Advise on prescription records

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Rarely27

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Apr 14, 2021
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Good morning Mr. Mullen. DoDMERB is requesting my prescription history after age 13. This is because I marked a history of activity induced bronchospasm in the medical questionnaire, and use of inhaler. This condition was never formally diagnosed by a doctor or confirmed by a respiratory test, it was simply my mom’s concerns about me getting really tired after soccer practice. I was very young and had started formally training and playing competitive soccer

Fast forward to year 2017, my pediatrician suspected that I had no such condition (activity induced bronchospasm) or that maybe I had outgrew it. My level of physical activity was already very high. I am training several times a week and playing club and school soccer, participating in volleyball, and running with my school’s cross country team a few times a week, with no respiratory issues at all.

My pediatrician then suggested for me to take a spirometry study and a PFT which I did in August 2017, just a few days after turning 13 Years old. The test was negative to bronchospasm and any other type of respiratory condition.

Up to that day I carried a Ventolin inhaler in my training gear bag, I felt safe knowing that I had it handy while working out and I used it sporadically before fitness sessions, but when the pulmonologist cleared me I felt confident that I needed no medicine and the concern of ever having an episode while training disappeared, so I just took it out of my soccer backpack and stopped carrying the inhaler around. My parents said that the Ventolin was in some type of automatic prescription refills every three months, so every time the pharmacy called with the reminder that the prescription was ready, my mom picked it up, 3 times in 2017 and 1 time in July 2018 before my 14 birthday, those never opened inhalers were in my bathroom drawer for a while until I decided to cleared some space and I gave them to my mom to dispose.

When I started the USNA application process I realized that a history of activity induced bronchospasm was a DQer so I wanted to see the pulmonologist again, to certify that I’m free of any respiratory issues. The doctor referred to me and on Oct 27th, 2021 I took a PFT, spirometry study and on November 1st, 2021 a methacholine test.

I passed all tests with even better results than in 2017 and negative to any kind of respiratory condition. The pulmonologist re-confirmed my 2017 clearance and wrote a statement in my records.
I’ll be sending as soon as possible my prescription records after age 13 as requested by DoDMERB. Is having a prescription filled viewed as using a medication, if it was only kept on hand as needed for emergency? Should I attach the results of the recent tests and the pulmonologist clearance?

Should I include a note with an explanation similar to what I wrote above? I feel

It’s important DoDMERB know truthful and complete details.

Thank you for your advice
 
Why wouldn’t you include all that information? Its all pertinent, imo. Don’t worry, do as instructed. People aren’t looking to punish. They are looking for accurate information to properly assess…medically. And Mr Mullen is THE person to assist with that. Give them what the need to make an accurate determination. So, yes, all of that.

Good luck moving forward!
 
Q= Is having a prescription filled viewed as using a medication, if it was only kept on hand as needed for emergency?
A= A prescription...that is prescribed... IS a "medication." Whether it is filled or not. A provider prescribed it. All else depends on that particular applicant and the specific conditions surrounding the issue.


Q = Should I attach the results of the recent tests and the pulmonologist clearance?
A= As lond as you fulfill the DoDMERB request, you may submit whatever else you'd like to accompany the request :wiggle:
 
Just as a side note to what the actual expert has to say

Having gone thru this process twice now as a parent and GP there is a difference between getting denied for a medical reason such as an Rx and not being able to attend and getting denied and then appealing that decision and then attending.

Both of mine were turned down at first, it was expected they would be , both appealed and both were given the OK to attend.

With my last one we were comfortable they would pass as soon as they were tuned down and started their appeal process.

Good Luck
 
DoDMERB does NOT DQ for medications...DQs are focused on the "conditions" that the medications are prescribed to benefit :wiggle:
 
justdoit19 said:
Why wouldn’t you include all that information? Its all pertinent, imo. Don’t worry, do as instructed. People aren’t looking to punish. They are looking for accurate information to properly assess…medically. And Mr Mullen is THE person to assist with that. Give them what the need to make an accurate determination. So, yes, all of that.

Good luck moving forward!
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The reassuring words are appreciated. Thank you
 
MullenLE said:
Q= Is having a prescription filled viewed as using a medication, if it was only kept on hand as needed for emergency?
A= A prescription...that is prescribed... IS a "medication." Whether it is filled or not. A provider prescribed it. All else depends on that particular applicant and the specific conditions surrounding the issue.


Q = Should I attach the results of the recent tests and the pulmonologist clearance?
A= As lond as you fulfill the DoDMERB request, you may submit whatever else you'd like to accompany the request :wiggle:
Click to expand...
Thank you very much Mr Mullen. My parents are gathering all requested information while I’m in school, I like to turn in everything as fast as I can in case there is anything else I need to present. Your help is priceless. Thank you again
 
Small Team Bacsi said:
Just as a side note to what the actual expert has to say

Having gone thru this process twice now as a parent and GP there is a difference between getting denied for a medical reason such as an Rx and not being able to attend and getting denied and then appealing that decision and then attending.

Both of mine were turned down at first, it was expected they would be , both appealed and both were given the OK to attend.

With my last one we were comfortable they would pass as soon as they were tuned down and started their appeal process.

Good Luck
Click to expand...
Thank you very much. I’m confident all is going to workout. Your note is appreciated
 
I feel I should write about this. A little background here, I received an email from admissions asking on the status of my medical last week. I was waiting patiently while my file was “complete on hold” (exams were less than a month ago), after a call to CIV I was told that the doctor had made a small mistake, called doctor and his office turned in the correction. I did tell them that my whole application was on hold because of this unnecessary delay. The very next day my DoDMERB portal showed as completed. The day after I had the request for my prescription records and on Friday the notice of “all sent for final consideration”. This surprised me and my parents since a lot of people complainants of the DoD system being slow. To me it was beyond efficient. Now Praying for a positive outcome
 
Good on your for sharing your positive experience! People tend to complain, more than compliment.

This is also another example of why it’s important to not rely on other peoples experiences. Everyone is different.

Good luck to you, let us know how it works out!
 
Rarely27 = Correct on all accounts except for one:

"I did tell them that my whole application was on hold because of this unnecessary delay."

That is a false statement...not because you were fibbing...but because at this time of the year, medical does NOT enter the Admissions equation for any offers of appointment. While Admissions queried you, it was not delaying Admissions processing your application. Medical starts to enter the equation in Mar 2022 for most applications...where they would like to see you are medically qualified or waived by that time:wiggle:
 
MullenLE said:
Rarely27 = Correct on all accounts except for one:

"I did tell them that my whole application was on hold because of this unnecessary delay."

That is a false statement...not because you were fibbing...but because at this time of the year, medical does NOT enter the Admissions equation for any offers of appointment. While Admissions queried you, it was not delaying Admissions processing your application. Medical starts to enter the equation in Mar 2022 for most applications...where they would like to see you are medically qualified or waived by that time:wiggle:
Click to expand...
Thank you for clarifying Mr. Mullen. You are absolutely right, but at that point I was so frustrated and a upset with myself for just wait instead of following up earlier, I felt this was holding not only my admission process but MY WHOLE WORLD!
I realized that this could have been resolved faster but at the end all workout perfectly fine. Go DoD!!
 
justdoit19 said:
Good on your for sharing your positive experience! People tend to complain, more than compliment.

This is also another example of why it’s important to not rely on other peoples experiences. Everyone is different.

Good luck to you, let us know how it works out!
Click to expand...
I feel is fair. I think what made the difference is that I had all my paperwork (tests, prescription records, doctors statements, etc) prepared ahead of time so when they asked I was able to provide what they needed within hours to move on.
 
MullenLE said:
DoDMERB does NOT DQ for medications...DQs are focused on the "conditions" that the medications are prescribed to benefit :wiggle:
Click to expand...
For the AMI the requested pharmacy records going back since age 12 - the pharmacy could only give my DS 4 years of data. We have dr notes going back though. Is that sufficient?
 
If you’d like, DS may send me an email: lawrence.e.mullen.civ@mail.mil; provide complete name and last 4 SSN; provide the text of your Parent's posting above to YOUR email. The subject line of the email should be “MK2001- SAF = Advice on Prescription records.“ Do NOT embed links in your email as I will not be able to view those.:wiggle:
 
MullenLE said:
If you’d like, DS may send me an email: lawrence.e.mullen.civ@mail.mil; provide complete name and last 4 SSN; provide the text of your Parent's posting above to YOUR email. The subject line of the email should be “MK2001- SAF = Advice on Prescription records.“ Do NOT embed links in your email as I will not be able to view those.:wiggle:
Click to expand...
Will have him send questions
 
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