Grrr...argh

I just went through six pharmacies to try to get one of my diabetes medicines. My regular pharmacy is very small, so some of the brand names are an issue in terms of getting reimbursed enough, so I was getting this one at the University of Kentucky. which you would think is pretty big, so they could get it. And it wasn't any trouble before. But, no, they couldn't this time.

One had it (Kroger) but it no longer takes my medication insurance (head's up to you all at Shriners, as I'm pretty sure Express Scripts is used for both of the main plans). I finally found some at Walmart and am working on getting it transferred, although they won't know the price or anything until they run it and can't guarantee they'll be able to get it from here on out. Everyone else just had it on backorder. So it will hopefully work out as I'm supposed to take my weekly dose (it's a once-a-week injectable) tomorrow.

It's Ozempic, which has really helped with my blood sugars, but as I'm sure you've heard, recently perfectly skinny TikTok influencers who want to lose weight have been going crazy over it, and according to my main pharmacist, doctors are apparently writing prescriptions even when it's not needed, and in some cases, insurances are paying for it. Or maybe these people are just making so much money on TikTok that they just have the money to pay $1500-$1600 a month for it without batting an eye. Kroger did say they could sell me theirs for their retail price ($1500) if I wanted to pay without running insurance.




UPDATE: I did get my medicine in time for the scheduled dose, mainly by calling around and finally getting it at Walmart, a store I stopped going to years ago except for runs to get items for a friend who was dying of cancer.

The pharmacist did take me aside and explained that given the shortage, I should call them about three weeks ahead to get a refill started. Mind you, the pen lasts for four weekly doses, so I need to call them next week. I speak with my doctor this week and will let her know what's going on.

We--as individuals and corporations--need to be more ethical in our choices

Even if it costs more to shop.

Wal-Mart Nixed Paying Bangladesh Suppliers to Fight Fire

At a meeting convened in 2011 to boost safety at Bangladesh garment factories, Wal-Mart Stores Inc. (WMT) made a call: paying suppliers more to help them upgrade their manufacturing facilities was too costly.

The comments from a Wal-Mart sourcing director appear in minutes of the meeting, which was attended by more than a dozen retailers including Gap Inc. (GPS), Target Corp. and JC Penney Co.

Details of the meeting have emerged after a fire at a Bangladesh factory that made clothes for Wal-Mart and Sears Holdings Corp. killed more than 100 people last month.

The blaze has renewed pressure on companies to improve working conditions in Bangladesh, where more than 700 garment workers have died since 2005, according to the International Labor Rights Forum, a Washington-based advocacy group.

Thanks to Alexandra Bond for sharing this on Facebook.

Wow, could you be more stupid?

Viral Video Allegedly Shows Kentucky Walmart Workers Tossing iPads

The retailer confirmed that the employees of the Pikeville Walmart involved in a video that went viral on YouTube are no longer employed with the company. Just one of the many problems with Walmart, in my opinion. But wow. Glad I don't shop there (or at any Walmart). On the other hand, I've worked in retail enough to know that there are plenty of guys like this out there, and it's not limited to one company. Fortunately, they don't tend to last long, for the most part, although there are exceptions.