Specialty Pharmacy
Services
Where to Fill Your Medications
Specialty medication prescriptions can be filled at our Harborview Medical Center and University of Washington Medical Center outpatient pharmacies. You may also enroll in our mail order service. This service is provided by the UW Medicine Eastside Specialty Center Pharmacy.
Your insurance may require you to get your medication from a specific pharmacy. If this occurs, we will transfer your prescription to that pharmacy and have them contact you. If you have questions about where you can get your prescription filled, call the UW Medicine Specialty Pharmacy Call Center.
Refills
We can call you to remind you when it’s time to get your refill. Or, we can set up a delivery several days before you will need a refill.
If you are about to run out of medicine, call the phone number on your medication bottle label. For questions about the status of your order, call your pharmacy or the UW Medicine Specialty Pharmacy Call Center.
Medication Delays
If, for any reason, there is a delay in getting your specialty medication, a member of the Specialty Pharmacy team will call you.
If there is an emergency or other problem that could delay your getting your specialty medication, please call the UW Medicine Specialty Pharmacy Call Center. We will do our best to help.
Medication Substitution
UW Medicine Specialty Pharmacy follows Washington State laws when filling prescriptions with generic medications. If a substitution must be made, we will call you to inform you of the change.
Medication Disposal
Most pharmacies are not able to accept returned or unused medications. To dispose of your medications safely, please go to the FDA or King County website for information and instructions. Please call us if you have questions.
Billing and Insurance Process
Specialty medications are usually very costly. Before you begin treatment with a specialty medication, our staff will work with your insurance to make sure they will cover the medication costs.
To do this, we go through a process called "prior authorization" (PA). Our team works closely with your doctor and insurance on this process. If your insurance does not cover your medication, your doctor will talk with you about other options.
At the same time, a member of our staff will enroll you in our Specialty Pharmacy. Enrollment is your choice. You can call us at any time and tell us you do not want to enroll in our pharmacy.
Some insurance companies may require that you fill your prescription at a different specialty pharmacy. If this happens, we will work with you to make sure you can get your medication in a timely way. We will transfer your specialty medication information to the other pharmacy and have them contact you. But, if you still choose to receive your specialty medication through UW Medicine and pay for it yourself, we will provide you the cost of the medicine in writing.
If your insurance policy changes, please call the UW Medicine Specialty Pharmacy Call Center. We want to keep your information up to date.
Advocacy and Support Groups
Cholesterol
Familial Hypercholesterolemia Foundation
Hepatitis B or C
American Liver Foundation
Hepatitis B Foundation
Hepatitis C Association
HIV
King County HIV/STD Program
www.kingcounty.gov/depts/health/ communicable-diseases/hiv-std.aspx
Lifelong AIDS Alliance
Inflammatory Conditions
American College of Rheumatology
Arthritis Foundation
Crohn's & Colitis Foundation of America
National Psoriasis Foundation
Multiple Sclerosis
National Multiple Sclerosis Society
Pulmonary
CF Foundation
Cystic Fibrosis Research, Inc.
Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation
UW Medicine Specialty Pharmacy Patient Management Program (PMP)
As a patient of the UW Medicine Specialty Pharmacy, you are enrolled in our Patient Management Program (PMP). You do not have to pay for the services this program provides. If you do not want to use this program, you may call and tell us at any time.
The PMP helps make sure you get the best outcomes from your medication therapy. Our pharmacists will work with you directly. We will talk about your treatment plan, problems, concerns, or questions you may have about your specialty medications. Our goal is to help you improve your overall health.
Potential Benefits of the PMP
Benefits of the PMP program may include help managing any side effects, improved overall health, more education and awareness about your disease and medicine, better compliance with taking your medicines, and help coordinating care with your provider when needed.
Potential Limits of the PMP
The limits of this program depend on you, the patient. You must be willing to follow the directions of your provider and pharmacist, to take your medicines as directed, and to talk with your pharmacist about the details of your disease, health history, and current healthcare practices.
Patient Rights & Responsibilities
In addition to the Patient Rights and Responsibilities* specified by Harborview Medical Center and University of Washington Medical Center, patients enrolled in the Patient Management Program (PMP) have these rights and responsibilities:
Patient Rights
Patients have the right to:
- Have personal health information shared with the PMP only when required by state and federal law
- Know who is on staff at the PMP, including their job title, and to speak with a staff member's supervisor, if requested
- Speak with a healthcare provider
- Receive information about the PMP
- Decide not to take part in the program, take back their consent, or stop using our services at any time
Patient Responsibilities
Patients have the responsibility to:
- Give correct clinical and contact information
- Tell the PMP if their information changes
Read Patient Rights and Responsibilities for Harborview Medical Center and the University of Washington Medical Center.
Phone Numbers and Hours
UW Medicine Specialty Pharmacy Call Center: Phone: 206.520.8550 or 855.520.8550 (toll free) Daytime Hours: Monday – Friday 7:00am – 4:30pm
After hours and on weekends and holidays, call one of the numbers listed above and ask to talk with a clinical pharmacist. Our team at Harborview Medical Center will answer your questions. They will also follow up with your care team during business hours.
