MEDICATION REFILLS
Medications can not be refilled via SMS/texting. This is due to the following HIPAA policies.
Access to PHI must be restricted to authorized users who require the information to perform their work duties.
A system must be put in place to monitor the activity of authorized users when accessing PHI.
Those with authorization to access PHI must confirm their identities with a unique, centrally-issued username and PIN.
Policies and procedures must be established to stop PHI from being inappropriately changed or destroyed.
Data transmitted beyond an organization’s internal firewall must be encrypted to make it unusable if it is intercepted in transit.
You can ask your provider for clarification on these government policies.
There are other reasons we will be doing refills via the patient portal.
It is more secure
It allows for faster refills as our providers will only have to check one place.
It allows for faster refills as our providers can cover for each other when one is not working and administrative staff can speed up the process.
It avoids the pitfalls of texting, like the inability to reply outside of business hours and the high likelihood that messages can be missed/marked as read
You can always access our portal at makeyourturn.com/portal. You can call or text the office number to get help accessing your portal.
Here is the full medications policy…
Medication Management Policy
Purpose: To ensure safe, effective, and timely psychiatric medication management for all clients receiving services from our Physician Associate (PA) and Nurse Practitioner (NP) providers.
1. Medication Refill Requests
All medication refill requests must be submitted through the official patient portal.
Requests should be made at least three (3) business days in advance of when medication is needed; one (1) week in advance is ideal to allow for provider review, pharmacy processing, insurance requirements like prior authorizations, and any necessary coordination.
Refill requests made through other means like voicemail, email, or text message will not be processed.
2. Appointment Requirements
Follow-up appointments are required whenever a medication is started, stopped, or dosage is changed.
Controlled substances require a follow-up appointment at least every 3 months for continued prescriptions.
Non-controlled medications require a follow-up appointment at least every 6 months to ensure safety and efficacy.
Clients who do not attend these visits may experience delays or interruptions in medication refills.
3. Appointment Duration
Medication management appointments are typically 15–20 minutes, as this duration aligns with insurance expectations and reimbursement standards.
While therapy sessions are often 45–60 minutes, medication management visits are more narrowly focused on assessment, treatment planning, and prescribing.
Certain diagnoses or insurance plans may allow and/or require extended visits; your provider will inform you if this applies to your care.
4. Communication Between Appointments
Our therapists typically maintain a caseload of around 20 clients, while medication management providers maintain hundreds of clients simultaneously.
As a result, providers cannot routinely respond to portal messages requesting clinical advice between appointments.
Concerns, side effects, or medication-related questions should be discussed by scheduling an earlier appointment.
For emergencies, clients should call 911 or go to their nearest emergency department.
5. Missed or Late Appointments
Missed or late appointments may result in a delay in medication refills or treatment continuation.
Please review the Missed Appointment and Late Cancellation Policy for details on associated fees and procedures.
6. Coordination of Care
Clients are responsible for informing their provider of any medication changes made by outside prescribers.
Our medication management providers will collaborate with other members of your care team as needed to ensure safe and coordinated treatment.