CVS Pharmacy Specialty Services - Washington, District of Columbia

Markell W.

I ordered two drugs last month. My local CVS usually calls to tell me a prescription is ready, so I waited patiently. I finally gave up and went to CVS Specialty website.

It listed the 2 prescriptions with a note to “pick up by Dec 3.” I called my local CVS and the automaton said “No prescriptions on file.” So I left a message to ask whether they had it and sent it back or just didn’t get it yet.

They didn’t call me back for several hours, so I went back to the CVS Specialty website, which wouldn’t accept the same password I used this morning, and when I tried to. Make it my new password, it said “this password was already used.” No shit, Sherlock.

Your website said “It is important to manage stress” and “Type to ask your pharmacist a question” — but it doesn’t say WHERE to type. There’s no chat window, and clicking on the box with the “Type” instruction didn’t respond when I clicked on it.

Click phone on “contact us” and I get about: blank#blocked

Click the chat icon: back to the prescription page inviting me to leave a secure message.

Clicking on “Secure message” leads back to the prescription page.

Had to google for the phone #: “The number you have dialed is not in service” (202 588-0186).

I looked for another one and got 1-855-254-3239. I called it and got an African gentleman whose accent I couldn’t understand. When I asked him whether it was the CVS Specialty Pharmacy, he mumbled something about a free $100 promotion, asked for my first and last name. When I said, “I’m sorry—is this the CVS Specialty Pharmacy?” He said “Just a minute. I’ll get someone to help you. What is your first and last name?” It just didn’t sound like last time called.

A popup came up on my screen with the same out-of-service number, so I guess CVS Specialty Pharmacy won’t read this, but how can you say “manage your stress” when CVS specialty pharmacy left me an emergency message that a pharmacist needed to talk to me and that they were there all the time. They didn’t even call me back, though. I had to call again. (My neurologist had also ignored my call either.) But CVS pharmacy didn’t call me back last month, and the pharmacist Joseph—he was really pleasant—I guess that’s why he’s a big star, like Cher or Madonna, who don’t need last names—said that my doctor really should have called me back. And this was right after CVS Specialty had left a message saying “call us immediately, we’re here all the time.”

So at least stop ordering your patients to avoid stress. For one thing, that’s not clear advice. It’s not like we’d say “Ooh, good idea. I’ve tried to be stressful, but maybe I’ll try that.” For another thing, if everyone in the medical profession is going to ignore my calls, then they’re adding to the stress. And they should get rid of the kindergartener who is interning as the web master. So they should either stop doing that or stop telling us to relax.

J G.

This is a terrible company. If you try to use their online submission process, the file is always too large. So they tell you to print forms and fill them out and mail them in. I didn’t think we were still in 1950. Their only response to any email is a form letter telling you to print out their form and mail it in. I’m not sure why they call themselves a company that handles prescriptions. They apparently can’t without you doing their paperwork for them. It’s really sad a company operates like this in 2025.

Jessica S.

9 MONTHS OF APPEALS TO FINALLY GET MY DAUGHTER'S APPROVAL, RECEIVE THE APPROVAL THAT IS GOOD FOR A YEAR, ONLY FOR CVS CAREMARK TO DROP HER APPROVAL AGAIN AFTER JUST 2 MONTHS.
Year after year of the same games they play. All so they don't have to pay for the daily injections that she needs to live.
Hours and hours of phone calls. Some of the call center employees are amazing. Some are dismissive and awful. I have been dealing with the same frustrating process for 7 years now. No one should have to go through this.

Michelle C.

CVS Specialty is a nightmare to work with as a patient. Every single time I have called for an update, it was like starting all over and as if no one took any notes during my previous calls. I would constantly be transferred to different people who had to start from the beginning as well. My doctor's office has had the same experience. I was even once told after going back and forth with CVS Specialty, my insurance, and my doctor's office for weeks that I was suddenly "out of network," which wasn't even true at all. The rep kept apologizing for their "embarrassing" mistakes...which is a kind way of putting how incompetent the entire system is. Good lord. Shape up, CVS Specialty. It's not like people's health is on the line or anything!

Jessica B.

Cvs pharmacy is a nightmare. They caused significant delays in a very important prescription I needed. There was a lot of back and forth between me, the doctor’s office, the insurance, and CVS pharmacy. All confusion, miscommunication, and misinformation was caused by CVS pharmacy. I highly recommend using another pharmacy service. Every time I called, I got a different story. The whole experience was mentally taxing and completely unnecessary. The staff at the doctor’s office stated that they always have issues with cvs pharmacy and not other pharmacy companies.

Courtney K.

I really hope this review is being written in the correct place and I'm so sorry if it's not but over the last 2 days, I've had nothing but the most wonderful, validating experiences with the CVS Specialty Pharmacy.

My doctor's office has been putting off my reproductive health care for months on end. I finally had a conference call with the office manager there and a CVS rep to check on the status of ordering a prescription for me. The rep was nothing but kind and was quick to get a pharmacist on the phone to answer a couple of questions I had. The pharmacist was also amazing - she completely validated my thoughts and confirmed that my doctor's office had LIED to me. (The office manager then attempted to contradict EVERYTHING the pharmacist had *just* told us, in an attempt to confuse me. It did not work.)

I called back by myself not long after and spoke with Amber, who informed me of the options I had regarding this order. I was trying to change the delivery address so I would no longer have to deal with this doctor's office ever again, but unfortunately that couldn't be done. She was super kind in telling me that I could either have them call to change the delivery address (since they placed the order), or I could cancel the order entirely and have a new one placed by my future new provider.

Today, I decided to follow through on the second option. Today, I spoke with Aubrey, who had me in tears in the best possible way in less than 5 minutes on the phone. Aubrey is the absolute sweetest woman and I hope nothing but amazing things come her way for all the kind things she said to me. She completely empathized with my position, without me even really saying anything beyond "I will no longer be using them as my primary care physician". Aubrey heard the pain in my voice and she was the angel that I needed in my corner. Thank you Aubrey. I will never forget your kindness today. <3

Neha A.

The most incompetent business I've ever had the displeasure of working with. To schedule shipment of a medication that must be taken consistently, I had to call CVS Pharmacy exactly eight times, 2hour long conversations each, to a) figure out why they didn't know how to form a profile, and b) call each time that shipment wasn't made to my address. It's now two weeks since the date at which I was supposed to take my medicine, and CVS Specialty Pharmacy has failed to make shipment to my house thrice. For the love of God, unless you want to waste your precious time talking to idiots who don't understand how a simple shipment process works, please find another pharmacy.

Debora M.

I definitely recommend and give 5 stars. You went above and beyond to help us. My mom forgot few pills when she was packing to go to a vacation to another State and as soon as I noticed I called the pharmacy. They don’t ship directly to some states since it is not their jurisdiction. I was thinking about aborting our vacation trip or send mom back home. This second option would make me super worried. Although when I called, they told me they couldn’t ship directly, but they could transfer the prescription and the other CVS specialty pharmacy could send it. They came with a solution! We decided for this option and all went well. We got the meds and we are still on vacation.
I would like to say a BIG THANK YOU! You guys rock!!