Prescription Drugs Covered by Medi-Cal Rx
Prescription drugs given by a pharmacy are covered by Medi-Cal Rx, which is a Medi-Cal FFS program.
L.A. Care might cover some drugs a provider gives in an office or clinic. If your provider prescribes drugs given in the doctor’s office, infusion center, or by a home infusion provider, these are considered physician administered drugs.
If a non-pharmacy based medical health care professional administers a drug, it is covered under the medical benefit. Your provider can prescribe you drugs on the Medi-Cal Rx Contract Drugs List.
Sometimes, you need a drug not on the Contract Drugs List. These drugs need approval before you can fill the prescription at the pharmacy. Medi-Cal Rx will review and decide these requests within 24 hours.
- A pharmacist at your outpatient pharmacy may give you a 14-day emergency supply if they think you
need it. Medi-Cal Rx will pay for the emergency medicine an outpatient pharmacy gives. - Medi-Cal Rx may say no to a non-emergency request. If they do, they will send you a letter to tell you why.
They will tell you what your choices are.
Go to the Complaints page in the Reporting and Solving Problems section for more information.
To find out if a drug is on the Contract Drug List or to get a copy of the Contract Drug List, visit the Medi-Cal Rx website or call 1-800-977-2273 (TTY 800-977-2273 and press 5 or call 711).
Pharmacies
If you are filling or refilling a prescription, you must get your prescribed drugs from a pharmacy that works with Medi-Cal Rx.
You can find a list of pharmacies that work with Medi-Cal Rx in the Medi-Cal Rx Pharmacy Directory.
You can also find a pharmacy near you or a pharmacy that can mail your prescription to you by calling Medi-Cal Rx at 1-800-977-2273 (TTY 800-977-2273 and press 5 or 711).
Once you choose a pharmacy, take your prescription to the pharmacy. Your provider may also send it to the pharmacy for you.
- Give the pharmacy your prescription with your Medi-Cal Benefits Identification Card (BIC).
- Make sure the pharmacy knows about all medicines you are taking and any allergies you have.
- If you have any questions about your prescription, ask the pharmacist.
Members can also get transportation services from L.A. Care to get to pharmacies. To learn more about transportation services, visit the Transportation Benefits for Situations that are not Emergencies page.
Back to Other Medi-Cal Programs and Services page