can my vet in pa. charge me for a script?

Question

i orderded my dogs meds online and my vet wanted 7.00 before he would let them have the script. can they do this

Answer 1

Why not, the vet IS providing a service.

Answer 2

Yes, he sure can. And it is 100% legal
When you purchase drugs from your vet (or a human pharmacy for that matter) there is an automatic script fee added on to the total price of the medication.
Example: a weeks worth of antibiotics may have a cost of 10.00. but your cost is 17.00= 7.00 fee added on.
This fee is for the doctors time. When ther is a request a receptionist must take the call, pull the file, the vet needs to take the time to look at your record & write the script, thats what you're paying for.
Some vets will waive the fee if it is something they do not carry (this is what is done where I work), but if you are buying a product online that they do carry you will be charged for the script.
An exception is if you asked for the script while in the office paying for the exam visit in which the meds were recommended.
(Example: you went to the vet and payed for an eye exam in which eye antibiotics were recommended, you can ask for a written script then without charge. BUT if you do not ask, and call the next day to say you want a script you may be charged then)
They are not doing it to make a buck at your expense, just to pay for their time. Vets also prefer you purchase meds from them so they are sure you did infact get exactly what you were supposed to get and when you were supposed to get it. When you purchase online there runs the risk of a mistake in a product or instructions (we've seen both occur many times) or that medication was not started when it was supposed to (as in heartworm prevention script sent in a couple months after test done)

vet tech

Answer 3

The answer depends.

Did you pay for a visit to the vet when the prescription was first recommended?

If the answer is no, then they can charge you for writing the prescription.

If the answer is yes, you did pay for a visit, then the vet is required by law to give you a written prescription on request. you have the right to get that prescription filled at the place of your choice.

to demand a fe for this written prescription id considered rackateering and is a FEDERAL crime, and therefore illegel in all 50 states.

T orequire a fee is to double charge you in an attempt to keep you from taking the prescrition elsewhere. This is an attempt to limit competition and is very illegel.

Tell your vet this and demand a written prescrition. Then find a new vet! If they refuse and you feel like causing trouble, you can report them.

Answer 4

Yes they can, and unlike the one person stated it is not racketeering. It is generally not done for nefarious purposes, but to make sure that your pet is indeed getting what you need.

Often, a vet will write a script for some things to be gotten in the human pharmacy without charge too

Answer 5

I go to the drug store for many of my pets meds. I have left thousands in my vets office, if they ever charged me for a script, I would go to another vet.

I found the price differnce to be between 25 & 40 % difference between the drug store and the vet's office.

Answer 6

yes they can. Most vets do not even allow writing scripts for online medication. Most of these online companies get the medication illegally and sometimes it isn't even the correct medication. I would be cautious.

Answer 7

sure, it's no diffrent than going to see a regular doctor and them charging you for the office fee if you will.

Answer 8

It is allowed and actually recomended by the vet. assosiation.