I have to write here because I am a pharmacist who owns a pharmacy in a physicians office building. I work closely with my patients and their physicians to ensure that each medication dispensed does not interact with any of the other prescribed medications (or OTC medications)..it makes it difficult to say the least when a patient is pharmacy hopping to get a gift card. I completly understand the need to make ends meet, however can I please make a suggestion to all who may read this. Please write down all medications that you take even OTC items so that when or if you do transfer a prescription the pharmacist can screen for any interactions or contraindications.  Please do this for yourself and your family members.  

Many celebrity patients such as Anna Nichole Smith and Heath Ledger have died from deadly drug interactions or taking a medication incorrectly,however had the patient had a relationship with their pharmacist perhaps this could have been avoided.

If you have troubles creating a relationship with your pharmacist then find one who will take the time with you and your family.  I am an independant pharmacist and I feel that in an independant pharmacy setting you will be more satisfied with the level of professionalsim and knowledge that an independant pharmacist can provide you.  We can't offer $25 gift cards with each prescription but we can offer you peace of mind knowing that you are getting the correct medication for the correct patient in the correct dose.

Talk about sick - you guys are just nuts.  This is Russian roulette with your health, not to mention the havoc you're inflicting on the various pharmacies and the pharmacists!!!

My late husband was a pharmacist, and this would easily trigger an audit.  Plus, in Indiana, you can't transfer an Rx more than one time (thank God).  

I recently used the Rite Aid $25 gift card with my discount prescription card.

I saved $12 off my prescription with my free prescription discount card

and got the $25 gift card! YAY

www.riteaid.com/.../TransferPrescriptionCpn0509.pdf

www.nulegacyrxcard.com/101874

This is a comment for Brandon who claims that no pharmacist has ever caught a drug interaction for him: how can you be so sure? We don't exactly announce it to the world every time we catch an interaction/mistake... so your problem could have been fixed without you ever knowing there was a problem! And check for interactions by calling other pharmacies?? Are you kidding me? There are HUNDREDS of pharmacies in the area where I practice... and you want me to call all of them and ask them if you have had medications filled there so I can check for interactions? And you also want your Rx filled in 5 minutes? And so do the 400 other people dropping off prescriptions that day? Riigghhhtttttttt. And please enlighten me on the drug interactions that you have "caught" for your relatives... I would like to hear details.

As a soon to be pharmacist, I agree with the people who thought negatively about this idea.  IT IS VERY DANGEROUS TO PLAY THE TRANSFER PHARMACY GAME.  Ms. Freedman, this post should really be taken down or a warning should be placed in your text.  Many people read things on the internet and think "Hmm if it's on the internet it must be ok."  Being on MSN Money doesn't help that issue.  It makes it more "official" and "ok".

PLEASE consider editing a retraction into this article stating the dangers of playing the transfer game.

DYING DUE TO NOT CATCHING A DRUG/DRUG OR DRUG/DISEASE INTERACTION IS NOT WORTH THE $20 GIFT CARD YOU RECEIVE.

My response was deleted because I pointed out a fact that a retraction should be published as this article is suggesting something that is VERY DANGEROUS TO PATIENT'S HEALTH.  I'm contacting MSN directly about this.  Not very responsible journalism to delete my response immediately.  THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS WAY TO PLAY AROUND WITH YOUR HEALTH.

I would like to add something about the transfer game and  respond to the pharmacists posts.

I am self employed and my insurance only covers 20% of the cost of a drug, the rest I pay out of pocket. (OUCH!)  When I do get a prescription I call all the pharmacies around asking them what their cash price for the drug is, if there is a genaric I ask for that, my doctor gave me this advise by the way.  Pharmacies are in a price war and they all hope that the few minutes you are in the store you will buy stuff (hence they always tell you your prescription will be ready in 10 or 15 minutes).  I then  go to the pharmacy with the LOWEST PRICE for that drug.  Recently for example there was a price difference of $60 between the highest and lowest price quote. . A thirty day supply from CVS was $210 and Walmart was $150 ($30 covered, $120 cash)

...and as for the coupons most pharmacy chains will accept competetors coupon anyway.    If you are like me, and have to pay part cash for your prescription, call and ask for the cash price (for the genaric if your doctor says that is fine) go to that place regardless if you have a coupon for it and have the other guys coupon on hand :)

How do you take your prescription to the new pharmacy?  My doctor calls in the prescription directly to my pharmacy in his computer system.  I don't have a piece of paper to hand to another pharmacy.

I do have to say that pharmacists serve a very special and unique position in the United States. I can't think of another job that makes $100k to start and still has to ask "would you like cash back with that?". And get this regular humans; a lot pg pharmacists(PharmD) are pissed off that we don't have to call them "doctor". Dear pharmacists, please just sit back at your big-ass house, count your cash and your blessings that you've been able to cash-in on the Big Pharma Gold Rush!