Pharmacy

NOTE: Medication must be on the European formulary to be filled at this pharmacy. If medication is not on the formulary you must see a DOD provider.

RHCE Formulary: 
http://online.lexi.com/lco/splashes/files/pdf/RHCE-Army.pdf
 
TRICARE Formulary Search Tool: 
http://www.express-scripts.com/frontend/open-enrollment/tricare/fst/
 

Frequently Asked Questions

Is my medication available at Patch Pharmacy?

• Medication must be on the RHCE formulary to be filled at this pharmacy. (See the link above)

What if I need a non-formulary or non-stocked medication?

• Yes, as long as they bring a medical power of attorney, your military ID card, or a copy or photo of your military ID, both front and back.
• Non-formulary medications require additional review and approval before being ordered and dispensed.
• Check the TRICARE Formulary Search Tool (see link above) to see if your medication requires additional paperwork from your doctor, such as a Prior Authorization or a Medical Necessity form.
• Please allow up to 72 business hours for review after your doctor submits the request.
• NOTE: Non-formulary or non-stocked items, especially those needing to be shipped from the USA, may take 4 – 8 weeks or longer to arrive at the pharmacy if approved.
• Please click on the link to review the Patient Information Sheet on Non-Formulary Medication Request.

Can someone else pick up my medication?

• Yes, as long as they bring a medical power of attorney, your military ID card, or a copy or photo of your military ID both front and back.
• NOTE: No patient under 15 years of age may pick up medications or be delegated to pick up another individual’s medications.

How long does it take to fill a new prescription?

• Generally, those prescriptions written by your MTF provider are filled as waiters when you present to the pharmacy.
• Paper or “hard copy” prescriptions take 1 business day unless there are extenuating circumstances such as an antibiotic.
• Wait times for prescriptions are subject to change based upon workload, staffing, and medication availability.

Can I fill a prescription from my US doctor?

• Yes, as long as it is on our formulary.
• Only original, hard copy signed prescriptions can be accepted.
• Prescriptions that have been emailed, photocopied, or scanned are NOT legal and cannot be filled.
• We are not equipped to accept prescriptions electronically or via fax.

Do you fill prescriptions from German doctors?

• Yes, as long as:
  • The doctor is a TRICARE Network Provider (PPN).
  • The medication is on our formulary.
  • The prescription is written according to US laws and Army regulations.

Please see our guide on German prescription requirements here.
*** You may receive a message that states: Please wait . . . If you do, please save the form to your desktop or computer and then open the file.

NOTE: The pharmacy is unable to verify German Providers or add German providers to the pharmacy computer system. Those German providers which are not in the system will require prescriptions to be filled on the economy.

Can I "refill" a prescription that was last filled at a different pharmacy?

• We can only refill prescriptions that were last filled at a DOD pharmacy in Germany.
• While we can’t refill other prescriptions, we may be able to transfer them if they are not expired and have refills remaining.
• For transfers, please bring your prescription bottle(s) to the pharmacy at least 1-2 weeks prior to running out of your medication as this can be a lengthy process.
• We are unable to transfer prescriptions for:
  • Controlled substances
  • Medications last filled at a Veterans Affairs facility
  • Medications last filled at pharmacies on the US West Coast, Hawaii, Alaska, or in the Pacific
  • Non-formulary medications
  • Over-the-counter medications
  • Any time when we cannot reach your original pharmacy
  • NOTE: Transfer requests from a different pharmacy to Patch Pharmacy are often difficult to process. The best way to ensure you receive your medications in a timely manner is to have your provider write a hard copy prescription to fill at Patch Pharmacy. This gives enough time to establish care at either the clinic or on the economy.

What is the difference between a refill, a renewal, and a new prescription?

• Refill prescriptions: These are medications which you called the automated line or initiated to be filled on TRICARE online. These did not require a visit or a message to your doctor to authorize at the pharmacy
• Renewal prescriptions: These are medications which you were previously taking which ran out of refills, requiring a new order from a provider. These are treated as new prescriptions since they must be checked for accuracy, appropriateness, and safety by the pharmacy. These you cannot call in. They must be picked up as if they were new.
• New prescriptions: These are prescriptions that are written by a provider that a patient has not yet taken.

Why is my medication out of stock?

• Due to ongoing labor shortages in the United States, drug procurement channels are now compromised. Geographically, Germany is difficult to obtain medications due to customs requirements and laws within the country.
• The pharmacy works to project shortages; however, even when shortages are imminent, medications still take several weeks to arrive from the USA.

I can see my medication on TRICARE online but the system will not let me refill it. Why is that?

• Often, these are renewal medications which required a new order from your provider. You cannot refill a renewal. Please see section above for the difference between a refill and a renewal.
• Renewal medications must be activated at the pharmacy and are treated as new prescriptions since accuracy, safety, and appropriateness must be assessed.

 Medication Refills:

• Refills must be requested at least 72 hours (3 business days) prior to pick up.
• Requests may be submitted by phone or on TRICAREonline.com.
• Medications not picked up within 10 business days will be returned to stock.

How is my prescription not a refill if I have been taking this for years?

• Refills are authorized by your doctor when he or she writes your prescription.
• Your refills are listed on your prescription label.
• When your doctor re-orders a medicine that you’ve had before, the prescription is new, even though the medication is not. This is called a prescription renewal.
• New prescriptions, including renewals, require more extensive pharmacist review for accuracy and safety.
• To minimize pharmacy, wait times, please pull a "new prescription" ticket for renewals.

 Out of Refills?

• Call or send a secure message to your doctor.
• Your doctor may want to see you for an appointment before writing a new prescription.
• We do not receive automatic notifications that your doctor has ordered a medication.
• If your medication is re-ordered by the doctor, please call or visit the pharmacy to confirm we have the prescription in our system and let us know you would like it filled.

Kelley Medication Room (only for refill distribution):

• Closed until further notice. Please call-in refills to Patch Pharmacy.