New Pharmacy Prescription Services for Employees

Effective: June 1, 2006

Click HERE for the formulary.

Note: In an effort to manage prescription drug costs, WMHS encourages all employees to use generic drugs whenever possible. In addition, the WMHS has preferred brand name drugs that it dispenses. The prescription copay is based on whether the medication is classified as generic, preferred or non preferred.

Note: The WMHS Pharmacy Department monitors the Employee Prescription Program on an ongoing basis and will make changes in the formulary drugs listed and the applicable co pay amounts as required based on legal requirements, drug availability, and contract pricing availability.

We appreciate your using the WMHS Pharmacy for your prescription needs under the WMHS employee medical plan. This substantially reduces your co-insurance and the hospital's cost. The Pharmacy is committed to providing employees with timely, professional service,

• Employee services will be provided during new expanded hours from 7:00 to 5:30 on weekdays. Prescriptions may ONLY be picked up between these hours (no after hours or weekend pickup except for acute care prescriptions).
• The filling of all prescriptions will be done only at the Braddock Campus, which has the separate robotics, safety and business systems to support the employee prescription plan and will be staffed to meet the needs of employees.

At other times, the Pharmacy is staffed to serve only the needs of our inpatients. These new services are being implemented to better meet employee needs and to better fit the behind-the-scenes process.

Beginning June 1, 2006, Employee Prescription Services will be provided as follows:

Hours of Service

1. The expanded Service Hours of the Employee Prescription Pharmacy at both hospitals will be from 7:00 a.m. until 5:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. This is to better serve employees from all shifts and WMHS locations.

Ordering Prescriptions

• New non-acute prescriptions for 30 or 90-day supplies may be placed through either Pharmacy. Refill requests for non-acute prescriptions are to be made by calling 301-723-5213. Every effort will be made to fill non-acute prescriptions within three days. Refill requests for acute prescriptions should be made by calling 301-723-6080.
• Employees who request for same day service for 90 day prescriptions will be dispensed a maximum of 30 days and the 30 day copay will be charged. Refills for these prescriptions will then be dispensed as a 90 day supply and the 90 day copay charged.
• Only acute care medications (new prescriptions written that day by a physician for an antibiotic, pain relief or similar urgently needed therapies) will be filled outside normal employee service hours. The Memorial Campus Pharmacy can fax acute care prescription orders to the Braddock Campus for employee convenience.
• Options for submitting prescriptions are the same, and include fax or phone order by physicians, employee drop off at either pharmacy, or use of prescription envelopes (at the WMHS pharmacies or in Human Resources). No fax orders will be accepted directly from employees.
• Please call the pharmacy at 301-723-6080 concerning prescription issues between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Picking up Prescriptions

• Non Acute (long-term) prescriptions can be picked up at either the Braddock or Memorial Campus Pharmacy. When submitting an order, always indicate your preference for a pick-up location. Deliveries are made to Memorial Pharmacy Monday through Friday at approximately 3:00 p.m.
• Acute care prescriptions that need to be filled must be picked up at the Braddock Campus pharmacy. If the order was faxed from the Memorial Campus Pharmacy for employee convenience, employees must then take the original prescription to the Braddock Campus Pharmacy at time of pick up.
• A limited supply of over-the-counter medications may be purchased between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. at either Pharmacy.
• Due to confidentiality and patient safety issues, no medications will be sent by inter-hospital mail. Employees must pick up their prescription at the appropriate pharmacy as stated above.

Paying for Prescriptions

• Payment may be made by check, money order or payroll deduction. No cash transactions are accepted.
• When paying for a prescription by payroll deduction, employees must show their ID badge to protect from inappropriate charges.
• If an employee is unable to pick up their own prescription due to special circumstances, they may designate in writing an individual as their representative and provide a written authorization for the payroll deduction or pay by check. Payroll deduction forms can be obtained from the WMHS website under Employee Prescriptions, the WMHS Pharmacy or the Human Resources department.
• Employees who want to have prescriptions mailed to their homes will be charged a postage and handling fee. This will generally cover the mailing cost of multiple prescriptions.

Employees in the WMHS health plan are still permitted to have their acute care prescriptions filled through the contracted retail pharmacies. The above information describes only the Employee Prescription Services provided by the WMHS Pharmacy department.