Prescription Refills

Prescription Refills and Medication Request

Please start the process at least two full business days before you need the medication.

• When requesting refills at the time of your visit:
  Please have your physician write a prescription at the time of your visit for the greatest number of refills possible. In general, this will be enough to last until you need to be re-examined or have blood tests done.
• When requesting refills from local or mail-in pharmacies:
  Please contact your pharmacy directly or via MyChart and ask them to contact our office (310) 794-9830. Prescription refills will be sent to your pharmacy electronically. Your pharmacy will send all the necessary information to our office.
  
  Our office will fax or call your pharmacy to confirm your refill by the end of the following business day. Sometimes, your doctor might require additional information, perform an examination, or ask for a blood test before issuing a prescription refill. If this happens, you will be notified by the end of the next business day.
• Special Circumstances:
  • Narcotics and antibiotics: These prescriptions take more time to refill, as more information is required. Be sure to call at least 3 business days before you absolutely need refills for these medications.
  • Emergency Contraception ("The morning after pill"): Is available without a prescription. Ask your pharmacist for "Plan B." If you have questions, please call your physician.
  • Other emergency refills: Medications like birth control pills and some heart medications should not be skipped. If you take such medications and run out unexpectedly, please call immediately to have them refilled. Please be aware that on nights, weekends, and holidays, you will be referred to an "on-call" doctor. In this circumstance, your prescription will usually be refilled only for a few days, and you will need to call for a refill during regular business hours.
• Insurance company mandated prescription changes:
  Sometimes, insurance companies require that your physician change your prescription to a different medication so you can receive it at a reduced cost. Patients always have the option of taking the medication prescribed initially and paying for it themselves. However, in our experience, patients overwhelmingly prefer to take medications available at a reduced cost through their insurance. In many cases, insurers request a change to a medication that is identical or nearly identical to the one originally prescribed. In that case, our office will call to let you know that your physician has determined the medication is appropriate and that the change has been authorized. In other cases, the insurer will request that a different type or dosage of medication be used. Depending on the circumstances, our staff or your physician will call to talk about this change. In some cases, an office visit or additional blood tests may be necessary.

If you have any questions, please call (310) 794-9830. Our staff will be happy to assist you.