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Getting a Prescription Refilled

High Desert Primary Care Medical Group realizes that you need your prescriptions in order to feel your very best. By following a few simple guidelines, you can be sure that you will not run out of your medications.

Don't allow yourself to run out of medicine

The best way to ensure that you will have the medicine you need is to request your refill or new prescription when you still have enough medication for a few days. Allow two days for a prescription to be filled. If you call the pharmacy the day you run out of medicine, you may have to do without for a day or two, so plan ahead and call for a refill when your medication gets low.

Calling in your refill

Calling in a prescription refill is fast and convenient. Look at the label on your medicine bottle. At the bottom of the label you can see how many refills have been authorized by your provider. If there are refills available, there is no need to call your provider, just phone the pharmacy and request a refill. If there are no refills remaining, call the pharmacy and they will fax an authorization request to your provider's office.

The HDPC Pharmacy Clerk

To efficiently handle the requests for refills, High Desert Primary Care Medical Group employs a Pharmacy Clerk. This individual will facilitate getting your refill requests processed in a timely manner.

Remember to allow two days for a prescription to be filled. Ask for a refill BEFORE you run out of medicine to ensure you do not run out.

The Pharmacy Clerk will process your request as soon as possible. HDPC asks that members allow two days for a refill request to be processed. Most of the time the request is filled before this time period, but sometimes delays occur because the provider is unavailable or prior authorization from your insurance company is needed.

The fastest way to obtain a refill is by calling the pharmacy directly. The pharmacy will contact us by fax to obtain the proper authorization needed. Sometimes the pharmacy does not contact HDPC until late in the day; so do not expect immediate results. This is why it is suggested that you allow at least 48 hours to obtain a refill. If the pharmacy faxes HDPC on the weekend, your prescription will not be processed until the next business day.

Many medications require monitoring by a provider. If the Pharmacy Clerk informs you that your provider would like to have you make an appointment before the next refill is due, ask to be switched to the Appointment Desk and make arrangements to come in and see your provider.

If you find you are having a reaction to any of the medicines prescribed for you, contact your provider immediately. He/she will probably ask you to come into the office to discuss other options. Reactions to medicines can happen even if you have taken a medicine for a long period of time.

HDPC is committed to serving our members in the best possible manner. If you are having a problem obtaining refills, or just have a question concerning your prescription, visit our "Contact Us" page and submit the on-line form. A representative will respond to your question or concern.