CVS/caremark Mail Order

Why would my prescriptions take longer that the usual 7-14 days?

Please see below for some potential issues with mail order prescriptions and some suggestions about how to avoid them.

1. There is a need to contact the prescribing doctor to clarify the prescription:
   Sometimes when a pharmacist begins filling a prescription, there may be a need to contact the prescribing doctor for clarification. There may be a question about how the prescription is written, there may be an incorrect or unusual dosage, or there may be a drug interaction with another medication that is currently being taken. CVS/caremark will attempt to contact a doctor for clarification three times. If there is no resolution after three attempts to contact the doctor, the prescription will be placed into a hold status. You will be notified by an automated phone call when this occurs. Please note that controlled substance prescriptions cannot be placed into a hold status and will be mailed back to you.
   
   
2. The drug on the prescription has a Prior Authorization, STEP Therapy, or Quantity Limitations associated with it:
   

   If a drug you are taking requires Prior Authorization, has a Step Therapy requirement, or a Quantity Limitation you should contact your doctor to let them know that a request must be submitted to MVP for your medication. If a prescription is sent to the CVS/caremark mail order program and requires Prior Authorization or Step Therapy, CVS/caremark will attempt to contact your doctor two times. If there is no resolution, the prescription will be placed on hold and you will receive a letter notifying you of this.
   If a prescription has a quantity limit the prescription will be reduced to the allowed quantity. If you would like a larger quantity on your next fill please contact your doctor and let them know that a request must be submitted to MVP for your medication.
   
   

• Click Here for an explanation of Prior Authorization, STEP Therapy, and Quantity Limitations. You will also find the lists of drugs that have these requirements for Part D.
  
  
3. The prescription could be too early to fill:
   In most cases, mail order prescriptions can be refilled when 68 days of medication have been used up. If a request is sent in to CVS/caremark for a refill before the 68 days have elapsed, CVS/caremark can not refill the prescription. CVS/caremark will pend the refill request until the refill is permitted. This will delay your order.
   
   

   Note: If your doctor has changed the number of pills you take per day (and that is the reason you need your prescription sooner than allowed), please ask your doctor to send a new prescription with the updated instructions to CVS/caremark.
   
   

4. The medication requested is not available through CVS/caremark mail service:
   Medicare Part D allows most medications to be filled through the mail service. There are some restrictions. It is important to verify that your medication is allowed through the mail service before sending your request to CVS/caremark. If you send a prescription to CVS/caremark for a drug that is not allowed through the mail service, CVS/caremark can not fill the prescription. In these situations, CVS/caremark will mail the prescription back to you with a message that the prescription can not be filled through the mail service.
   
   

5. The prescription co-pay exceeds the amount threshold:
   If you prescription co-pay is more than $250, CVS/caremark must get your approval before sending the prescription. CVS/carmark will make two automated phone calls over a 48 hour period to get your approval. If they do not get your approval, the prescription will not be mailed. You will need to call CVS/caremark Customer Care at 1-866-494-8829 or Log In/Register to your MVP online account and select Pharmacy (CVS/caremark) to place a new order for your prescription.

• Click Here to go to the MVP Part D Formulary. Drugs not allowed to be filled at mail are notated with an NM (Not available at Mail Order) in the Requirements/Limits Column.