SPRINGHILL, Fla. (WFLA) — David Small’s anxiety was getting worse by the minute.
“I couldn’t sleep,” said Small. “I was nauseous and didn’t eat. I kept thinking the worst.”
Small prepared his hurricane kit as Hurricane Ian raged toward Florida and its path was still unclear. He had enough of everything except the opioid pain reliever oxycodone.
“When you use painkillers, you have tingling and soreness,” Small explained. “Some days I can’t even get out of bed. I don’t even know how I’m going to get to safety without it.”
The Spring Hill resident lost his leg years ago thanks to a tumor and lupus flare-ups. I called.
“We’ll have to wait until Monday. We’re not open,” Small recalled a representative for Florida Blue saying. “No one will come to take your order. You should have thought about it beforehand.”
Florida Blue said in a statement: medicine. If a Member needs an early refill of their controlled medication, we encourage them to speak with their pharmacist in addition to calling the toll-free number on the back of their Member ID card. “
Small call, call, call.
“There is a Florida law that requires pharmacists and doctors to be able to issue and meet a 30-day supply after the governor issues a state of emergency,” said a Florida Department of Health spokeswoman for Hillsborough County. said Ryan L. Terry,
“It’s not just about weathering the storm,” Terry said. “It’s also a way to prepare for the aftermath of the storm.”
Small spoke with various Florida Blue representatives and after so many phone calls, he felt he had turned around. Finally, he received the medicine overnight – it arrived Tuesday afternoon – about 24 hours before Ian landed. We want to make it available to
Medical experts also recommend not using mail-order pharmacies that carry controlled substances if early access to medicines is needed. I say it’s the best.
If you need urgent replenishment, you can also use the so-called “vacation exception”. Usually a one-time waiver for taking medication for long vacations, it is available during hurricanes and other disasters. Since it is a special case once a year, if an emergency occurs again during use, it is necessary to consult with your insurance or pharmacy.
