Mail-Service Pharmacy

Many Americans rely on the mail service pharmacies operated by pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs).

Mail-Service Pharmacies provide a convenient, reliable and affordable option for patients to safely access prescription drugs.

  • Patients may first use their local pharmacy to fill a new prescription. If the prescription is for a chronic condition, patients will often fill the first several prescriptions at their local pharmacy.

  • Once stabilized on the medication(s), patients can choose to use a mail-service pharmacy for home delivery.

  • Mail-service pharmacies typically dispense 90-day supplies of medication(s), which are filled and shipped usually within 3 to 5 business days or, depending on patients’ needs, 24 to 48 hours. 

  • If patients have more than one prescription, they can request delivery be synchronized so that all are delivered on the same day. 
  • Numerous benefits, including improved health outcomes from better adherence and avoidance of acute care episodes; greater safety through higher dispensing accuracy; and cost savings from increased use of generics.

  • Having regularly needed medication(s) delivered by mail is more convenient, particularly for individuals with chronic conditions and those in rural communities, and may promote adherence for patients with restricting health conditions or limited transportation.

  • Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, mail-service pharmacy has helped Americans safely access their prescriptions while sheltering at home or practicing physical distancing.

  • Pharmacists and patient care advocates often are available 24/7 to provide confidential counseling.

RESEARCH SHOWS US

Mail-Service Pharmacies could save consumers, employers, and other health plan sponsors $23.5 billion over 10 years.

 The full use of mail-service pharmacy may lead to savings up to 1.2% on overall drug costs. A recent report estimates the median discount on brand drugs filled through mail-order is 4-7 percentage points better than the discount achieved through retail drug stores.

1.2% savings on overall
drug costs

$23.5 B

Mail pharmacies will save an estimated $23.5B billion over the 10-year period 2023-2032

Pharmacists and patient care advocates often are available 24/7 to provide confidential counseling

Before mailing a prescription, mail-service pharmacies electronically review the patient’s medications to detect any potentially harmful adverse drug reactions – even when the patient uses several pharmacies. Pharmacists also provide clinical care management, patient education, and support to promote adherence and improved health outcomes.

Mail-Service Pharmacies fill large quantities of prescriptions with 23X greater dispensing accuracy

Computer-controlled qualiity processes, robotic dispensing, and advance workflow practices allow mail-service pharmacies to fill large quantities of prescriptions with greater accuracy and reduce potiential medication errors to zero in several of the most critical areas.

THE PHARMACY BENEFIT PODCAST

A 21st Century Pharmacy

Mail-Service Pharmacy is a convenient, reliable and affordable option for patients to safely access prescription drugs