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Getting a prescription filled

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Pharmacy alternatives

Overview

Getting a prescription filled

Alternative Names:

Prescriptions - how to fill; Medications - how to get prescription filled; Drugs - how to get prescription filled

Information:

Once a prescription has been written by a health care provider, the consumer may buy the medication from various sources. Factors that may affect the choice of source include the location and hours of operation, cost of the medication, and insurance coverage.

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Questions to consider when choosing a pharmacy alternative include:

• Does the health insurance limit where prescriptions can be filled?
• Is the location convenient to home, school, or work?
• Does the pharmacy maintain patient records (preferably on computer) and monitor for drug interactions?
• Are employees willing to take time to answer drug-related questions?
• Are the pharmacists friendly and helpful?

The most common source for obtaining prescriptions is the local pharmacy. Usually the pharmacy is located in a drug or grocery store. Independent pharmacies are also commonly used, but their numbers are decreasing because many find it hard to compete with the grocery and drug chains. A chain pharmacy (drug or grocery) may have lower prices than an independent, because chain stores usually have greater buying power.

However, lower prices tend to attract more customers, which means the pharmacist may not be able to spend as much time with each patient for counseling and answering questions.

If you belong to an HMO (Health Maintenance Organization), you may be required to use an on-site pharmacy (at the location of the HMO), or the HMO may require you to use certain pharmacies. Your insurance company have a contract with specific drug or grocery stores or independent pharmacies, which means you must use one of these pharmacies.