Pharmacy
The Cal Poly Humboldt Student Health Center Pharmacy offers many prescription and non-prescription products at reduced costs to Humboldt students. Feel free to stop by or call (707) 826-5043 to ask our pharmacist questions about your medications, drug interactions, or product recommendations.
Pharmacy Hours
Emergency Contraception
Prescription Refills
Proper Disposing of Medications and Syringes
Get Birth Control Delivered: Nurx
Frequently Asked Questions about the Pharmacy
Pharmacy Hours
- Monday / Wednesday / Friday: 9:30am - 12:00pm; 1:30pm - 4:15pm
- Tuesday /Thursday: 10:00am - 12:00pm; 1:30pm - 4:15pm
- Pharmacy is closed daily for lunch and afternoon prep from 12:00pm to 1:30pm
- Pharmacy is closed on weekends, holidays, and during the Summer session - refer to Medical Clinic Student Calendar for hours during breaks and after finals
- NOTE: the In-House Pharmacy will be CLOSED on the following dates of the Fall 2024 semester in addition to weekends, holidays, and dates indicated on the Health Center Medical Clinic Student Calendar - updated 10/1/2024:
Thursday 10/3
Monday 10/7
Friday through Monday 10/18 through 10/21
Friday through Monday 11/1 through 11/4
Monday 11/18
Friday 12/2, 12/16
(above planned pharmacy closures NOT indicated on the Medical Clinic Student Calendar 2024-2025)
- Last day of pharmacy services for Fall 2024 semester will be Monday 12/23 from 9am to 12pm.
Please allow at least 40 minutes from the time your provider orders your prescription until it is ready for pick up.
When the pharmacy is closed on the days indicated above AND you want your student account billed, prescriptions can be sent to Barnes Arcata Family Drug (you will be CHARGED the Student Health Center Pharmacy price on your Student Center account).
- This is ONLY for In-House formulary prescription medications - NO over-the-counter or special orders.
- PICK UP the SAME DAY the medication is prescribed IF sent to Barnes for Student Account Billing - this student account billing service with Barnes Arcata Family Drug is ONLY available on the SPECIFIC DAYS that the In-House pharmacy is closed during regular pharmacy operating hours of the Student Health Center.
- Please be aware that student account billing for prescriptions received at Barnes Arcata Family Drug on In-House Pharmacy closure dates may be delayed up to a few months.
- FPACT prescriptions can be processed at ANY California retail pharmacy.
- If you are willing to wait until the pharmacy reopens, feel free to request your prescription to be filled at the In-House Pharmacy.
Emergency Contraception
Emergency contraception, also known as the “morning after pill,” is effective to help prevent pregnancy after unprotected intercourse if taken within 3 days (the sooner the better). The following are ways to obtain emergency contraception locally:
- Over-the-counter at the Humboldt on-campus pharmacy (no prescription needed) - $10 plus tax charged to your student account
- From one of the over-the-counter vending machines on campus - $11 cash or credit card - located 1) Nelson Hall East across from the Goodwin Forum, 2) next to the Housing Cashier on the third floor of the Jolly Giant Commons, or 3) in the College Creek Mail Room lobby, 4) on the first floor of the Student Activities Center (formerly University Center) next to the entrance of The Depot, and 5) in the Creekview Lounge.
- Over-the-counter at off-campus pharmacy (no prescription needed)- approximately $50
- Paid for by FPACT or other insurance (prescription REQUIRED; need to fill at an off-campus pharmacy if using insurance other than FPACT; may call the Student Health Center at (707) 826-3146 to inquire about a prescription).
Prescription Refills
If you have REFILLS remaining on your prescription from the Student Health Center Pharmacy, you can stop by the pharmacy window during business hours or call the pharmacist to request a refill at (707) 826-5043. Feel free to leave refill requests on voicemail- just make sure you have refills remaining on your In-house prescription and you clearly spell out your last name and provide a phone number you can be reached at. You will receive a text message when your prescriptin is ready to pick up. Most refill requests can be ready in about one hour and will remain in the ready bins for up to two weeks.
If your provider did not order refills, please call the Humboldt Health Center Clinic (707) 826-3146 to request a message be sent to your provider for a medication RENEWAL. Please allow for at least two business days for all medication renewal requests - do not wait until you are completely out of your medication. Depending on the medication, your provider may require that you schedule an appointment for medication renewals.
The Student Health Center Pharmacy does not call or fax for additional medication renewals from off-campus providers. A new prescription will need to be sent in electronically through Surescripts or faxed.
Proper Disposing of Medications and Syringes:
Frequently Asked Questions about the Pharmacy
When will my prescription be ready?
Most In-house prescriptions will be ready for pickup 40 to 60 minutes from the time it is transmitted by your provider - no text message will be sent. Please present your Cal Poly Humboldt student identification card for pick-up. Prescriptions not picked up within 2 weeks of request or transmission will be returned to stock. In California, non-controlled prescriptions are valid for one year from the original date; controlled prescriptions are valid for 6 months from the original date.
Text messages are NOT sent for the most In-House prescriptions - text messages are usually reserved for pharmacy voicemail refills, special orders, prescriptions from an off-campus provider, and return to stock notifications.
Do I need to fill the medications prescribed by the Student Health Center provider at the on-campus pharmacy?
No, students are NOT required to use the on-campus pharmacy. If a prescription is warranted upon evaluation, your Health Center provider can electronically send your prescription to the pharmacy of your choice. Our In-House Pharmacy does not bill any insurance (other than FPACT) and only has a limited formulary - feel free to call (707)826-5043 to inquire if we stock your medication.
Can someone else pick up my prescription for me?
Yes, the person picking up must have their own photo identification card AND the patient’s Humboldt student identification card or driver's license (a TEXTED photo is also acceptable).
Can I get a prescription from an outside provider filled at the Student Health Center Pharmacy?
Yes, our Student Health Center Pharmacy accepts all valid prescriptions from outside providers; however, we do have a LIMITED formulary and do not bill any third party insurance other than the California Family Planning, Access, Care, and Treatment (Family PACT) program. The charge is typically less than an off-campus retail pharmacy since we only charge our acquisition cost in addition to a $4 dispensing fee. Feel free to stop by or call the pharmacy at (707) 826-5043 during business hours to inquire if your prescribed medication is on our formulary.
Our pharmacy DOES NOT STOCK ANY SCHEDULE II CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES - such as hydrocodone (Vicodin, Norco), oxycodone (Oxycontin), methylphenidate (Ritalin, Concerta, Metadate CD, Jornay PM), lisdexamfetamine (Vyvanse), mixed amphetamine salts (Adderall), etc.
New prescriptions may sent electronically through SureScripts to "Humboldt SU Hlth Ctr Pharmacy" or faxed to (707) 826-5012 directly from the provider’s office.
How do I pay for my prescriptions?
All charges will be billed to your Cal Poly Humboldt Student Center that can be accessed through the campus portal myHumboldt. We do not accept any form of payment at the Student Health Center. You will usually see the charge within a few weeks of service date, and payment will be due within one month of posting date. The item description of the charge will be listed as “Health Center – Pharmacy” in the Account Activity tab. Please be aware that medications administered during your medical visit to the clinic are also charged under the same item description. You can pay in person at the Cashiers office on the second floor of the Student & Business Services (SBS) building or online via myHumboldt (online credit card payments are subject to a 2.75% service fee). A detailed receipt of the charges may be obtained in person at the Student Health Center Reception window - please present your Humboldt student identification card.
Can I use my private health insurance to pay for prescriptions filled at the on-campus pharmacy?
No, we do not accept any health insurance plans, other than Family PACT. Students will be charged out-of-pocket our acquisition cost in addition to a $4 dispensing fee.
What if I want to use my insurance to pay for my prescriptions?
Please inform your provider at the beginning of your visit. If a prescription is warranted upon evaluation, your provider can electronically send your prescription to the pharmacy of your choice.
Barnes Arcata Family Drug is 8 blocks away located at 1080 G Street in Arcata - closed on weekends.
CVS Arcata is 14 blocks away located at 600 F Street in Arcata (in the Safeway shopping center).
Does the pharmacy transfer prescriptions from off-campus pharmacies?
No, the Student Health Center Pharmacy does NOT transfer to or from other pharmacies. Special circumstances may warrant a transfer, but this will be at the sole discretion of the pharmacist. New prescriptions may sent electronically through SureScripts to "Humboldt SU Hlth Ctr Pharmacy" or faxed (707) 826-5012 directly from the provider’s office.
Do I need to be seen by a provider to get over-the-counter items from the pharmacy?
No, we have a variety of over-the-counter products to cover your basic healthcare needs available to all currently enrolled students; we cannot sell to staff, faculty, or the general public. We have products to relieve cold symptoms, seasonal allergies, constipation, heartburn, diarrhea, headache, etc., as well as basic first aid, pregnancy tests, and feminine products. The pharmacist will gladly help you select the proper over-the-counter product to relieve your symptoms. Please present your Humboldt student identification card. We do not accept any form of payment at the Student Health Center. All items will be charged to your Cal Poly Humboldt Student Center.
Can I purchase emergency contraception at the pharmacy?
Yes, emergency contraception is available over-the-counter to registered students. Currently, one dose is $10 plus tax charged to your Humboldt Student Center - please present your Humboldt student identification card. If you would like your Family PACT to cover your emergency contraception, please call the Humboldt Health Center Clinic line at (707) 826-3146 for a prescription. Emergency contraception is also available at one of the four over-the-counter vending machines on campus for $11 (cash or credit card) - located 1) in Nelson Hall East across from the Goodwin Forum, 2) next to the Housing Cashier on the third floor of the Jolly Giant Commons, 3) in the College Creek Mail Room lobby, 4) on the first floor of the Student Activities Center next to the entrance of The Depot, and 5) in the Creekview Lounge.