Frequently Asked Questions

General Questions

Insurance Questions

Generic Drugs

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General Questions

• Why can't you fill my prescription that is more than a year old?
  Insurance company guidelines require us to have new prescriptions after one year from the date they were written by or called in by your doctor.

• How do I order a refill for my prescription?
  Prescription refills may be ordered in several ways: If a refill is to be ordered from the same pharmacy that you originally filled it at, you may:
  1. Call the phone number listed on the prescription bottle and follow the voice prompts.
  2. You may refill a prescription online from the same Sparrow Pharmacy Plus by clicking here and following the prompts to select the appropriate location.
  3. You can drop off your empty prescription vial, in person, to the pharmacy.

• What forms of payment are accepted?
  Cash, check and most types of credit cards are acceptable. Proof of identification will be necessary for payments other than cash.

• Why can't I have more than a 1-month supply?
  Most prescription insurance plans will have limits on the number of days supply of medication that can be dispensed with one co-pay. There are also limits on the quantities of controlled substances that can be dispensed at one filling. If a prescription is a cash transaction, reasonable supplies can be dispensed at one filling. Also, if your insurance company will pay for a larger quantity of medications for one copay, your doctor must write the prescription for the larger amount.

• Can I have my prescription delivered?
  Most prescriptions can be delivered within the Greater Lansing area. Payment must be received at the time of delivery and the patient or their designated representative must be available to sign for the receipt of the delivery.

• How do I transfer a prescription to another pharmacy?
  To transfer a prescription, call the pharmacy that you would like to transfer the prescription to and give them the number of the prescription you would like transferred. That pharmacy will call us and we will transfer the prescription to the other pharmacy by phone. Some controlled substance prescriptions cannot be transferred. Talk to your pharmacist for specific information.

• Can I transfer a prescription from another pharmacy to a Sparrow pharmacy?
  All Sparrow retail pharmacies are linked electronically. Prescriptions filled originally at one pharmacy can be filled at any other Sparrow retail pharmacy, including Sparrow Pharmacy Plus Pharmacies and the Sparrow in-hospital Retail Pharmacy on Sparrow's first floor. There are certain limitations on refilling controlled substance prescriptions, so please check with your pharmacy for details.

• How long will it take to fill my prescription?
  Most prescriptions can be filled within 15 minutes if there are no complications. Compounded prescriptions will take longer. Expired, no refill prescriptions will need a doctor contact to refill and will take longer. Please check with your pharmacist for specific information for your prescription order.

• What should I know about a new prescription from my doctor?
  You should know what the prescription is for and how to take the medication. Your pharmacist will review your medication for you and see that no other medications that you are taking will cause problems with the new medication. It is important that you have all your prescriptions filled at one pharmacy for this reason.

• Why does my medication cost more this time than when I was in last month?
  Drug prices are not fixed and can increase as manufacturing costs increase or be reduced, as drugs become available generically.

• What should I do if I miss a dose of my medication?
  Instructions for what to do under these circumstances vary by medication. Please check with your pharmacist for specific instructions for each of your medications.
• Do I take my medication with or without food?
  Each medication will differ as to whether it should be taken with food. Labels will frequently be placed on your prescription bottle to help you understand your specific situation. Also, patient information sheets are provided with each new prescription for your reading. And, as always, our pharmacists are available to answer any questions you may have about your prescriptions purchased at our pharmacies.

• When do I take my prescription?
  Medications will differ as to what time of day give the best results. Consult with your pharmacist for specific information on what is best for your prescription.

• Where do I store my medication?
  Medications should be stored in a cool dry place, away from sunlight. Medications such as insulin should be kept cool and not subjected to direct sunlight. Bathrooms where showers or tubs are frequently used are not a good place for medication storage. Special storage instructions are contained on your patient information sheets. If you have questions about prescriptions you've purchased at our pharmacies, please consult our pharmacists.

• How do I get my medication refilled? Do I have to see my doctor?
  Under normal circumstances, a simple call to your doctor will suffice. You, as the patient may call, or you may ask our pharmacy team to call for you. In some cases, your physician will require you to personally call or visit them to update your condition before renewing your prescription.

• What should I do when the pharmacy is closed?
  If our Sparrow Pharmacy Plus Pharmacies are closed, you may refill your prescription at the outpatient pharmacy at Sparrow Hospital on the first floor of the main hospital building. Our computers do communicate with each other for exactly that purpose.

• Can a friend pick up my prescription?
  If someone other than a family member is picking up a prescription for you, please call the pharmacy and advise them that you have given that person permission to pick up your prescription and sign for it. HIPAA regulations require that prescriptions be picked up by the person the prescription is written for or their designee.

• Can my doctor call in a prescription?
  Most prescriptions may be called in by your doctor. There are certain exceptions. Please consult your doctor or pharmacist for details.

• How soon can I get a refill?
  Your medication supply should last a specific number of days based on the type of prescription and the dosage. If you need to refill your prescription early and have a valid reason for doing so, our pharmacists can usually take care of that situation.

• What are compounded prescription drugs?
  Compounded prescriptions are those which your physician wants your pharmacist to custom make specifically for you, a formula that is not commercially available. These compounds are hand fabricated by your pharmacist and take much longer to prepare than those that are manufactured by various pharmaceutical companies.

Insurance Questions

• How much is my co-pay?
  If you have prescription insurance, your co-pay will depend on your insurance plan. Please consult your health insurance human resources documents or call your insurance company or human resources department for details.

• Do you accept my insurance?
  Sparrow Pharmacy Plus accepts MOST area insurance plans. In the event of special circumstances, we usually can arrange coverage with a few simple phone calls.

• Does my insurance cover this medication?
  As is the case with co-pays, insurance plans will vary on what drugs they cover. Please consult your health insurance human resources documents or call your insurance company or human resources department for details.

Generic Drugs

• What is the difference between brand and generic medication?
  Prescription drugs are protected by patent. Those patents last for 17 years from the discovery of the drug. After the patent expires, other drug companies can copy the formula for a medication and produce it much more cheaply than the brand price. The active ingredient in generic medications is exactly the same as the active ingredient in the brand drug.

• Why is there a cost difference between brand and generic medication?
  Drug companies are for profit companies. Creating a new drug entity is an extremely expensive undertaking. Drug companies recoup their expenses and make a profit by keeping drugs on patent and recouping their development expenses. They also expect to make a profit for their efforts during the time the drug is on patent.

• Is there a generic drug for my medication?
  Ask your physician or pharmacist if there is a generic medication that will meet your needs. Some medications are already off patent and are available generically. Your doctor can help you make a proper decision.

• Why are some drugs not available as a generic?
  Some medications are not available generically because their patent has not expired.