
“Additionally, specialty medications can also be mailed,” he explains. “These controlled substance scripts will have additional tracking and signature requirements upon delivery,” Dr. Mail order pharmacies can mail controlled substances as long as they’re labeled per federal and state regulations.

Mail order pharmacies can mail prescription and non-prescription drugs, but there may be special requirements for mailing certain types of medications.Ĭontrolled substances, for example, have special mailing requirements because of the Controlled Substances Act ( CSA ), which regulates the manufacturing, importation, and distribution of Schedule I, II, III, IV, and V drugs. You can check to see whether an online pharmacy is VIPPS-accredited in the United States by visiting the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy’s website. People didn’t know who they could trust and, in some cases, were receiving counterfeit medications.” “Many scam internet pharmacies were deceiving people in the late 1990s, which led to the need for VIPPS. “When a pharmacy obtains the VIPPS seal, it allows the consumer to rest assured that the pharmacy is legitimate,” says Jason Reed, Pharm.D., a pharmacist at Atrium Medical Center in Ohio. The VIPPS program (Verified Internet Pharmacy Practice Sites) accredits pharmacies that sell and dispense medications online. Be sure to look for valid online pharmacies that are accredited under the VIPPS program. If you don’t have health insurance, you can still get the prescriptions you need through an online pharmacy. Mail order pharmacies operate under strict laws and regulations to ensure the safety and efficacy of their medications. Online pharmacies can operate from anywhere and may not be subject to U.S. Some websites will offer people big discounts but send them counterfeit medications. Not all online pharmacies are legitimate either. Mail order pharmacies work directly with your insurance, whereas online pharmacies may or may not take insurance. Mail order pharmacies and online pharmacies both mail prescriptions, but they don’t work in the same way. Getting your prescription from a mail order pharmacy is not the same thing as buying your medication online. People who need their prescriptions right away or those with specialty medications should carefully weigh the pros and cons of mail order service. Damaged packages: It’s possible for packages that hold special medications like insulin, to break or for medications that need to be refrigerated to not stay cold enough.

It might take anywhere from three to 14 business days to receive your mail order drugs, and mail delivery systems can be unpredictable. Delivery delays: Receiving medications in the mail can take longer than picking them up from a local retail pharmacy.Mail order pharmacies may be the most convenient option that will save you money and trips to the pharmacist, but they do have some downsides. You can sometimes get a 90-day supply of mail order prescriptions, which is often cheaper in the long run. Cost: Ordering prescriptions through a mail order pharmacy may also be cheaper than ordering them from a local pharmacy.It’s easy to order eligible prescriptions and prescription refills online, over the phone, or with a smart phone via a mobile app-and it’s even possible to set up continuous refills for multiple medications. Convenience: The convenience of mail order pharmacies is what draws most people to them.Patients can have their doctor send their prescription directly to the mail order pharmacy, or they can fill out an order form online and attach their prescription. These are alternatives to local pharmacies that make it much easier for people who can’t or don’t want to stop at their local drugstore to get the medications they need. What is a mail order pharmacy? How does it work?Ī mail order pharmacy works directly with insurance providers to send insured people their medications in the mail. If your insurance provider offers mail order prescriptions, this might be a convenient option for you. Mail order pharmacies work through health insurance providers to deliver medications straight to your home. Picking up your prescriptions directly from a pharmacy can be challenging with social distancing requirements, illness, or other factors. Sometimes that may mean taking prescription medications that your doctor recommends.

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