What does it mean if your red flagged?

A red flag could be indicative of abuse or misuse, over or under compliance, drug-drug interactions, or a “forged or altered prescription.” Such issues would be reviewed and resolved by a pharmacist “before filling any prescription” as part of the “prospective drug use review,” the testimony states.

A red flag is either a literal warning of some danger, like the signal flag used by a sinking ship, or a figurative warning, like the red flag a candidate’s angry outburst sends to the voters about his temperament. … Even some spam filters refer to their junk email alerts as red flags.

[4] The presence of red flags indicates the need for investigations and or referral. Essentially red flags are signs and symptoms found in the patient history and clinical examination that may tie a disorder to a serious pathology.

A red flag is “a circumstance arising during the presentation of a prescription which creates a reasonable suspicion that the prescription is not, on its face, legitimate.”[ ii] The DEA lists the following indicators of improper prescribing in the “Pharmacist’s Guide to Prescription Fraud”:[iii]

A flag pattern, in technical analysis, is a price chart characterized by a sharp countertrend (the flag) succeeding a short-lived trend (the flag pole). … Flag patterns signify trend reversals or breakouts after a period of consolidation.

Pharmacies and doctors are legally bound to safeguard your prescription records. … So every year, ask for a free prescription history from one of the agencies; Exam One, Milliman IntelliScript, and the Medical Information Bureau.

“In relationships, red flags are signs that the person probably can’t have a healthy relationship and proceeding down the road together would be emotionally dangerous,” explains Dr. Wendy Walsh, PhD, a clinical psychologist who specializes in relationships. Note that red flags in a relationship might not be obvious.

In general, black flags are used by enemy forces to signify that enemy combatants are going to be killed rather than taken prisoner—essentially, the opposite of the white flag used to represent surrender. This is also sometimes referred to as “give no quarter.”

The colors of the flag are representative, as the red is for the blood, the black is for the people and the green is for the natural wealth of the Motherland, Africa.

Patients lie to avoid negative consequences, to achieve secondary gain (eg, to obtain medication or disability payments), out of embarrassment or shame, or to present themselves in a better light (eg, as dutiful and compliant).

Red flags include: The person being 50 years of age or more. Gradual onset of symptoms. Severe unremitting pain that remains when the person is supine, aching night pain that prevents or disturbs sleep, pain aggravated by straining (for example, at stool, or when coughing or sneezing), and thoracic pain.

Common reasons for dismissal The most common reasons cited for dismissal were verbal abuse and drug-seeking behavior. Among physicians who dismissed patients, 40% cited verbal abuse and 40% cited drug-seeking behavior as reasons. … But drug-seeking behavior can put a physician’s license on the line.

“Double-doctoring” If a pharmacist or other practitioner notifies a physician of a patient attempting to obtain controlled drugs from various doctors (double-doctoring), the physician may consider discussing the matter with the patient if doing so does not put the physician or others at risk.

Boards of Pharmacy: The permit holder/store owner, the pharmacist in charge, the pharmacist who refuses to fill a prescription, and the wholesaler are all licensed by their state’s Board of Pharmacy. A complaint for unprofessional conduct can be filed against each with the appropriate Board of Pharmacy.

This is known as “doctor shopping,” and it is illegal in California. Doctor shopping is prosecuted in California as prescription fraud (HS 11173), which makes it illegal to use fraud, deceit or concealment of a material fact to obtain a controlled substance.