Specialty Pharmacy Program

Benefit Coordination & Financial Assistance

We are your financial advocates. Our team will help you every step of the way from insurance authorizations and co-pays to enrolling you in funding assistance programs. Our reimbursement specialists are experts at navigating through financial paperwork and finding ways to help ensure your medications are available.

Timely Refills & Prescription Monitoring

Our team of clinical experts will contact you about your medications so you don’t experience a lapse in your treatment which could lead to problems. We will coordinate our efforts with your healthcare provider so you experience the best possible outcomes from your therapy.

Free Medication Delivery & Supplies

We can send all medications and supplies to your home free of charge. Our goal is to make sure you have your medication in-hand so you can start it as quickly as possible and avoid any interruptions in therapy. We want to make getting your medicine easy and convenient for you.

What Is a Specialty Medicine?

A specialty medicine is one that:
● Needs extra attention from your health care team
● May treat a rare, serious, or chronic condition
● May be expensive
● May be given by mouth or by injection

Why Do I Need a Specialty Pharmacy?

These complex and costly medicines:
● May not be available right away at your local pharmacy.
● Usually require special storage and handling.
● May have side effects that need to be monitored by
a trained pharmacist.

How Can I Contact the Specialty Pharmacy Program?

● Call us at 1 (866) 970-0189 (toll free) or (216) 592-2800.
● Stop-by the St. Vincent Charity Outpatient Pharmacy and ask to speak to a specialty pharmacist. The pharmacy is located on the first floor of the hospital near the Health Care Clinic entrance.

How Do I Refill My Medicine?

You can request a refill by calling 1 (866) 970-0189 (toll free) or (216) 592-2800. You can request a refill at any time, but please give us a five-day advance notice to address any problems that may have arisen since the last time it was given.

How Much Will My Medicine Cost?

Your co-pay amount will vary based on your insurance plan. We will tell you this amount after we have processed your prescription.

What If My Insurance Doesn’t Cover My Medicine?

Our staff works directly with your doctor and insurance company to obtain coverage for your therapy. If it is denied, your provider will discuss other options with you.

What If I Can’t Afford My Medicine?

You may qualify for financial help through drug companies or charitable organizations. We will review all options with you. If you meet requirements for a program, we will help you enroll.

Can I Still Get Access To My Specialty Medicine If I Lack Prescription Insurance?

Some drug companies help programs. If one is available, we will help you enroll in the program.

Does St. Vincent Charity Specialty Pharmacy Have
Access To All Specialty Medicine That Are FDA Approved?

St. Vincent Charity Specialty Pharmacy Program can provide you with most specialty medicine. If we do not have access to the drug, we will transfer your prescription to a pharmacy that does have access. We will have the new pharmacy contact you.

Will My Insurance Company let St. Vincent Charity Medical Center Specialty Pharmacy Dispense the Medicine?

The Specialty Pharmacy is contracted with most insurance companies. Sometimes your insurance will require the use of another pharmacy. In these instances, we will transfer your prescription and have the new pharmacy contact you.

Will You Ever Substitute My Medicine with Another?

From time-to-time it is necessary to substitute generic drugs for brand-name drugs. This could occur because of your insurance company guidelines or to reduce your copay. If a substitution needs to be made, a member of the specialty pharmacy staff will contact you.

Will My Insurance Company let St. Vincent Charity Medical Center Specialty Pharmacy Dispense the Medicine?

The Specialty Pharmacy is contracted with most insurance companies. Sometimes your insurance will require the use of another pharmacy. In these instances, we will transfer your prescription and have the new pharmacy contact you.

Will You Ever Substitute My Medicine with Another?

From time-to-time it is necessary to substitute generic drugs for brand-name drugs. This could occur because of your insurance company guidelines or to reduce your copay. If a substitution needs to be made, a member of the specialty pharmacy staff will contact you.

Will St. Vincent Charity Specialty Pharmacy
Ever Call Me?

Prior to receiving your specialty medicine, you will need to speak with a member of our team. We are not allowed to set-up a delivery for medicines without speaking to you in advance.
We will call you to:
● Discuss your prescription and copay amount
● Set-up the delivery and refills instructions
● Verify prescription insurance information
● Obtain documentation of your income to enroll you in
a program for financial help
● Counsel you on your medicine
● Tell you that the prescription must be transferred to
another specialty pharmacy
● Notify you of any FDA recalls of your medicine

When Should I Contact Your Pharmacy?

You should call the Specialty Pharmacy Program if:
● Your address, telephone number or insurance
information has changed
● You have any questions regarding the status of
your prescription
● You have concerns about how to take your medicine
● You would like more information about your therapy
● If you suspect an error in shipping or dispensing
has occurred
● If you suspect your medicine has been recalled by the FDA

What Should I Do If I Have Side Effects from
the Medicine?

● Call 911 for any serious or life-threatening situation
● Call the St. Vincent Charity Pharmacy for non-emergency problems

Can I Return My Prescription?

Most prescription medicine cannot be returned to the pharmacy. Please call us and we can tell you if your medicine can be returned and credited. Also, if you suspect your medicine is defective, please call us and we will see if a new medicine can be sent to you.

How Do I Dispose Of Unused Medicine?

For instructions on how to properly dispose of unused medicine:
● Go to the FDA website: fda.gov
● Contact the pharmacy

WHY IS ST. VINCENT CHARITY MEDICAL CENTER
LAUNCHING SPECIALTY PHARMACY SERVICES?
The St. Vincent Charity Outpatient Pharmacy team is a recognized leader in patient care and pharmacy services. As the pharmacy landscape changes towards more specialty medications, St. Vincent Charity Outpatient Pharmacy is evolving to meet the needs of its customers. By launching the St. Vincent Charity Specialty Pharmacy
Program, patients with chronic and complex diseases can now be serviced by our team. St. Vincent Charity is responding to both the patients’ needs and the changing times to offer a truly unique service, upholding our reputation of providing outstanding care.

WHAT IS THE ADVANTAGE OF USING THE ST. VINCENT
CHARITY SPECIALTY PHARMACY PROGRAM?

The advantage of using the St. Vincent Charity Specialty Pharmacy Program is in the integrated care approach we provide as part of the same institution. Our pharmacists have access to the patients’ complete medical records, allowing them to function as a part of the clinical team and truly provide contiguous care. When sending prescriptions for specialty medications to the St. Vincent Charity Medical Center Outpatient Pharmacy, you can be assured our care
team is working with both you and your patients to achieve the best possible outcomes from their therapy.

WHERE IS THE SPECIALTY PHARMACY
PROGRAM LOCATED?

The Specialty Pharmacy Program is located within the St. Vincent Charity Medical Center Outpatient Pharmacy on the 1st floor near the Health Care Clinic.

HOW DO I REFER PATIENTS TO ST. VINCENT CHARITY SPECIALTY PHARMACY?

Our service has been set up to reduce as much burden as possible on you and your staff. Simply e-prescribe or fax the script to the St. Vincent Charity Medical Center Pharmacy and we will do the rest. Our pharmacy staff will manage the paperwork and communicate with the payers and patients, thus alleviating the workload from your staff.

WHAT DO I NEED TO TELL PATIENTS WHEN I SEND A PRESCRIPTION FOR A SPECIALTY MEDICATION TO THE SPECIALTY PHARMACY?

Representatives of the St. Vincent’s Charity Specialty Pharmacy Program will directly communicate with those individuals we can service. If we are unable to dispense the medication, we will contact your patient and you or your office immediately and provide other pharmacy alternatives. Should there be questions, send the prescription to the St. Vincent Charity Medical Center Outpatient Pharmacy, notify the Specialty Pharmacy care team, and we will manage the situation for you. As we add payor contracts, we will be educating your offices on our growth.

WHAT HAS ST. VINCENT CHARITY MEDICAL CENTER OUTPATIENT PHARMACY DONE TO BECOME A “SPECIALTY PHARMACY”?

The organization has made a significant investment in people and processes to ensure the new St. Vincent Charity Specialty Pharmacy Program meets the highest standards in the industry.