Pharmacy FAQ

Yes. We can securely ship your medications to your home at no extra charge. The process usually takes 2-3 business days. Sign up for email alerts to receive tracking information once your medications have shipped.

Call our pharmacy or request delivery while at one of our pharmacy locations. Please verify the address you would like medications shipped to prior to each delivery.

Our delivery service is provided at no additional charge. Prior to shipping your medications, we will confirm the copays of your prescriptions. At your request, we can place a credit card on file to pay for your prescriptions every month.

If there is a question about your order, please contact our pharmacy. We will provide a tracking number and help troubleshoot any issues.

We accept most major prescription plans. If you have active prescriptions through our health system, we can verify if you are able to fill your medications at our pharmacies.

If this happens, call us as soon as possible. We can review your new benefits to assure all your medications are covered and affordable.

We will contact your insurance company to find out what is covered and if extra paperwork is required. If a prescription is not covered by your insurance, we will try to get it approved for you or talk to your doctor to explore other options.

Our pharmacy team will always discuss the copay when medications are first approved. Your insurer may also send you an explanation of benefits (EOB) report outlining covered services and how much they paid. Contact the pharmacy or your insurance plan with questions.

A prior authorization, often called a “PA,” is when your insurance company requests more information from your doctor before covering the prescribed medication. This is usually for high-cost medications or medications not on your insurance formulary. Our pharmacy will contact your doctor and complete this process. The timeframe for completion varies based on the type of insurance you have. This process can take up to several weeks. If you need your medication urgently, please contact our pharmacy for assistance.

You can pay over the phone with a credit card or come into the pharmacy to make a payment. We can place a credit card on file for future transactions. Please contact our pharmacy for further details.

Unfortunately, we are not able to accept these discount cards. Our pharmacy team is happy to help with the affordability of your medication through insurance authorization, copay cards through the manufacturer or medication assistance programs.

By filling your medications through our health system, we can easily communicate with your care providers through our shared electronic medical record system. This leads to quicker responses for medication questions, refill requests, prior authorization approvals and affordability concerns. It also helps assure you are on the safest medications for your disease states and receive your medications in a timely manner.

Some important questions include:

1. What is the name of the medication? Be sure to ask for the brand name and generic.
2. What is the medication being used for? How do I know if it is working?
3. What are the common side effects I should look for?
4. Do I need to take this medication at a certain time of the day? Should I take it with or without food? Can I take it at the same time as my other medications?
5. What if I forget to take this medication at the correct time? Do I skip the dose or take it as soon as I remember?
6. How long do I need to take the medication for?

Contact your doctor or pharmacist as quickly as possible. If the symptom is life-threatening, call 911.

Remembering to take medications can be challenging. One tip is to sort them into a weekly medication organizer or pillbox. Setting an alarm on a watch or phone can also provide a reminder to take your medications. Smartphone and tablet users can download apps that are programmed to alert you when it’s time to take your medications.

Generic medications must pass the rigorous standards established by the Federal Drug Administration (FDA). The generic product must be shown as equivalent to the brand name product. Inactive ingredients and the appearance of generic medications can vary from their brand counterparts, but these changes must be proven not to affect safety or efficacy. Generic medications are equally effective and often more affordable for patients.

If throwing away medications at home, do not flush or pour unused medications down the sink or drain. It is preferred to dispose of unused medications at your local pharmacy. Noncontrolled substances can be dropped off at our main hospital and Westwood pharmacy locations, which participate in a drug take-back program. Contact your pharmacist for further instructions on disposing of controlled substances.

Some states, counties or cities have specific guidelines for home needle disposal. Our pharmacies can provide a sharps container for proper disposal. It is also appropriate to use puncture-proof containers with lids such as a laundry detergent bottle or metal coffee container. Label the exterior of the container "sharps” and reinforce the lid with thick tape (duct tape). Contact your local Department of Public Health agency for further instructions on how to dispose of medical waste in your area.

There are several reasons why it is a bad idea to share your medications. Not only is it against federal law to do so, it can also be very dangerous. The person you are sharing with may have an allergy to the medication or may interact with other medications the person is taking, including over-the-counter items. Medications also affect people in different ways, possibly leading to dangerous side effects.

People may also require a different type of drug to treat their condition. For example, respiratory symptoms may be caused by a virus, which would not be treated the same way as a bacterial infection.

The list of medications that cannot be broken, crushed or chewed is quite extensive, and the answer is not always straightforward. One important consideration is how quickly the medication is supposed to be released in the body to have its desired effect. In general, if a tablet or capsule is designed to be released slowly throughout the day (i.e., extended-release, sustained-release, controlled-release, long-acting, etc.) it should not be broken, crushed or chewed.

You should also consider whether the medication is coated. The purpose of certain coatings is to keep the medication intact as it travels through the acid in the stomach so it can reach the area where it will be absorbed without being broken down. Another reason for coating tablets might be to protect the stomach from being exposed to medication that is irritating, such as aspirin. Other reasons that a medication should not be broken, crushed or chewed may be to prevent unpleasant taste or irritation to the lining in the mouth.

There may be other reasons your medication should not be broken, crushed or chewed. When in doubt, ask your pharmacist.

Unlike prescription products, herbal and dietary supplements are not reviewed by the FDA for quality and purity. Certain supplements can also interact with prescription medications, which could lead to your medication not being as effective or causing side effects. We recommend checking with your pharmacist when starting any new over-the-counter supplements.

Most medications should be stored in a cool, dry place. The medicine cabinet in your bathroom is not an ideal location. Be sure to keep your medications and supplies out of reach of children and pets and away from other household or food items. Refrigerated medication should be kept on a clean shelf or in a clean drawer of the refrigerator. Some medications have specific storage requirements that should be listed on the bottle. Ask your pharmacist if you are not sure.

Many medications take time to start working in your body, so you should not expect to see results immediately. Often it will take a few days, or even months in some cases, before a medication reaches its full effect. Ask your doctor or pharmacist how long you should expect it to take for your medication to start working and contact them if you feel like it is not working after that time has passed. Additionally, many medications should not be stopped abruptly and need to be tapered off slowly to avoid adverse effects. Always contact your doctor or pharmacist before stopping a medication.