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San Mateo County ACE Program

Prescriptions & Pharmacies

Covered medicines

  • Brand and generic medicines prescribed by your doctor that are in the ACE Formulary (below)
  • Non-formulary medicines that your doctor prescribes and gets prior authorization for from HPSM
  • Some over-the-counter medicines may be covered if you have a doctor's prescription

Medicines not covered

  • Over-the-counter medicines that do not require a doctor's prescription
  • Dietary supplements
  • Medicines for breast, cervical or prostate cancer
  • Birth control
  • Experimental medicines

Participant cost

Co-pay for covered medicines is $7.

Patient Assistance Programs (PAP)

When you are seen by a specialist physician, and he/she prescribes a specialty medicine (usually a high cost specialized prescription medicine) there may be an opportunity for you to qualify for the medicine manufacturer’s Patients Assistance Program (PAP). You would need to apply for the PAP, and if approved by the PAP, you may be able to get the prescription medicines at a very low or at no cost to you. Talk to your doctor or specialist to get more information and how to apply for the PAP.

Pharmacy network

Prescriptions are covered only if they are filled at a network pharmacy linked to your primary care provider (PCP) clinic. Your prescription will not be approved at a pharmacy that is not on your clinic’s list.

If your prescription is denied at the pharmacy, call your doctor. Your doctor needs to request a prior authorization from HPSM to get coverage for that medicine by filling out the Pharmacy Prior Authorization Request Form and faxing it to 650-829-2045. Your physician’s approval is required.

If your assigned PCP clinic is part of the San Mateo Medical Center network (except Coastside Clinic), you can go to any pharmacy that is in the SMMC pharmacy network.

Network Pharmacies

If you are assigned to North East Medical Services (NEMS), Coastside Clinic, or Ravenswood Family Health Center, your prescriptions are accepted only at the PCP linked pharmacies.

PCP Linked Pharmacies

Search for a covered medicine

 Search

Use the search form to find a covered medicine by generic or brand name, or view all medicines within a category

For more information about ACE Program prescriptions and pharmacies, refer to section 4 of the San Mateo County ACE Participant Handbook. To order a printed ACE Participant Handbook, email CustomerSupport@hpsm.org or call Member Services.