Pharmacy Services

College Health Services does not have a pharmacy. We can send prescriptions electronically to many locations for student pick-up. We also have a working relationship with a local pharmacy to deliver prescriptions written by us or transferred from your provider. Prescriptions are delivered by Community A Walgreens Pharmacy to the MHC Health Center for pick up during regular hours of operation. 

You can receive status updates on your prescription via Community through their online and mobile apps or by calling 413-271-9990.

Creating a Walgreens Account

For a prescription to be filled by Community you will first be required to set up an online account or by downloading their mobile app and signing up for the Pharmacy Services. Make Community, A Walgreens pharmacy (619 Chestnut St Springfield, MA) your preferred store. Add Insurance Plan information. Visit the Gallagher Student website for more information on the Student Health Insurance Pharmacy Network.  If you have a private insurance card the required information: Name, ID #, Group #, Rx Bin #, PCN #.  The pharmacy requires this information to process your prescription.

Refills/Prescription Transfers

Refills and prescriptions transfers can be processed through the Walgreens mobile app or through your account on www.walgreens.com.

 

Payment for Prescriptions

Co-pays must be paid for using a credit/debit card online, by phone or through Community's mobile app. Health Services does not accept OneCard payments.

Prescriptions requiring a photo ID

Prescriptions for Adderal, Focalin, Ritalin, Concerta and Vyvanse

A "hard copy" written prescription by a provider outside of MHC can be brought into Health Services for delivery to Community. The date on the prescription must not be greater than five days from the date it is being filled. Prescriptions coming from outside Massachusetts must be signed by a physician within a state contiguous to Massachusetts. A photo ID must be submitted to the pharmacy prior to filling the prescription.

The clinical staff at MHC do not perform formal ADHD evaluations for initial diagnosis of ADHD.

If you have recently completed comprehensive testing and were diagnosed with ADHD or if you have an existing diagnosis of ADHD, have been prescribed stimulant medication for this condition, and wish for MHC Health Services to continue your medication management while you are here, you must submit documentation of a complete evaluation supporting the diagnosis of ADHD. This documentation can be office notes, copies of formal neuropsychological testing, or a letter from the diagnosing provider but must include:

  1. A comprehensive diagnostic interview by a qualified physician, psychologist, or other provider whose scope of practice includes the diagnosis of attentional problems; this provider must not be a relative of the student requesting care
  2. Evidence of symptoms before the age of 12
  3. Evidence of impairment in two or more settings
  4. Use of ADHD rating scales that have been completed by self-report AND third-party reporters (parent/guardian, teacher/school reports).
  5. Assessment of possible comorbid conditions which may also cause attentional issues including learning disorders, mood disorders, anxiety disorders and substance use disorders

If you have taken ADHD medication in the last year, you must also submit clinical records/office notes from current prescribing provider, including full medication list, from at least the past year.

All documentation must be received and reviewed before an initial ADHD appointment will be scheduled. Please allow 2-4 weeks for your documentation to be reviewed. It is strongly advised that all students who are currently on medication for ADHD arrange for on-going care with their current provider until the above process is completed.

Download the request form for ADHD medication management: PDF version | doc version

Prescriptions for Controlled Substances

A photo ID is required to be submitted with prescriptions for the following medications. We will make a copy and submit this to the pharmacy if you are requesting delivery to the MHC Health Center.

  • Benzodiazepines (anything that ends in azepam)
  • Testosterones
  • Gabapentin
  • Codeine
  • Opiates
  • Stimulants (Adderall, Ritalin, Concerta, Focalin, Vyvanse)

Over-the-counter Medications

Health Services distributes small supplies of over-the-counter medications as clinically appropriate for self-care of common acute illness, i.e. viral cold, diarrhea, nausea and muscle pain. These will be given after a thorough clinical assessment and are meant to support the student until a personal supply of medications can be purchased by the student.

Prescription Override

For short-term medications, you can fill a prescription at a retail pharmacy. Your cost will be lower when you chose an in-network pharmacy.   Community, A Walgreen’s Pharmacy, the one that delivers to the health center, and many other pharmacies are in-network.  Most large national chains are in-network. For a list, you can go to this website:  https://www.express-scripts.com/consumer/site/openenrollment?accessCode=BCBSMA&pageName=oeinfo.

For maintenance medications, those that you take regularly for more than 3 months, e.g. oral contraceptives, thyroid medication, and antidepressant medications, 90-day supplies are available from the Express Scripts Mail Order pharmacy.  It is not possible to get a 90-day supply at one time from a retail pharmacy. 

To set up “home delivery” on campus: 

Set up an account with Express Scripts by calling the member services number on the back of your insurance card, or registering at https://www.express-scripts.com/index.html. You need to provide your insurance ID number, address and payment method.

  • For prescriptions written at Health Services or Counseling Services:

Ask the prescriber to send the prescription to Express Scripts Mail Order pharmacy.

  • To transfer existing prescriptions from a retail pharmacy: 

Call Express Scripts or go to www.Express-scripts.com/Decide. Log in and select “Transfer your retail prescriptions”.  They will contact the prescriber.

To refill prescriptions through the home delivery service:

  • You can refill the prescriptions online at Express-Scripts.com.
  • You can refill by phone by calling the number on the back of your ID card. You can call any time 24/7.
  • You can set up an automatic refill by enrolling in the “Worry Free Fills” program.

How long does it take?

  • First time orders may take about 10-14 days.
  • Refills take about 3-5 days.
  • Remember you need to pick the packages up at auxiliary services, so leave some extra time to account for their schedule.

What if I go away from campus on winter or summer break?

  • If you are in the United States you can change your preferred delivery address at the Express-Scripts website
  • If you are abroad, you may need a “vacation override” to allow you to obtain a 6-month’s supply.

How do I plan for study abroad?

  • For one semester, a vacation override should cover you.
  • For a full year, you should call the number on the back of your card and ask to speak with the EXPAT team.