The national ADHD medication shortage is gaining media attention as impacts continue to mount. This page will serve as a resource to provide insight into why prescriptions are so hard to fill and how this shortage is dramatically affecting the lives of children and adults alike.
NATIONWIDE ADHD MEDICATION SHORTAGE
If you have submitted a refill request to Dr. McCarthy but nothing is ready at the pharmacy after the two-business-day processing time, be sure to:
1. Call your pharmacy and ask:
☑️ Has Dr. McCarthy's request been received?
2. Keep Dr. McCarthy updated (703-288-3535)
☑️ Is the medication in stock?
Dr. McCarthy's screen may indicate a successfully submitted prescription request, but a system backlog at the pharmacy may block it from ever reaching the pharmacist.
THE CYBERATTACK
A CYBERATTACK HAS MULTIPLIED PRESCRIPTION PROBLEMS
'The reason behind the [added] chaos is a ransomware attack on a little-known company called Change Healthcare, which is believed to process 50 percent of the medical claims in the United States.'
THE TOLL ON PATIENTS
“It’s creating stress in an environment where I need to reduce stress,” Nicole said. “I realize nobody can do anything for me, and it’s going to be okay, but I’ve had to spend a lot of time on the phone with six different parties and advocate for myself and that’s kind of tough to do when you’re struggling.”
THE TOLL ON FAMILIES
..patients and their parents often spend hours or days calling different stores. Sometimes one store said they have stock, but it was out by the time they arrived to pick the medication up..
THE TOLL ON DOCTORS
When I write a prescription, and it's not available in this particular pharmacy, they cannot just transfer the prescription. I have to write a new prescription, send it to the second pharmacy.
And then, if the second pharmacy runs out, I have to rewrite the prescription, send it to the third pharmacy. It's a lot of hours that I just waste, I would say waste, writing prescriptions.
THE CAUSES?
The D.E.A. is probably being especially strict on ADHD drug availability because it raised quotas during the opioid crisis — and was blamed for increased overprescribing. Now, it may be overcorrecting and worsening shortages.
The House Democrats asked what the two agencies are doing to work with manufacturers and get them to fill their quotas. They further asked how the DEA will use lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic to update telemedicine prescribing rules
THE SHORTAGE
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