Nice job, FedEx

"ttyymmnn" (ttyymmnn) 08/21/2020 at 10:30 • Filed to: None

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My son takes injectable medication, and the pharmacy sends me a three month supply in a styrofoam cooler with cold packs inside. This is how today’s shipment arrived. It looks like it was attacked by a shark. You can see all the way inside the cooler. FedEx had closed it up with tape and shrink wrap. One of the three cold packs was missing.

This is not cheap medicine. The copay for one box of this drug is $1,000, and there’s three box es in there . So there’s !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! in that cooler (I’ve got copay assistance and other insurance so I don’t have to pay any of it, but still....). The medicine was not hot, but it also was not cold. I called the pharmacy, and they are going to send another shipment in time for his shot next week just to be safe . However, I’m still trying to figure out how FedEx thought it would be okay to go ahead and deliver a package like this in such condition.

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > ttyymmnn 08/21/2020 at 10:34

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That is unacceptable . I wouldn’t want to risk using medicine that had been dropped below storage temperature and jostled around like that.

Land sharks must but out in full force.

ttyymmnn > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available 08/21/2020 at 10:37

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I have no intention of using it. 

hillrat > ttyymmnn 08/21/2020 at 10:43

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That’s totally fucked up, FedEx needs to be held accountable for this colossal fuck up.  

Sovande > ttyymmnn 08/21/2020 at 10:43

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Co- pay insurance? What is wrong with this country? Now y ou need insurance insurance.

And why is the pharma company packing $3000 worth of perishable goods in a styrofoam cooler? Maybe pack the cooler in a box?

I am frankly amazed every box that is delivered isn’t fucked up.

Discerning > ttyymmnn 08/21/2020 at 10:43

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I’ ve been having a lot of i ssues with FedEx lately. Not as serious as this, but it seems things aren't operating well with them

CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever > ttyymmnn 08/21/2020 at 10:43

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It sucks that drugs are that expensive down there....like, we get the same stuff for way less.

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > ttyymmnn 08/21/2020 at 10:43

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I hope not. You have to be pretty particular with such expensive and specialized medications.

Svend > ttyymmnn 08/21/2020 at 10:44

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That shouldn't of been delivered, as soon as it was found to be damaged they should of notified the pharmacy to get replacements sent. 

Can a local pharmacy not deliver it direct?

Rather than shipping it in Styrofoam boxes via courier.

We get ours delivered from a local pharmacy, the temperature sensitive bottles are kept in the fridge in the vehicle.

ttyymmnn > hillrat 08/21/2020 at 10:45

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I think so, but the pharmacy is sending me new meds, I’m sending the tainted once back NC, and it’s up to the pharmacy to deal with FedEx. But yeah, they should pay to replace the shipment.

facw > ttyymmnn 08/21/2020 at 10:45

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Wow, I get my Enbrel in a similar cooler, but I’ve never had a shipment abused like that. Humana and United ’s specialty pharmacies put the cooler in an outer cardboard box to protect it more , but BCBS doesn’t and the coolers still make it fine.

BCBS’s pharmacy doesn’t do it these days, but in the past I used to get a small insert with the drugs with a white dot that would turn pink if the medicine had been allowed to warm up .

Discerning > Sovande 08/21/2020 at 10:46

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I don’t think that is what the OP meant. I’ve never heard of insurance for copayments and I’ve heard of countless types of deduction between private and government assistance. The copay assistance is very much a thing that OP is getting, but I think they just meant they have two forms of insurance, one requiring a copay and they have some type of patient assistance program on top.

Sovande > Discerning 08/21/2020 at 10:49

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Co-pay assistance ? What is wrong with this country? Now you need insurance insurance.

dumpsterfire! > ttyymmnn 08/21/2020 at 10:51

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That's some quality pride in their work right there. Hope the replacement shipment gets better care as it gets closer to the upcoming injection.

facw > ttyymmnn 08/21/2020 at 10:52

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I also see that my most recent shipment says:

IF CONTAINER IS UNTAPED, OPENED, TORN OR DAMAGED

DO NOT REPACK OR FORWARD TO RECIPIENT

RETURN TO SHIPPER

They really should embrace the Ox ford comma, but besides that, it seems like a pretty sensible approach.

ttyymmnn > Sovande 08/21/2020 at 10:53

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Hasn’t ever been a problem before. 

ttyymmnn > Discerning 08/21/2020 at 10:55

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Yes. The pharma company is offering copay assistance, and paid it when the copay was originally something like $70/box. When it went up to $1,000/box, our insurance offered a service called Save On SP that is covering the rest of the deductible. 

ttyymmnn > CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever 08/21/2020 at 10:55

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It’s screwed. 

Dr_Watson > ttyymmnn 08/21/2020 at 10:55

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But the private sector is always better than USPS?!?

ttyymmnn > Svend 08/21/2020 at 10:56

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No, this is the only way it will work. I’m sure it’s cheaper for somebody somehow. 

ttyymmnn > facw 08/21/2020 at 10:57

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That color change thing sounds neat. With this drug, you can take it out of the fridge and let it warm, then it can sit for up to a week and still be good. That’s what we did when we went on vacation. But it can’t be warmed up and then re-cooled. So this stuff is toast. 

ttyymmnn > facw 08/21/2020 at 10:58

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I am an ardent supporter of the Oxford comma.

Arrivederci > ttyymmnn 08/21/2020 at 10:58

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FedEx has been shitty as of late. Here’s how my midpipe arrived from Goodwin, it also happened to be delayed about five days after I received another product that was shipped at the same time.  Obviously no where near as important, but beating the hell out of packages isn’t good for business.  Fortunately the pipe was robust enough not to suffer any damage.

Michael > ttyymmnn 08/21/2020 at 11:04

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Less exciting, but I had a prototype shipping cover for a motorcycle coming to Minnesota from Canada, and Customs decided to inspect the contents by windowing the box, cutting squares into my cover in the process, and then taping it back up

ttyymmnn > Michael 08/21/2020 at 11:07

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Zero. Fucks. Given.

ranwhenparked > Sovande 08/21/2020 at 11:07

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Pharmaceutical companies will sometimes cover copays for customers, if they’re on the excessive side. That’s what they mean when you here that bit at the end of every drug ad “if you can’t afford your medication, AstraZeneca can help. Visit our website to find out how” or whatever. It’s the bit that plays over the footage of the happy, elderly, but still fit and active, couple holding hands and watching a fireworks display.

facw > ttyymmnn 08/21/2020 at 11:07

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Yeah, En brel is roughly the same, it can be at room temperature for up to two weeks, but once it’s there, it can’t be refrigerated again.

Nom De Plume > ttyymmnn 08/21/2020 at 11:10

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That is a criminal price hike.  Akin to taking that rich executives $700 bottle of wine and charging him $10, 000.  

ttyymmnn > Nom De Plume 08/21/2020 at 11:17

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I agree. I don’t have a problem with charging a copay to  help recoup your research costs, but you don’t have to get it back all at once.

TrickJos > ttyymmnn 08/21/2020 at 11:29

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I thought of making this a post, but never got around to it. FedEx managed to crush the corner of my roof earlier this summer. Thankfully, they are covering the repair costs.

ttyymmnn > TrickJos 08/21/2020 at 11:39

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Somebody on Oppo is, or was, a FedEx driver. 

WasGTIthenGTOthenNOVAnowbacktoGTI > ttyymmnn 08/21/2020 at 11:44

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Likewise

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > ttyymmnn 08/21/2020 at 11:45

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I got a box that was opened already and I told the UPS guy that “are continent’s optional?” He was not amused.

TrickJos > ttyymmnn 08/21/2020 at 11:55

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I forgot about that. I’m going to assume they are a better driver than this one was.

LastFirstMI is my name > WasGTIthenGTOthenNOVAnowbacktoGTI 08/21/2020 at 12:18

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Like, wise

LastFirstMI is my name > ttyymmnn 08/21/2020 at 12:20

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The airline cargo services are much worse. They once lost urgent tissue for a surgery; when asked about the tracking status their response was “sometimes when we get busy we don’t bother scanning them”.

Same careful attention given to your luggage I suppose.

Dusty Ventures > ttyymmnn 08/21/2020 at 12:37

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FedEx corporate policy is to deliver every package unless it’s known for a fact the contents are physically damaged. If a box is particularly mangled they’ll typically repack it in a new box, but styrofoam coolers and ice packs aren’t things the station has on hand, so that shoddy repair was the best the poor overworked bastard in the inspection station could do with what he had available. (I mean not really the best, dude could've at least taped some cardboard over the hole, but you know what I mean.)

fintail > CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever 08/21/2020 at 13:05

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But capitalism and bootstraps and exceptionalism.

And medical bankruptcy and lower life expectancy than similarly rich nations.

RacinBob > ttyymmnn 08/21/2020 at 13:17

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I kind put this on the shipper. For that cost, they should have had an overbox, 

TheRealBicycleBuck > LastFirstMI is my name 08/21/2020 at 13:39

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We watched as baggage handlers were tossing boxes onto a plane. Several were marked “This Side Up” with a great big red arrow. Of course, they were all sitting either upside down or sideways on the cart.

ZHP Sparky, the 5th > ttyymmnn 08/21/2020 at 14:02

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Sounds like it’s time to defund FedEx!

Sorry you’re having to deal with this craziness, glad they’re sending new meds hopefully that will be expedited and issue free.

Discerning > Sovande 08/21/2020 at 14:13

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I agree that pricing is insane, but it isn’t really insurance. Patient assistance programs are typically funded by and distributed by the pharmaceutical company. If you are dependent on a drug and meet certain requirements, you may qualify for significant savings from the company. Once you qualify, you don’t have to do anything. You pay the discounted rate, the wholesaler is notified, and they invoice the pharma company to cover the difference.

Op’s case is still crazy though. 1k is nuts.

Discerning > ttyymmnn 08/21/2020 at 14:17

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That price jump is insane. Haven't seen something like that unless the pharma company is doing something with the pricing. I'm less familiar with SP though. You say your insurance offers it? I wonder if they bill back the pharma company. Like some sort of wonky PAP.

ttyymmnn > Discerning 08/21/2020 at 14:24

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I have no idea how it all works. Thank God my wife does. 

facw > Sovande 08/21/2020 at 14:45

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I’m not sure about co-pay insurance but most brand name medications have so sort of copay assistance program. So if I have a med that has a $75/month copay, I might get a copay card from the manufacturer that the pharmacy can apply to lower the copay to $5 or $10. Of course pharmacies control by the insurer won’t take these copay cards (because they have the potential to drive up costs for the insurer), so with the Enbrel, they send me a Mastercard to pay the copays. In theory I think they are supposed to then bill me $5 per fill, but I’ve never actually had that happen.

Also here in MA they were supposed to ban such copay assistance last summer, but I think they must have extended it again since I still seem to be able to use it.  The rationale behind banning it is that it essentially functions as a kickback that discourages patients from using cheaper options, driving up insurance costs/

facw > fintail 08/21/2020 at 14:48

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All while spending by far the most per capita on healthcare! I still find it amazing that switching to a system modeled on one of the many cheaper and better systems around the world is considered radical while sticking with the system that’s clearly badly broken is taken as the prudent, reasonable choice.

facw > TrickJos 08/21/2020 at 14:49

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I don’t know, they mentioned at one point they were researching heavy duty recovery cranes...

fintail > facw 08/21/2020 at 14:52

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I forgot about the more expensive part - significantly more expensive, IIRC.

But when you have a dozen middlemen on the take, especially ones with lobbyists, I guess that’s how it goes.

Freedom. Choice.  Death Panels.

LastFirstMI is my name > ttyymmnn 08/21/2020 at 15:26

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Had to post this

ttyymmnn > LastFirstMI is my name 08/21/2020 at 15:46

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Didn’t even have to hit play. I was already laughing. 

onlytwowheels > ttyymmnn 08/21/2020 at 20:11

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Having worked for the world’s largest hospital supply and drug company, I know that this is expensive stuff. I also know that all our frozen antibiotic products left packed in similar styrofoam coolers that were inside sturdy corrugated cardboard boxes that were specifical ly made for this size cooler.

Had this been packed similarly, I belie ve it would have arrived intact.