8
Penn State Home

Doctor and patient image

 

  [UHS Home Page] [List of Services] [Pharmacy] [Pharmacy Benefits]
 
UHS Intranet
UHS Site:

Hours
Top 10 Q&A's
Contact UHS

 

PHARMACY BENEFITS FOR
PENN STATE EMPLOYEES AND RETIREES

HOURS
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday: 7:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Wednesday: 9 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Saturday during Fall and Spring Semesters only: 11:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

The Pharmacy is closed on all major holidays observed by the University, and over the holiday break. For more information about when UHS is open, see Hours.

LOCATION
The Pharmacy is located on the 2nd floor (entry level) of the Student Health Center, adjacent to the Eisenhower Parking Deck and the Bank of America Career Services Building off Bigler Road. The Campus Loop stops on Bigler just south of the Student Health Center.

There are two handicapped parking places in the rear of the Student Health Center, as well as a convenient ground-level entrance with an automatic door opener and elevator. See the ADA Access Map of University Park Campus.

Six parking spaces in the north bay of spaces (closest to Eisenhower Road) on the ground floor of the Eisenhower Parking Deck have been reserved for short term use by patients of the new Student Health Center.

The first space closest to the exit lane is reserved for urgent care access to the Student Health Center. A placard must be obtained from the check-in desk, and displayed on the dash of the vehicle for legal parking. The Urgent Care space is reserved 7 days a week.

The next 5 spaces are reserved for short term use (including prescription pick-up) at the Student Health Center. Parking in these spaces is restricted to 30 minutes maximum, and the vehicles four-way flashers must be operating.

These 5 spaces are only reserved Monday - Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. After 5:00 p.m. the 5 short term spaces would be open for use by other vehicles with a current Penn State parking permit properly displayed.

Penn State Employees/Retirees: This page provides directions on how to use the UHS Pharmacy, but it does not include details about your Penn State prescription insurance benefits. For more information about these benefits, you may go to the Penn State Office of Human Resources Employee Benefits Division website, the Highmark website or contact Highmark Customer Service. PPOBlue members, call 800-914-4384; FreedomBlue PFFS members call 866-918-5285.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Information for First Time Pharmacy Customers (Employees and Retirees)

What Are Maintenance Prescription Drugs?

Who Is Eligible To Use The UHS Pharmacy?
What Is A Formulary?
2008 Highmark Formulary
What are the Generic Pharmaceutical Names?
What Are The Costs?
Pharmacy Changes Effective January 2008
How To Get New Prescriptions Filled
Easy Prescription Refills
Refills By Phone
Refills On-line
Refills by Mail
Refill Schedules
Requests for Receiving More Than a 90-Day Supply or Filling Prescriptions Early

INFORMATION FOR FIRST TIME PHARMACY CUSTOMERS (EMPLOYEES AND RETIREES)?
Please complete this form. If you have any prescriptions that need to be filled now please attach them to the completed form and drop off or mail to UHS Pharmacy, 202 Student Health Center, University Park, PA 16802.

After your first prescription has been filled you will be able to use one of our easy prescription refill options.

Former Walgreens Customers:  If you have refills remaining on medications you previously received through Walgreens and are now switching to the UHS Pharmacy, please contact the Pharmacy by phone at (814) 865-9321, toll-free (800) 821-7285 or e-mail at uhspharmacy@sa.psu.eduPlease include the patient’s name, the name of the medication and the Highmark ID number.

If you choose to pick up your prescriptions they will be ready in two business days.  The Pharmacy generally experiences less traffic from 7:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, and 9:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. on Wednesdays.

If you choose to have your prescriptions mailed they will sent within 14 business days.  There is no charge for mailing to a Penn State campus address.  There is a $3 per package shipping and handling charge for mailing to home addresses, no matter how many medications are in the package.  Consolidating all your medications in one order will save on postage.

PLEASE NOTE: The UHS Pharamacy will not mail certain medications. These include Adderall, Concenta, Dexedrine, Oxycontin, Duragesic, Percocet/Percodan, Ritalin, Metadate CD amd their generic equivalents. If you need these perscriptions mailed to you,  please contact Highmark to receive the information on the Medco by Mail  program.

ALSO NOTE: Once medication has left the pharmacy, state regulations prohibit its return.


WHAT ARE MAINTENANCE PRESCRIPTION DRUGS?
Illness is often described as acute or chronic. Acute conditions are of short duration, such as strep throat or a bladder infection. Chronic conditions are of longer duration, such as high blood pressure, diabetes or epilepsy. When medicine is prescribed for a chronic condition and it must be taken on a regular, recurring basis (usually 6 months or longer) that medication is said to be used on a maintenance basis. All prescriptions will be filled for 90 days.


Return to top of page


WHO IS ELIGIBLE TO USE THE UHS PHARMACY?

All Penn State students, and current and retired Penn State employees may use the UHS Pharmacy.

Return to top of page

WHAT IS A FORMULARY?
A formulary is a preferred list of medications that encourages the use of the most clinically effective and cost effective medications. Highmark Blue Shield maintains the formulary, or list of covered drugs, and the formulary applies for both retail and maintenance programs.


WHAT ARE THE GENERIC PHARMACEUTICAL NAMES?
Generic drugs will be substituted for brand name drugs, A generic drug is one that meets the same FDA standards for safety as a brand name drug, is therapeutically equivalent to a brand name drug, ad has the same active ingredients in the same mounts. Using generic medications where they are available helps you minimize out-of-pocket expenses.

Return to top of page.

WHAT ARE THE COSTS?
Maintenance drugs are dispensed for a 90 day supply. You pay 20% of the cost of the prescription. You may pay by cash, check, credit card, or through a charge to your account. You can pay your account off on a monthly basis.

Highmark Blue Shield maintains the formulary, or list of covered drugs, and the formulary applies for both retail and maintenance programs. Prescriptions included on the formulary receive the highest level of coverage. However, your drug plan allows you the freedom to choose to receive some a medication that is not included on the formulary. You will pay 70% of the cost of a non-formulary medication. The specific medication cost is on the MedcoHealth website.

There is also a $3.00 shipping and handling fee per package (no matter how many medications are in the package) when mailed to the home address of a retiree or current employee. Consolidating all of your medications in one order will save you postage. Allow 14 working days for medications mailed to your home address.

Mailing is free to on-campus addresses. (This includes Penn State employees at Cooperative Extension offices if mailed to the Extension office.) Be sure to provide your current campus address.

For more information about the UHS Pharmacy, please contact:

University Health Services
(814) 865-9321
Toll Free: 1-800-821-7285
202 Student Health Center
University Park, PA 16802
Or you may e-mail your questions to: uhspharmacy@sa.psu.edu

Return to top of page

PHARMACY CHANGES EFFECTIVE JANUARY 2008

Changes effective January 2008 include:

  • The UHS Pharmacy will be able to fill short term and maintenance prescriptions of all Penn State students, exmployees and retirees.
  • Prescriptions (with remaining refils) for former Walgreens customers will be transferred to the UHS Pharmacy. Call or stop by the pharmacy to activate your prescription.
  • A delivery service for Penn State employees at the University Park campus will be available Monday through Friday afternoons (emergency presrciption refills only).

Return to top of page
spacer

NEW PRESCRIPTIONS

The UHS Pharmacy will fill written, original prescriptions from a physician, physician's assistant or a certified registered nurse practitioner. You may:
 
  • mail your prescription in to:
    University Health Services
    Pharmacy - Room 202
    Student Health Center
    University Park, PA 16802
  • bring it to the Pharmacy service window on the second floor of the Student Health Center
  • have the prescribing clinician fax it to the pharmacy at (814) 863-5371
  • We cannot accept prescriptions:
     
  • by phone from a physician, physician's assistant or a certified registered nurse
        practitioner.
  • by transfer from other pharmacies
  • Return to top of page

    spacer

    EASY PRESCRIPTION REFILLS

    Need a prescription refilled? If you already have a prescription on file at the UHS Pharmacy, we offer two convenient ways to request refills. Your prescription will be ready for pickup within two business days after the UHS Pharmacy receives your written prescription. Your order must be received by 5 p.m. to be considered in that business day.

    Return to top of page

    spacer

    REFILLS BY PHONE

    You can phone in your refill request 24/7 through our automated refill system. Just dial
    865-9321 and press "3." Be sure to have your Prescription Refill Number handy - it is located on the left corner of the label.

    Return to top of page

    spacer

    REFILLS ON-LINE

    You can submit a prescription refill request 24/7 via this website. To submit a prescription refill request, click here.

    Return to top of page

    spacer

    REFILLS BY MAIL

    If you receive your 90 day prescription by mail, please remember that we cannot refill your prescription until 3 weeks (21 days) before it is due to run out. The time is longer due to mailing times. Be sure to allow 12 to 14 working days for prescriptions that are mailed to your home address.

    PLEASE NOTE: The UHS Pharamacy will not mail certain medications. These include Adderall, Concenta, Dexedrine, Oxycontin, Duragesic, Percocet/Percodan, Ritalin, Metadate CD amd their generic equivalents. If you need these perscriptions mailed to you,  please contact Highmark to receive the information on the Medco by Mail  program.

    ALSO NOTE: Once medication has left the pharmacy, state regulations prohibit its return.

    Return to top of page

    spacer

    REFILL SCHEDULES

    Picking-up Refills - If you pick-up your prescription at Ritenour Building, please remember that we cannot re-fill a prescription until you are 2/3 done with it. For example, a 90 day prescription can not be refilled until 30 days before it is due to run out (day 60).

    Return to top of page

    spacer

    REQUESTS FOR RECEIVING MORE THAN A 90-DAY SUPPLY OR FILLING PRESCRIPTIONS EARLY

    There are times when employees and retirees may be going on sabbatical or leaving the country and require either an early refill of their medications or more than a 90-day supply at one time. Requests regarding these exceptions must be made directly to Highmark Call Highmark Customer Service. PPOBlue members, call 800-914-4384; FreedomBlue PFFS members call 866-918-5285. Once Highmark has given their approval and noted it in the prescription management software system, UHS Pharmacy will be able to fill the quantity needed.

    Return to top of page
    spacer
    ADA/EEOC | Confidentiality | Privacy | Disclaimer | Copyright | Contact Us | Get Acrobat®Reader®
    University Health Services Home Student Affairs Home Updated October 7, 2008