Internet drugs

Re: Internet drugs

Mrs Dot Dot — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 05:30:59 GMT

[quote user="Bouncyfi"]

Mrs Dot Dot - just watch with your insurance, if you ever do make a claim, they may refuse to pay out if you haven't informed them of the issue. We've had a client whose claim was rejected because the treatment (ease flex) started 8 months before she made a claim for the xrays etc

[/quote]

Hi....Is that likely to happen? Didn't think about it..... just thought I would be giving them as a preventative measure....... surely if by giving them it prevents or prolongs the need for any further treatment, they can't object to that? I have her insured with M & S....... When it comes to your own animals, I find I really have the blinkers on!!!!

Re: Internet drugs

Fiona Leathers — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 14:44:21 GMT

Re: Internet drugs

Mrs Dot Dot — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 16:13:11 GMT

Thank you!

Re: Internet drugs

Saskia Quinn — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 14:01:36 GMT

Hi Mrs Dot Dot,

I have just pm'd you

Re: Internet drugs

Mrs Dot Dot — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 10:03:56 GMT

Hi ST/SaskiaVN... can you pm me with the one you use please?...I've just started my dog on glucosamine as a precaution to a sub-luxationg patella and a clicky elbow ( No... she hasn't been xrayed, she is only 2 and a half, not causing any prblems at all, just makes me cringe when I hear it! so I just wanted to put her on and hopefully it will make some difference long term.... I have insurance for her but am not making a claim). Thanks

Re: Internet drugs

Sandra Taylor RVN, MBVNA — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 02:19:16 GMT

Yes Paula, I have found they are really good and competative, and no postal charges fopr anything

Re: Internet drugs

Saskia Quinn — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 00:09:20 GMT

Sandra, I am pretty sure that I use the same one as you and they dont charge postage for non-prescription food either

Re: Internet drugs

Sandra Taylor RVN, MBVNA — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 17:58:05 GMT

The online pharmacy I used does not charge any postage, even for 15 kg prescription food

Re: Internet drugs

Sandra Taylor RVN, MBVNA — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 17:55:14 GMT

[quote user="Princess Ophelia Hermione MacBeth"]

[quote user="eghamcb"]

I agree with the above statement. This particular client was buying Gylcoflex on the internet for £26. My wholesaler charges us £35+ VAT before we even put a mark up on it!

[/quote]

Perhaps vets should buy their drugs from the online pharmacies too!

[/quote]

lol brilliant

Re: Internet drugs

Anonymous — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 14:08:27 GMT

When clients ask about the differences in price I say it's like comparing prices between a local corner shop (nice friendly vets!) and somewhere like Costco (internet pharmacy). Although they may be the same product, because the bigger company can afford to buy in more at once they can sell them on cheaper, even though they probably have quite similar profit margins to us!

Had someone today complaining about the cost of surolan - he wanted a written script so he could buy online. Only problem was dog has not been in since Nov and he would need a consult... his solution? Can't you do the consult for free? Errrr no

Re: Internet drugs

Jack — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 11:13:33 GMT

The internet pharmacies are buying from the same wholesalers that we all use, so can get anything they want and anything that we sell. I asked one of our reps why they are selling some drugs cheaper than we can get it for and apparently they use products that are popular as "loss leaders", to get people on to the site and then buy other things as well which may be same price or slightly more than what we charge. One of our clients was a bit miffed as she ended up paying more than she thought as she hadn't realised that the price stated was without VAT and postage so she paid very near to what we would have charged her and she had to wait for it.

Re: Internet drugs

Vicky RVN — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 18:32:10 GMT

In this situation i would do the same as you Caro because you have no choice, i'm thinking more of drugs that can be purchased through vets, metacam, frusemide, fortekor etc.

Re: Internet drugs

Caro Laithwaite VN — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 10:09:01 GMT

I buy wibs viagra online but l get her the genric kamagra it is £28 for 24 x 100mg .

If l bought 16 x 100mg viagra it would be between £216 to £296 online depending who l got it from.

As vets do not supply viagra it is imaterial but l could not treat her if it was not for generics. She has 12.5mg TID. Yes l would love to get her the proper thing but not a hope in hell l know l take a risk but that is a chance l have to take.

Even if she was insured they would not supply at that cost long term anyhow.

Re: Internet drugs

Vicky RVN — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 22:50:39 GMT

I personally wouldn't choose to buy drugs online for my pets for the reasons Sal states, which is why i have Jack insured with a decent policy so i don't have to think about it if he did need long term meds.

Re: Internet drugs

Mrs Dot Dot — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 20:15:28 GMT

[quote user="Princess Ophelia Hermione MacBeth"]

Perhaps vets should buy their drugs from the online pharmacies too!

[/quote]

That's a good point...... what's to stop them? Just write a prescription? Have never really looked at on-line drugs.... luckily, so far, have never needed any longterm drugs for any of my gang... but do you get charged postage etc? How come they are so cheap? Is it just because they can buy in baulk?

Re: Internet drugs

Louise B — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 19:45:08 GMT

[quote user="eghamcb"]

I agree with the above statement. This particular client was buying Gylcoflex on the internet for £26. My wholesaler charges us £35+ VAT before we even put a mark up on it!

[/quote]

Perhaps vets should buy their drugs from the online pharmacies too!

Re: Internet drugs

chris beasley — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 19:44:58 GMT

[quote user="STRVN"]

[quote user="eghamcb"]

[quote user="Gillian Mostyn"]

[quote user="Faye Eaton"]Not sure if are aware of the new rule that insurnace comapanys wont pay for medication bought on line!?[/quote]

Not strictly true Faye - insurance companies will pay for the drugs (and, as someone else mentioned, sometimes recommend shopping around). However, it is illegal for the vet to put them on their claim form. The owner has to send a seperate claim form to the internet drug provider in order to claim for them.

[/quote]

When did this come into force? I have been filling out claims forms for years(including adding bills from internet) and no one has told me this is wrong. Surely the companies should send a reminder to all practices if this is the case?

[/quote]

thank you all for bringing this to my notice. Got one of my regular clients to check her invoices re her internet purchases and she has discovered they have not been paying for them for the last year. She phoned the company and not only would they not pay from the internet but also they would not pay for the product from us as it was Gylco Flex, which they consider to be a dietry supplement!

[/quote]

Can i ask what company this was? pm it if you dont want to say on here

Cheers STRVN.

[/quote]

Cannot see any problem with giving you a name - More Than !

Re: Internet drugs

chris beasley — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 19:43:49 GMT

[quote user="sal the 1st"]

I agree there is a lot of difference in practice mark ups - but how many practices out there charge a realistic consult fee or realistic ops prices? Many times these costs are kept ultra low to compete with other vets in the area and the income comes from drugs. Also I think you are missing the point which has been made several times - internet suppliers buy in stock in huge bulk orders , which gets them bulk discounts which means they can sell cheaper and still make a profit. If you go to buying from the internet you dont know how the stuff has been stored, you dont know for sure that what you have purchased is what it says it is (thinking drugs here esp).

And dont forget practice profits help to pay wages - be careful about biting the hand that feeds!

[/quote]

I agree with the above statement. This particular client was buying Gylcoflex on the internet for £26. My wholesaler charges us £35+ VAT before we even put a mark up on it!

Re: Internet drugs

Sandra Taylor RVN, MBVNA — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 18:13:22 GMT

[quote user="eghamcb"]

[quote user="Gillian Mostyn"]

[quote user="Faye Eaton"]Not sure if are aware of the new rule that insurnace comapanys wont pay for medication bought on line!?[/quote]

[/quote]

Can i ask what company this was? pm it if you dont want to say on here

Cheers STRVN.

Re: Internet drugs

Sal the 1st — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 18:01:42 GMT

And dont forget practice profits help to pay wages - be careful about biting the hand that feeds!

Re: Internet drugs

Katy — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 15:49:51 GMT

I know you are paying the vets/nurses for their expertise and knowledge.

But do you not think it is a total rip off when some practices have anything from a 50 - 200% mark up on products you can buy cheaper online? Maybe it's just not the practices that need to rethink their prices, but also the veterinary wholesalers? The one we use sells things a lot more expensive than Vet Direct.

In the current economic climate maybe vets need to be lowering their prices to attract clients back.

If I ever leave my job working in practice I know I won't be buying my dog and cat food from the vets. I'll be getting it online!

Re: Internet drugs

chris beasley — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 14:31:46 GMT

[quote user="eghamcb"]

[quote user="Gillian Mostyn"]

[quote user="Faye Eaton"]Not sure if are aware of the new rule that insurnace comapanys wont pay for medication bought on line!?[/quote]

[/quote]

Re: Internet drugs

chris beasley — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 14:31:36 GMT

[quote user="eghamcb"]

[quote user="Gillian Mostyn"]

[quote user="Faye Eaton"]Not sure if are aware of the new rule that insurnace comapanys wont pay for medication bought on line!?[/quote]

[/quote]

Re: Internet drugs

Fiona Leathers — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 16:08:24 GMT

I've never had to claim for another practice or for a referral centre. I did once have to send in a claim for no money just to prove that the client had gone to the hydrotherapy centre on our recommendation.

Honestly didn't think it was allowed to claim for some other practice's treatment!

Re: Internet drugs

chris beasley — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 15:46:47 GMT

[quote user="Bouncyfi"]

I think it's always been the case where you should only claim for things that the practice has done. You would never claim for drugs bought at another vets, would you?

[/quote]

Yes - I have claimed for drugs + consultation for a VS that a client use on holiday. It was a while ago, but the owner did get paid. I also have added physio treatment to the claim form and spoken to the insurance company who agreed to pay it[quote user="Bouncyfi"]

I think it's always been the case where you should only claim for things that the practice has done. You would never claim for drugs bought at another vets, would you?

[/quote][quote user="Bouncyfi"]?

[/quote].