Pharmacy
Find out how to refill your prescriptions, where to pick up new prescription orders and how to safely dispose of your medicines at a Jonathan M. Wainwright VA Memorial VA Medical Center.
Billing Changes for the Jonathan M. Wainwright VA Pharmacy
As you know, pharmacy copayments had been paused for all Veterans in our health care system and VA clinics during the transition to the new Federal electronic health record system. After pausing pharmacy copays during this transition, VA will now resume charging copayments for outpatient pharmacy services in October. On your November statement, you will see required copayment charges for pharmacy medications dispensed on or after October 1, 2024. From then on, your pharmacy copayment charges will be seen on the next month's statement – just as would happen for Veterans receiving care and pharmacy benefits from any other VA medical center. (Please note: At this time, VA is working with Congress and Veterans Service Organizations (VSOs) to explore all debt relief options for uncollected copays. For those copays, there is no action needed at this time.)
What is changing?
After pausing pharmacy copays since 2022, VA will now resume charging copays for outpatient pharmacy services. Pharmacy copays were paused for all Veterans in the system during the deployment of the Federal electronic health record (EHR) system.
What does this mean for Veterans?
Veterans will begin to see a resumption of their Pharmacy copayment charges on an upcoming billing statement. Specifically, on their November statement, they will see required copayment charges for pharmacy medications dispensed on or after October 1, 2024. Thereafter, subsequent pharmacy copayment charges will be seen on the next month's statement - just as would happen for Veterans receiving care and pharmacy benefits from any other VA medical center. VA's Health Resource Center will offer support to Veterans who may have concerns regarding pharmacy billing.
Why did VA pause on collecting retroactive copayments?
We are evaluating all available options to mitigate the impact that retroactive copayment debts may have on Veterans. This includes additional discussions on the best path forward with Congress and VSO partners.
What if I can't pay my bill?
If Veterans have any concerns about paying copayments, VA offers several debt relief options, including repayment plans, compromise, or waiver. If they have questions about their statement or need assistance with medical debt relief, they can contact the Health Resource Center at 866-400-1238 Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. – 8 p.m. ET. Information for Veterans about managing their VA debt for copay bills is available at https://www.va.gov/manage-va-debt/. Additional Information for Veterans about VA debt relief for copay bills is available at https://www.va.gov/health-care/pay-copay-bill/financial-hardship/.
Which Veterans will be impacted?
All Veterans who obtained medications and are copay required.
Refill your prescriptions
Your VA health care benefits include prescription medicines and medical supplies prescribed by your VA health care team.
Be sure to order your refills at least 10 days before your supply runs out.
We mail most prescription refills through the U.S. Postal Service. For medicines that need to be kept refrigerated, or certain types of medical supplies, we may send your order through FedEx or UPS.
Online refills
With our VA Prescription Refill and Tracking tool, you can refill your VA prescriptions, track their delivery, and create lists to organize your medicines.
My VA Health: https://patientportal.myhealth.va.gov
Phone refills (automated refill line)
509-525-5200, select 1
888-687-8863, select 1 (toll free from outside the Walla Walla area)
Mail refills
Mail back the refill request form that comes with your prescription to the provided address.
Note: Please don’t drop off the form at the pharmacy when you pick up your new prescription. We can’t process refill requests on the same day that new prescriptions are picked up.
Pick up new prescriptions
You can pick up new prescription orders at the Jonathan M. Wainwright VA pharmacy on the Walla Walla campus (77 Wainwright Drive, Walla Walla, WA).
We ask that you don't try to refill prescriptions in person, so our pharmacists can focus on providing care to Veterans with urgent needs and new prescriptions. Refills are only available online, by phone or mail.
Jonathan M. Wainwright Memorial VA Medical Center
Outpatient Pharmacy
Building 143
First floor
Map of Jonathan M. Wainwright campus
Hours: Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. PT
Tuesday, 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. PT
Contact us with questions about your prescriptions
Pharmacy support
Phone: 509-525-5200, select 1 and then select 2
Hours: Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. PT
Tuesday, 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. PT
Safely dispose of your medicine
Drop off your expired or unwanted medicine at a MedSafe box. Disposing of your medicines safely can help protect other people as well as the environment.
You can find the large blue MedSafe boxes at:
- Jonathan M. Wainwright Memorial VA Medical Center, Building 143, 1st floor (in the main lobby)