patients truly could not have afforded to buy the medication and it was actually easier in many cases for the doc to supply samples rather than fill out the endless paperwork for the different companies' indigent programs. And then again, some people will push endlessly for something free even if they can pay for it.

If you are running out of samples OR sample seekers are impeding the care of other patients OR sample seekers are costing you or your doc too much time due to coming in between appointments (which sounds like the case), then you probably need some kind of written procedure to deal with that, and then let every patient know each and every time they receive samples, what the procedure is.

I worked with one doc for a few years who was so stingy with samples that they actually became outdated and had to be destroyed. How silly is that? Better for someone to have used them if they needed them, whether they had the money to pay or not. How wonderful that your doc is so caring.

ImAnMa · Dec 18, 2004

I work in internal med. with many older patients. and when a patient states a need we try to help if we have the samples, along with the samples we offer information on the indigent drug programs available, the volinteer of america program that we have in our area helps fill out the indigent drug forms and we give them the contact info on that. also we include any drug discount card info that is available.

so we give them the samples and we document that we gave the info on how to get help getting needed medications at reduced cost or no cost .

you have to walk some of these patients through the whole process several times. but the Dr I work for wants to follow his patients closely so that if they are not taking the meds he knows why, could be money reasons, unable to understand the importance of the medication. or just pure non complience. he hands out the samples freely to all of his patients whether there is a financial need or not.

ImAnMa · Dec 18, 2004

I work in internal med. with many older patients. and when a patient states a need we try to help if we have the samples, along with the samples we offer information on the indigent drug programs available, the volinteer of america program that we have in our area helps fill out the indigent drug forms and we give them the contact info on that. also we include any drug discount card info that is available.

so we give them the samples and we document that we gave the info on how to get help getting needed medications at reduced cost or no cost .

you have to walk some of these patients through the whole process several times. but the Dr I work for wants to follow his patients closely so that if they are not taking the meds he knows why, could be money reasons, unable to understand the importance of the medication. or just pure non complience. he hands out the samples freely to all of his patients whether there is a financial need or not.

Nurse Ratched, RN · Dec 18, 2004

We wax and wane on our sample availability. I am a firm believer that they should be given to pt's who don't have insurance. Not wanting to file insurance certainly isn't a good reason. Our providers try and ask whether someone has insurance or not before rx-ing something so we can figure out how to make medications practical for the patient.

I file a lot of patient assistance program paperwork for patients through the pharmaceutical companies. I figure there is a limit to their largesse (presumably, whenever the tax write-off ends) so I feel it is my responsibility to be a "good steward" of what we get in.

Nurse Ratched, RN · Dec 18, 2004

We wax and wane on our sample availability. I am a firm believer that they should be given to pt's who don't have insurance. Not wanting to file insurance certainly isn't a good reason. Our providers try and ask whether someone has insurance or not before rx-ing something so we can figure out how to make medications practical for the patient.

I file a lot of patient assistance program paperwork for patients through the pharmaceutical companies. I figure there is a limit to their largesse (presumably, whenever the tax write-off ends) so I feel it is my responsibility to be a "good steward" of what we get in.

SarasotaRN2b · Dec 18, 2004

Well, chances are that those patients with diabetes also have other health concerns that require medicine. When you consider how much money they pay for medication each month, it can be mind boggling. So if an MD is able to provide samples, it might mean that they can use that money for something like groceries. Of course, you are always going to have those patients that are going to take advantage even though they have good health insurance with Rx benefits. But if this means that a patient who would otherwise be noncompliant with meds takes them, that is for the better. A suggestion might be (which my MD uses), a prescription (or samples) must be requested 24 hours a head of time. I think that if there is any way that you can document the samples that the MD hands out, it can help when additional samples are requested from the patient.

Hello everyone. I work in a Endocrinology private practice. Right now, we are a VERY small office (the doc, me and the receptionist) We have about 3000 total pts. We have a pretty decent sample closet...figuring how much stuff is effected by Diabetes.

The reps love my doc, and we are kept pretty well stocked. We had to change from the mini insulin fridge to a much larger one because we ran out of room. All the reps keep bringing in TONS of insulin..pens, vials, refills..you name it.

Do you have pts that abuse the samples? My doc believes that samples can help improve compliance. When a pt comes in for an appt, they usually walk out with at least a months supply of their meds (if we have the samples). He figures, if he can give them 3-6 months of free meds per year (they have to come for a visit usually every 3 months) that can save them a TON of money.

Our doc does not chart his sample giving at an appt. But I chart whenever a pt comes in for more samples, what I gave and how much. I get a kick out of the ones that come in on Friday afternoon at 4:55 and scream. "I ran out of this and I just sent the RX he gave me last month to the mail oder company yesterday! Can I get 2 more months?" repeat every 3 months...I know we get the samples for free...but how much is too much?

What do y'all think? How about the demographics of those people? We have a mix of people who don't WANT to spend the money of meds, and people who just plain CAN'T!

Do you have policies about samples?

SarasotaRN2b · Dec 18, 2004

Well, chances are that those patients with diabetes also have other health concerns that require medicine. When you consider how much money they pay for medication each month, it can be mind boggling. So if an MD is able to provide samples, it might mean that they can use that money for something like groceries. Of course, you are always going to have those patients that are going to take advantage even though they have good health insurance with Rx benefits. But if this means that a patient who would otherwise be noncompliant with meds takes them, that is for the better. A suggestion might be (which my MD uses), a prescription (or samples) must be requested 24 hours a head of time. I think that if there is any way that you can document the samples that the MD hands out, it can help when additional samples are requested from the patient.

Hello everyone. I work in a Endocrinology private practice. Right now, we are a VERY small office (the doc, me and the receptionist) We have about 3000 total pts. We have a pretty decent sample closet...figuring how much stuff is effected by Diabetes.

The reps love my doc, and we are kept pretty well stocked. We had to change from the mini insulin fridge to a much larger one because we ran out of room. All the reps keep bringing in TONS of insulin..pens, vials, refills..you name it.

Do you have pts that abuse the samples? My doc believes that samples can help improve compliance. When a pt comes in for an appt, they usually walk out with at least a months supply of their meds (if we have the samples). He figures, if he can give them 3-6 months of free meds per year (they have to come for a visit usually every 3 months) that can save them a TON of money.

Our doc does not chart his sample giving at an appt. But I chart whenever a pt comes in for more samples, what I gave and how much. I get a kick out of the ones that come in on Friday afternoon at 4:55 and scream. "I ran out of this and I just sent the RX he gave me last month to the mail oder company yesterday! Can I get 2 more months?" repeat every 3 months...I know we get the samples for free...but how much is too much?

What do y'all think? How about the demographics of those people? We have a mix of people who don't WANT to spend the money of meds, and people who just plain CAN'T!

Do you have policies about samples?

JnJTyson · Dec 20, 2004

My doc is VERY good with the reps...they love him...so we tend to be kept VERY well stocked. Besides lack of money...he gives samples for people trying new meds, or for starting meds like Synthroid...where the dose has to be slowly moved up or down depending on lab values and things. Why make a pt fill a 90 day rx for a pill he may hate 3 weeks after he starts it? And who would want to fill two weeks worth of Synthroid in 4 different doses?

I think its great that the pharm companies do the advertising in the form of samples...its even helped me a time or two in the past when I was uninsured! A few years ago I got pneumonia...no insurance...a probably $1.50 in my pocket. After the x-rays, abx shots and so on and so forth....My bill was HUGE. They let me do payments, and the doc that took care of me, gave me inhailers, abx, cough syrup...all samples. They lasted me until I was better....I sent the guy a card!!