How to Transfer a Prescription to a Compounding Pharmacy
Moving a prescription to a compounding pharmacy is mostly paperwork the pharmacy does on your behalf. Here is what the process actually looks like, what to have in front of you before you start, and how insurance, cash pricing, and shipping are handled.
The short answer
You generally do not need to call your current pharmacy yourself. Submit the secure transfer form at /rx-transfer with your medication and current pharmacy details, and ProCompounding handles the outreach. A ProCompounding representative contacts you within 24-48 hours after the form is submitted to confirm the details and walk you through what happens next.
Transfer vs. a New Prescription
A prescription for a commercially manufactured medication can usually move pharmacy-to-pharmacy: the two pharmacies contact each other and the remaining refills follow you. That is the simple case, and it is the one most people picture when they think of a transfer.
A custom compounded formulation often works differently. Because a compounded preparation is made to a prescriber's specification for one patient, the prescription typically has to describe that specific preparation — the strength, the base, and the dosage form. If the prescription you have on file does not spell that out, the pharmacist may need to contact your prescriber to obtain one that does, rather than pulling it from your old pharmacy.
You do not need to work out which situation applies before you start. Submit the request with what you know, and the pharmacist will tell you which applies to your medication. You can read more about how our compounding works on our services page.
What to Have Ready
- Patient name and date of birth
- Medication name and strength
- Current pharmacy name and phone number
- Prescriber name and phone number
- Insurance card, if you want insurance billed
- Whether you want the medication shipped or want to pick it up in Johnson City
A written prescription from a licensed practitioner — or a veterinarian, for an animal patient — is required for any compounded medication.
The Transfer, Step by Step
- 1
Gather your details
Collect the checklist above so the transfer request is complete the first time. A complete pharmacy phone number and prescriber name are what let us start the outreach right away.
- 2
Submit the secure transfer form
Fill out the secure prescription transfer form. A ProCompounding representative contacts you within 24-48 hours after submission. Start a prescription transfer.
- 3
We contact your pharmacy or prescriber
Depending on what you are taking, we reach out to your current pharmacy to move the remaining refills, or to your prescriber to obtain a prescription written for the compounded preparation.
- 4
A pharmacist reviews and confirms cost
One of our pharmacists reviews the formulation - strength, base, and dosage form - and goes over with you whether the preparation can be billed to insurance or filled as a cash option.
- 5
We compound, then ship or hold for pickup
The preparation is compounded in our Johnson City lab with a 48-hour turnaround on most compounds, then shipped to you or held at the pharmacy for pickup.
Insurance, Cash, and Worker's Comp
ProCompounding is contracted with a large number of insurance providers and can bill many compounded formulations. We are accredited for billing through FocuScripts, and you are responsible only for the copay your insurance assigns.
If a compounded medication is not covered, our team works with you and your prescriber to find a covered option. Where insurance is not billable, affordable cash options are available — a pharmacist confirms the cost with you before anything is compounded.
We accept all major credit cards, checks, money orders, and cash. Worker's compensation is also accepted, and our team routinely works with Department of Labor and Department of Energy claims.
Compounded medications are prepared for an individual patient on a valid prescription and are not FDA approved for safety or efficacy.
Transferring From Out of State
A compounding pharmacy can only dispense into states where it holds a license. ProCompounding is licensed in 49 states plus the District of Columbia — every state except Kansas — so patients in those states can transfer to us. See where we are licensed.
We compound at a single physical location in Johnson City, Tennessee. Patients outside the area receive their medications by shipping; patients in and around East Tennessee may pick up at the pharmacy instead. Let us know which you prefer when you submit your transfer request, and our team will confirm it with you.
Choosing between pharmacies for hormone therapy specifically? Our buyer's guide to hormone compounding pharmacies covers accreditation, testing, and dosage forms, and our quality standards page covers PCAB/ACHC accreditation, USP 795 and USP 800 compliance, and third-party potency testing.
After the Transfer: Refills
Once your prescription is on file, refills are requested online at /rx-refill. Requesting a few days ahead gives us room for the 48-hour turnaround we hold on most compounds. More answers are on our FAQ page.
Prescription Transfer FAQ
Ready to Transfer Your Prescription?
Submit the secure transfer form and a ProCompounding representative will contact you within 24-48 hours. Prefer to talk it through first? Call us and a team member will walk you through it.