Patients often ask, Can Transfer a Prescription to Another Pharmacy ? The quick and easy answer is no, pharmacies cannot sell your personal health information. BUT, if you request, they can Transfer a Prescription to Another Pharmacy in compliance with HIPAA regulations. How It Works: This is a legal, safe, common way to move, change insurance, and obtain better access to care.
The process for transferring prescriptions is created to be one that both protects your medical privacy and ensures your medicines are available from the one pharmacy of your choosing.
When Should You Transfer a Prescription?
You might have a few reasons to transfer your prescription to a new pharmacy:
- Moving – IF you move into a new neighborhood, city, or state.
- Insurance – Some pharmacies are in your insurance network (this can help bring down costs as well).
- Better pricing – Some pharmacies may have better deals or loyalty programs.
- Location – You might want a pharmacy near your office, home, or your doctor.
- Customer service – Some patients jump to for faster service or more personal care.
Step 1: Choose the New Pharmacy
Choose the pharmacy you would like your prescription to be transferred to. Be certain the pharmacy takes your insurance and is able to fill your particular drugs.
Step 2: Contact the New Pharmacy
Your new pharmacy will take care of most of it. Provide them with:
- Your name and date of birth
- The medication name and dosage
- The name and number of the present pharmacy
Step 3: Let the Pharmacists Communicate
Your previous pharmacy will be called by the new pharmacy to make the transfer. Pharmacists are authorized under law to disclose prescription information (but they cannot sell your personal information). This is not only accurate, but legal as well.
Step 4: Verify with Your Doctor if Needed
There may be prescriptions that are not transferable, such as controlled substances. In those situations, your doctor may have to issue a new prescription. Always verify with the pharmacy and your doctor
Step 5: Pick Up Your Medication
When the transfer is done, your new drugstore will let you know when your prescription is ready. But you must also make certain that the dosage and the instructions you read on your medication label are accurate.
Important Privacy Considerations
Patients will occasionally conflate a prescription transfer with sharing personal information. To be clear:
- There are HIPAA privacy rules that pharmacies are supposed to follow and that help to safeguard your personal medical information.
- Your information may be disclosed for treatment, payment, or health care operations — not for marketing without your consent.
- Your prescription is transmitted securely; it’s not “sold” to another pharmacy.
What Cannot Be Transferred?
Not all drugs can be transferred from one pharmacy to another. Common restrictions include:
- Schedule II drugs (opioids, for example, or drugs used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) may require a new prescription.
- Expired prescriptions cannot be transferred.
- Prescriptions you already had partially filled may need to continue to be filled at the location where they were initiated.
Tips for a Smooth Transfer
Confirm your medication is available by calling your new pharmacy in advance.
- It will depend, but you’d need to talk with insurance at the new location to see if insurance would cover the cost.
- Keep a list of all your medications with you, and share the list with your doctor and pharmacist.
- Ask the pharmacist if refills will be transferred automatically.
Final Thoughts
You might be wondering, “Can a pharmacy sell your info to another pharmacy?” The reply is no–your privacy is always safe. But moving your prescription is a lawful and patient-centric activity that helps you get your medications where you want. Select the right pharmacy and you can ensure the move is a smooth and safe one, and stress-free if you follow those simple steps.