Can I get my medications at the VA?
Yes. Your VA physician will evaluate your medical condition and prescribe the medications that you need. Your prescription will be filled at the VA pharmacy. You can pick up your medications at the pharmacy or have them mailed to you. Routine refills are sent to you through the mail. If you are calling for prescription refills by mail, please call two weeks before you run out of your medication.

Will the VA pharmacy fill the prescription I get from a private doctor?
Prescriptions written by private doctors cannot directly be filled at the VA pharmacy. You should talk with your VA doctor about the prescription at your next scheduled appointment. If there is agreement about your diagnosis and the treatment needed, your VA provider will prescribe the same or similar medication for you.

Do I have to pay for my medications?
You may be able to get your medication at no cost, or you may be asked to make a co-pay per 30-day or smaller supply. This depends on whether you have a service-connected condition or your whether your income is below a certain amount. If you have questions about whether you will pay for your prescriptions, please call the VA Eligibility office at (320) 255-6340

Does the VA have all the medications I need?
The VA pharmacy carries a wide variety of medications. Deciding which medications are the right ones for you is shared responsibility between you, your VA provider and your VA pharmacist.

Because the VA is not able to carry every medication available on the market, you may not get a particular brand name medication. Your provider and pharmacist will select the best medication for you.

Pharmacy Refill Line
1 (800) 661-0827

Pharmacy Message Line
(320) 255-6345

Non-VA Prescriptions - Patient Instructions

Some patients will choose to recieve medical care from both their community provider and a VA provider. This is called co-managed care.

Co-managed care policy: In order for a veteran to be considered for co-managed care, he/she must have a VA provider and be evaluated periodically.

The VA provider will decide whether co-managed care is appropriate and must be able to diagnose and treat the veteran's medical conditions.

It is the veteran's responsibility to keep the community provider apprised of his/her visits and treatment regime established with the VA provider. The veteran is responsible for obtaining and providing to the VA, all necessary records and documentation from the community provider.

INSTRUCTIONS:

To process your request for consideration of your prescription written by a community provider, you will need to submit the following information:

1. Copy of non-VA prescription
2. Copy of discharge summary if prescriptions are related to a recent hospitalization OR
3. A copy of provider's progress notes and lab results from the appointment at which the non-VA prescription was written

This information should be mailed to:

Triage Clerk (PM-136A)
VA Medical Center
4801 Veterans Drive
St.Cloud, MN 56303

Fax copies of the information will be accepted at (320) 255-6416