Important information for Florence patients regarding your prescriptions

As you may be aware, many local businesses are facing staffing challenges – and local pharmacies are no exception. These developments are seriously impacting patients’ access to needed medications. Many community members are experiencing wait times for prescriptions of at least a week or more.

Florence Pharmacy Issues FAQ

I am a PeaceHealth patient and I need a refill, what should I do?

Call PeaceHealth Peace Harbor Medical Center at 541-997-7134 two weeks ahead of time to get a refill. Please call earlier than you normally would because the demand at local pharmacies has increased the time needed to fill prescriptions. The additional time also makes mail order pharmacies an option. When exploring a mail order option, please call your insurance provider first to determine which services are covered. Driving to another city could be an option if the need is urgent.

Can I get my prescriptions refilled or transferred during a doctor visit?

Yes, this is the best approach. Speak to your doctor during your appointment about any prescription refills or new requests - don’t wait to call later. Tell your doctor which new pharmacy you would like to use.

I was a Bi-Mart pharmacy customer, where are my prescriptions now?

Bi-Mart pharmacy closed on Nov. 4 and transferred their customers to the Safeway pharmacy.

What is the status of the Rite-Aid pharmacy?

The Florence Rite-Aid pharmacy is reportedly struggling with staffing issues, and pharmacist hours are sporadic. If you have a prescription at Rite-Aid that has been processed by your insurance provider and you have been unable to pick it up, please call the insurance company to have a reverse claim issued. Your next step would be working with your doctor to have a new prescription sent to an alternate pharmacy. It’s important to note that your doctor will be unable to issue a new prescription without the reverse claim if Rite-Aid has billed your insurance provider.

Normally I called the pharmacy directly, can I still do that?

Pharmacies are not answering the phone on a regular basis due to the dramatic increase in volume of prescriptions needing to be filled. Call PeaceHealth Peace Harbor at 541-997-7134 with any questions before you visit a pharmacy as lines could be long.

I tried to get a prescription transfer at a pharmacy and was denied, what should I do now?  

Overloaded pharmacies in the area are not currently transferring prescriptions, but your doctor can file a new one for you. You can request a prescription to be sent to a new pharmacy via MyPeaceHealth, during a doctor visit or by calling 541-997-7134. In MyPeaceHealth, log in to your account and click messages near the top of the screen. Then click medical question and the prescription question option. You can then send your doctor a message to issue a new prescription or refill a prescription. If you don’t have a MyPeaceHealth account yet, you can register for one here - https://my.peacehealth.org/MyPeaceHealth/signup

I heard local pharmacies are not accepting new patients, is that true?

All Florence pharmacies are still accepting new patients and new prescriptions, but the response times are delayed. Please give yourself two weeks to get new prescriptions filled.  

What if I have to pay for a prescription out of pocket because insurance hasn’t approved a transfer?

Please try to refill your prescriptions at least two weeks in advance to give insurance time to process. Also, PeaceHarbor works with the Safeway Pharmacy, Florence Pharmacy and the Fred Meyer Pharmacy as part of the 340B Discount Medication program. For more information, call 541‐902‐6783. 

I have more questions, can I talk to someone at PeaceHealth Peace Harbor?

Please call 541-997-7134 and leave a message for the prescription assistance team. Please be prepared to wait on hold due to the increase in phone calls. We apologize for the inconvenience.

As always, our No. 1 priority is the safety and well-being of our patients. As valued patients and community members, PeaceHealth is here to guide you through these challenges to ensure you have access to much-needed medications.