Specialty Pharmacy

A specialty pharmacy carries medicines that need special storage and handling, or that are very costly. You may not be able to buy these specialty medications at your local pharmacy.

UW Medicine Specialty Pharmacy serves UW Medicine patients who are taking specialty medications. Our team will work with you and your doctor to help you get the best results from your medication therapy. Learn more below or by downloading the Specialty Pharmacy printable PDF​.


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.


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.


Cholesterol

Familial Hypercholesterolemia Foundation

www.thefhfoundation.org

626.583.4674

Hepatitis B or C

American Liver Foundation

www.liverfoundation.org

800.465.4837

Hepatitis B Foundation

www.hepb.org

215.489.4900

Hepatitis C Association

www.hepcassoc.org

908.769.8479

HIV

King County HIV/STD Program

www.kingcounty.gov/depts/health/ communicable-diseases/hiv-std.aspx

206.263.2000

Lifelong AIDS Alliance

www.lifelong.org

206.957.1600

Inflammatory Conditions

American College of Rheumatology

www.rheumatology.org

404.633.3777

Arthritis Foundation

www.arthritis.org

404.872.7100

Crohn's & Colitis Foundation of America

www.ccfa.org

800.932.2423

National Psoriasis Foundation

www.psoriasis.org

800.723.9166

Multiple Sclerosis

National Multiple Sclerosis Society

www.nationalmssociety.org

800.344.4867

Pulmonary

CF Foundation

www.cff.org

800.344.4823

Cystic Fibrosis Research, Inc.

www.cfri.org

855.237.4669

Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation

www.pulmonaryfibrosis.org/

888.733.6741


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.


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.

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