Huong Le, PharmD

This page born on
Monday
February 01, 2021

Kaiser Permanente
Internet
Chat with a Pharmacist

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Chat with
Huong Le, PharmD
Lic PHA0018486

As of 2/1/21:
Colorado License Number:
PHA0018486
But maybe not for long.
Huong Le disgraced herself with the story about the California Law. Pathetic.

Chat dated:
Wednesday
07/29/20, 8:54 AM

Begin Transcript

Philip Rice 8:54 AM
I have a question about phentermine

Huong Le, PharmD 8:55 AM
Hello, this is Huong, I am a Kaiser Permanente Clinical Pharmacist. Please give me a moment to review your chart

Huong Le, PharmD 8:55 AM
What can I help you with?

Philip Rice 8:56 AM
I have an order for 90. As I understand it, insurance covers only 30. How would it work if I wanted to do 30? I would order 30, then wait 25 days and order 30 again?, etc, etc?

Huong Le, PharmD 8:58 AM
Please wait about 2 to 2.5 weeks to request another refill. You can do it yourself via kp.org or just open a Chat such as this and we will process the order for you. Phentermine is not a covered item under your benefit, but the dispensing rule is max of 30 tablets (1 month supply) each time because it is a controlled medication.

Philip Rice 8:59 AM
ok please lets go 1 step at a time

Philip Rice 8:59 AM
for the first scrip, I would order 30, and the cost for me would be how much?

Huong Le, Pharm D 9:00 AM
The cash price for this medication is currently $8.18 for 30 tablets.

Philip Rice 9:00 AM
I'm not sure if you answered my question or not

Huong Le, PharmD 9:01 AM
There are 60 tablets remaining on this current order, so you can refill it two more times and then we will ask your doctor for a new prescription.

Philip Rice 9:01 AM
are you saying I would have to pay $8.18?

Philip Rice 9:01 AM
let me go back to the begining please

Huong Le, Pharm D 9:02 AM
Yes, the cost is $8.18 for 30 tablets.

Philip Rice 9:02 AM
assume I came to you with a scrip for 30

Philip Rice 9:02 AM
and you filled it

Philip Rice9:02 AM
insurance would cover this

Philip Rice 9:02 AM
yes?

Huong Le, PharmD 9:02 AM
insurance does not cover for weight loss drugs.

Philip Rice 9:03 AM
you are saying insurance does not cover phentermine under any circumstances?

Huong Le, PharmD 9:03 AM
that is correct.

Philip Rice 9:03 AM
is that right?

Huong Le, PharmD 9:04 AM
Yes, that is right. Insurance does not cover for phentermine or any other weight loss medication.

Philip Rice 9:04 AM
so what is the cost to me for 90? is it 3 times $8 = $24 ?

Huong Le, PharmD 9:07 AM
One moment while I process the cash price. I want to point out that this is a controlled medication, and Mail Order can only process 30 tablets and have that shipped to you because they are located in California and per California state law, they can only process and ship 30 tablets of a controlled medication at a time.

Huong Le, PharmD 9:08 AM
If you were to fill phentermine locally in Colorado (for example, at Aurora Centrepoint Pharmacy), then we can process 90 tablets at a time.

Huong Le, PharmD 9:09 AM
cost is $14.55 for 90 tablets.

Philip Rice 9:11 AM
so the concern about 90 v 30 is not the cost, or the insurance, it is the "rules" or the law? is that right?

Huong Le, PharmD 9:12 AM
that is correct.

Philip Rice 9:12 AM
is it a California law/regulation?

Huong Le, PharmD 9:12 AM
yes

Huong Le, PharmD 9:13 AM
they can only dispense a max of 30 day supply each time for a controlled substance/medication

Philip Rice 9:13 AM
is it just mail order? wouid it be OK if I wanted to pick up 90 in person at a pharmacy in California?

Huong Le, PharmD 9:14 AM
Even if the doctor prescribes 60 or 90 day supply, a California pharmacy will only be able to dispense 30 day supply.

Huong Le, PharmD 9:14 AM
Keep in mind, that only applies to CONTROLLED medications such as phentermine.

Huong Le, PharmD 9:15 AM
Non-controlled meds like lisinopril and levothyroxine you can get 90 day supply.

Philip Rice 9:15 AM
does the fact that you are shipping to Colorado give you any wiggle room?

Huong Le, PharmD 9:15 AM
unfortunately, no

Huong Le, PharmD 9:15 AM
it's because it is physically filled and processed in that state.

Huong Le, PharmD 9:16 AM
Next month, if you want 90 tablets, we can just ask Jeanne Vogel to provide a new prescription and we can fill 90 tablets for you to pick up at Aurora Centrepoint.

Philip Rice 9:18 AM
is there a pharmasist that is responsible for each scrip that I get? And are they identified on the container?

Huong Le, PharmD 9:19 AM
Every step of the filling process is tracked in our computer system and yes, each prescription is always checked by a pharmacist. They are not identified on the bottle.

Philip Rice 9:20 AM
what is your license number please?

Huong Le, PharmD 9:21 AM
I am not required to provide that and not sure why you need it. This chat is saved so you can always access it. My name is also identified on here.

Philip Rice 9:23 AM
I received a phone call on Friday afternoon. Are you able to see any record of that?

Huong Le, PharmD 9:24 AM
Do you know who called? Which Kaiser department?

Philip Rice 9:25 AM
they left a message about my scrip

Huong Le, PharmD 9:25 AM
any other details? Which prescription?

Philip Rice 9:25 AM
the phentermine

Huong Le, PharmD 9:27 AM
Per your chart records, I do not see any outbound calls listed/documented.

Philip Rice 9:27 AM
I would like to ask that I get no more phone calls, and no more text, from the Kaiser pharmacy. Can you help me with that? I would like to write a letter to the president of the company. Can you tell me the name of the company, and the name of the president?

Huong Le, PharmD 9:29 AM
I can remove you from receiving text messages regarding medications. You can contact customer services at 303-338-3800 to file a complaint and inquire further to be removed from receiving Kaiser related calls and otheer text messages.

Philip Rice 9:29 AM
you did not even tell me the name of the company?

Philip Rice 9:30 AM
are you unwilling to tell me the name of the company?

Philip Rice 9:30 AM
or unable?

Huong Le, PharmD 9:31 AM
Sorry, I am unable to disclose that information. You will have to contact Customer Service.

Philip Rice 9:31 AM
confidential?

Huong Le, PharmD 9:32 AM
I just do not have an answer for you because I do not know who we contract with.

Philip Rice 9:33 AM
ok thanks for your help today

Huong Le, PharmD 9:34 AM
Thanks for using Chat with a Pharmacist, have a great day!

7/29/2020 @ 9:40 AM patient inquires about dispensing rule for phentermine and cost. Advised 30 day supply max if Mail Order (California) and ok for 90 day supply if local fill in Colorado.

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Screen Shots

I document the Chat here with screen shots.
There are 12 total.
The Chat occured on 7/29/20.
The screen shots occured on 2/1/21.

1. Screen Shot #1
JR Campbell
Huong Le, PharmD
2. Screen Shot #2

3. Screen Shot #3

4. Screen Shot #4 No Insurance

5. Screen Shot #5 California State law

6. Screen Shot #6

7. Screen Shot #7

8. Screen Shot #8

9. Screen Shot #9

10. Screen Shot #10

11. Screen Shot #11

12. Screen Shot #12

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I have one before/after example.

The before is dated 8/15/20.

The after is taken 2/1/21.

------------------------- /end/ xyz ------------------

End Notes

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