How to handle college student meds when in a different state

[CoopsMaGoops]

Hello,

We are searching for someone to help us with our college student....to assess for ADHD and Anxiety and discuss medication options (after seeing two psychologists, they are ready to ask for additional help).

However, we live in FL and they attend school in NY. No one will take her on due to state practices, even through telehealth. Has anyone had experience making a situation like this work with a psychiatrist or other health professional?

[Onthemove1971]

Excited you are joining us in this journey..

I could have written this message. We live in CA and he is moving to a southern state.

He has complex medical needs but the college will not help us. I can "inform" they he may need medical attention. We are working with the office that helps students with disabilities.

I sent them his high school 504 plan and we wrote his college plan which involves academic accommodations and an excusal from class when needed, with out penalty.

My plan is to pack 3 months of medication or what I have then mail/bring the next RX.

Amazon has "folder/blinders" and clear envelopes for am/pm. I will fill those as dull as I can then when I do the refill send pre-fill the next set or envelopes.

Our issue is him taking the medication 2x a day...

Then having a box with the other medication he may need.

I can have his medical office send them to a Wal-Mart, then eith face time have him fill the envelopes.

I wonder if you could request nursing help in the students medical center? To at least help fill a container with daily medication.

If anyone has another experience, please help!!

[Redpanda5]

Ah, welcome to the impossible world of helping a young adult gain access to psychiatrists and meds. It’s such a tangled web!

It sounds like you’re at the point where your student is willing to seek diagnosis. I would begin with getting an in person appointment for a diagnosis with a psychologist. First appointments have to be in person in my experience. Then, after diagnosis, a psychiatrist is best practice for medication management after that.

STEP 1: GET A DIAGNOSIS

Find a psychologist near you or near the school (check the student health center for referrals) who will then see your student in person. The wait lists can be long - at least 4 months.

STEP 2: GET A MEDICATION MGMT DR

After you have the diagnosis, then find a psychiatrist for medication management.

If your student ends up needing a stimulant for adhd then you're dealing with a controlled substance and this is where it gets tricky across state lines. An in person visit is required for the first visit and then they can be telehealth after that.

My first choice would be to get an appointment with a psychiatrist in person in your own state of Florida who accepts your insurance if the timeframe works after diagnosis but before school begins. Again, there can be wait lists so a psychiatrist near home may not be an option with the school timeline.

The medication, if prescribed in Florida…

it will need to be picked up in Florida (check your state rules —- where I am in a southern state, the pharmacy has to be within 30 miles of the prescriber —— which is so super fun during the medication shortage — that’s a whole different post). I digress. Anyway, I would get the Florida provider to prescribe the first 30 day prescription if there is time before returning to school (most all states only let you get 30 at a time). After the initial in person appointment, the psychiatrist can see patients over telehealth and you can have them fill the prescription through mail order through your insurance for a 90 day supply sent to them at school.

The medication, if prescribed near the school….

can be filled in the school town or you can do the 90 day mail order prescription that I described above.

YOU cannot mail a stimulant to your student at school. It has to be mailed to them directly by the pharmacy. You mailing it in your own is illegal and you would be considered a drug dealer!

Bottom line…..

psychologists do the diagnosing and the psychiatrists do the medication management and in my experience, both require the first appointment to be in person. Stimulants have to be picked up in the state in which they are prescribed or processed through insurance through a 90 day mail order.

Great luck with everything and congratulations on your child being open to help!

Best!

[Onthemove1971 in reply to Redpanda5]

Great points.. yes our son takes non-stimulant medication due to the shortage.

[Redpanda5 in reply to Onthemove1971]

He is very fortunate that a non-stimulant gives him what he needs. 👍🏻 This medication shortage is like working a part time job every month (I have two on stimulants).