Walgreens and Pharmacy Choice!

This post brought to you by Walgreens. All opinions are 100% mine.

Have you been effected by the recent changes created by pharmacy insurance plans managed by Express Scripts?  I am talking about the recent inability of Express Scripts to come to an agreement with nationwide chain Walgreens, which means as of January 1, 2012 countless Walgreens pharmacy customers can no longer choose to have their prescriptions filled there if they want to have them covered by their insurance benefits. 

We become aware of the impending change many months ago as Walgreens began to inform us though letters and flyers that this change was on the horizon as Express Scripts became more and more difficult to negotiate with.   Walgreens says during negotiations that it didn’t ask for rate increases and offered to hold rates steady for commercial plans but Express Scripts rejected the offer.  Unfortunately, Express Scripts doesn’t just effect the commercial insured it also heavily influences the pharmacy choices of our military and military families. Walgreens went a step further in trying to negotiate on the military package.   Walgreens stated in a press release, Walgreens and Express Scripts  that it “Offered to negotiate the Tricare renewal separately from Express Scripts’ commercial business in order to continue to provide Walgreens services on an uninterrupted basis to all active and retired military personnel. Offered to lower Tricare reimbursement rates across the board resulting in double-digit million dollar savings to the U.S. military and taxpayers over the next few years; and provided an ironclad guarantee that Walgreens prices would match or beat the average costs per adjusted prescription of all other retail pharmacies in the Tricare network. Those costs would be compared on an apples-to-apples basis and verified by an objective third party each quarter. Walgreens also committed to reimbursing Tricare for any overage following the end of each quarterly review. ”

 We are Walgreens customers and prior to January 1, 2012 our insurance pharmacy coverage was with Express Scripts.  Fortunately, for us, my husband’s company chose to change pharmacy providers at the end of 2011 so we can continue to use Walgreens.  Walgreens is our pharmacy because they are convenient to our home, work and school, not to mention they have a 24 hour pharmacy and with children it seems we have used it more times than we could have ever imagined. We also have a daughter who goes to school out of state and her local Walgreens has made it easy to keep her medications filled and transferred as needed.    Sadly, many satisfied Walgreens customers no longer have this freedom to choose what works best for their family thanks to Express Scripts.

One help for those families affected by this change is a special discount on annual membership for the Prescription Savings Club at Walgreens.  For a $10 per year membership, everyone in your immediate family is covered, including a spouse, dependents 22 and younger and pets. Individuals may join for $5. Join and receive discount prices on your prescriptions. Other benefits include: Savings on more than 8,000 brand-name and all generic medications, discounts on flu shots, pet prescriptions, nebulizer and diabetic supplies and bonuses when you purchase Walgreens brand products and photo finishing services!  Show your support for Walgreens by following  Walgreens on Twitter  liking Walgreens on Facebook

I must have spoken too soon!

Source: google.com via Katy on Pinterest

Yes, almost as soon as I posted yesterday about how well DS2 was doing I got a call from the school.  He was dizzy, with blurred vision, severe headache and shaking.  Of course, I was at the school in about 5 minutes flat. Fortunately, this was nothing like the previous episode as he was aware and responding all throughout and had no breathing issues.  I called our Dr. and was told to take him to the Emergency Room.  So, off we went for an unexpected Friday Afternoon Adventure (not one I would really recommend.)

By the time our Dr. was able to get to the ER to meet us, DS2 was feeling better and all tests looked fine. There is no definative way to know what was going one with DS2 during the actual episode, and it is possible it was a partial seizure but the Dr. is not sure. They are hesitant to give him anything medicine wise right now for fear it might mask what ever perplexing problem we are dealing with.  So, the positive to come out of it...apparently we will be getting a much quicker appointment with the specialist now.  The saga continues....

MRI and an Update

My sweet boy is doing well. No more scares! We had an MRI yesterday and have an appointment scheduled (of course not as soon as I would like!) with a pediatric neurologist in Charleston at MUSC (Medical University of South Carolina for those of you not from my neck of the woods!) The only on going issue DS2 is having is regular headaches but otherwise he is 100%.  Of course, I am watching him like a hawk and very protective of his tiredness level.

Our Dr. here is keeping a close eye on him until we get to see the neurologist and was able to review the MRI yesterday as well. He called me immediately to let me know there was no sign of a mass or ...tumor which is such a HUGE relief. Hopefully we will know more in a few weeks after we see the specialist at MUSC.

Praising God and praying this was a one time incident with no repeat! Thank you for all the prayers and support we have received, I don't know how I would have made it through the last couple of weeks without it.

Monday Musings

Source: paloma81.blogspot.com via Bella on Pinterest

Just a quick update from our house; my youngest son is doing well. He is back in school and seemingly back in the groove and full of energy.   We are waiting on the appointment with the Pediatric Neurologist.  My daughter is home for a couple of days and last night all 3 of my children were in rare form and this house was filled with laughter and joy.  For that I am more thankful than I can express. 

Somehow though, we seem to be in the cross hairs of something because a couple of (non related to my youngest son) issues have arisen that have me shaking my head and wondering, "what else?" Yes...mostly I seem to be asking God, "What else?"  I feel like a little kid most of the time when I come to God in prayer these days.  I probably sound like a spoiled child to Him for the most part, I am sure.  "What else, God?"  But, I will still go before Him, knowing He is there and loving me.  I am thankful that even in my most drained, tired, angry, fearful moments He is there.

This morning, after I dropped my boys off at school, I heard this quote on the radio and it felt like balm for my emotions:

"The enemy wouldn't be attacking you if something valuable wasn't inside of you!

Thieves don't break into empty houses!

You've got purpose!"

~author unknown

Happy Birthday!

Yesterday was a big day around here! It started off bright and early at the DMV.  You see my oldest son (DS1) had one of those milestone birthdays that opens up a whole new world for him... and us (yep...us.)  He is now the proud owner of a Beginner Drivers Permit.  Boy...it just seems like yesterday he was cruising around the yard in his Power Wheels jeep.  If we could only figure out a way to keep him in the yard now....

This birthday feels pretty special to me in a unique way, because this brave young man saved his little brother's life last week.  I am not sure that is something a lot of 15 year olds have experienced, but he has.  Last night when we went out for a special Birthday dinner celebration I couldn't help but be extra thankful for the wonderful faces around that table. 

Happy Birthday to my sweet boy! I am so honored and proud to be his Mom.  

A Good Report from the Cardiologist!!!

We just left the Pediatric Cardiologist and he says the tests indicate nothing heart related as far as he sees.  He ran more tests and nothing was abnormal. We even got to see a sonogram of DS2's heart and he thought that was pretty cool.  It showed no abnormalities or damage. We will be using an "event monitor" over the next month to check as needed but fortunately, the one thing that the original EKG indicated is not present and that is a HUGE blessing. The Dr. also lifted the "no physical activity" order which is music a little boy's ears! 

Although this doesn't give us any answers as to why we almost lost our sweet boy, it at least rules out some of the things we were fearing.  And no matter what, God is good...all the time! 

Next we will be seeing a Pediatric Neurologist and I will keep you posted.  Thank you so much for all your kind words, comments and prayers.  It has been so comforting to hear from friends (even those I have never met) during this time.  

2011, Ending in Prayer (Part 3)

For background please read here for Part 1 and Part 2 of this journey.

At the hospital, my little guy was responding well and the pediatrician diagnosed him with having experience fainting and an extended seizure.  It is called extended because it lasted for more than 5 minutes, which is not normal.  He was talking, walking and physically seemed to have no lasting issues.  An EKG was performed and the pediatrician mentioned some irregularities but it needed to be looked at by a cardiologist.  My little man was tired and drifted in and out of sleep, which is apparently normal after a seizure experience.  We were told this could happen again or it might not…there isn’t a sure way to know.  They released us with some emergency meds to administer in case of another extended seizure and told us to follow up with his Doctor at home (an appointment I made from the emergency room!) 

We left GA early on Wednesday (the 28^th) for home and on our way home we got a call from the hospital telling us that the cardiologist had looked at his EKG and needed us to follow up with our DR. ASAP.  The hospital called and faxed our Dr. the information and EKG results so they would be waiting for us at our appointment the next day.  When we reported to our Dr. the next morning he had already gone over our results sent from the hospital and felt we needed to see a Pediatric Cardiologist.  He also performed an EKG in his office just for comparison.  We are now awaiting a visit with the Pediatric Cardiologist (their offices have been closed for the holidays until in the morning.)  My sweet, but very active little boy is on a strict No physical/sports activity order until we know more.

He is doing well and just seems a bit tired at times.   Today was the first day back to school and until we have further information we are only going for ½ days.  By picking him up at lunch he will avoid the excitement and temptation of P.E. & recess.  His teachers are also very supportive and are keeping an eye on him to make sure he seems OK and isn’t over exerting himself.  Leaving him at school this morning was one of the hardest things I have had to do.  It left me in a panic on so many levels.  This is worse than when I had newborns, I think.  It is very scary.  But…I know the one who is in control and I trust Him.

It isn’t only us who is carrying this burden, but my oldest son (who turns 15 this week) is struggling to deal with it as well.  He was there even before we were, and felt the fear and feelings of inadequacy in a way that most adults never experience… much less a child.  Our daughter left to go back to college yesterday and I know she has carried a huge weight back with her as well.  We are all feeling the need to nest and draw close to each other and just be together.

I would like to say that I have been all sugar and roses during this ordeal, but I have not.  Both my husband and I are tired, stressed and yes…fearful.  I don’t know how we can’t be. The future is uncertain (feeling more so than usual.)  We don’t know what the next round of doctor’s visits will bring.  For me, I am spending a lot of time in prayer…for it is where I find my energy, my encouragement, the only place I can find peace.

This is a link to a song that is touching me like never before as I walk through each day: “My Savior My God” by Arron Shust.  I hope you will click over and listen to it and be blessed (for some reason I am not being able to embed it!)  Just the opening lyrics seem written just for a time as this:

I am not skilled to understand
What God has willed, what God has planned
I only know at his right hand
Stands one who is my savior

Thank you all for your prayers, comments and concerns. 

I continue to covet them as we move forward in trying to discover what is going on with our little man.