Out of your medication today? You can have a new prescription at your pharmacy in 1–2 hours for $45. A licensed nurse practitioner reviews your intake, verifies your current medication, and e-prescribes directly to your pharmacy. No urgent care. No ER bill.
Call 911 if: you're having seizures, chest pain, severe asthma, or adrenal crisis symptoms from missing meds
What counts as an "emergency" refill
Most prescription "emergencies" are one of four situations. None of them need an ER. All of them need a licensed provider to send a prescription fast.
You ran out. You took your last pill this morning (or yesterday), your next refill isn't due yet, and your prescriber's office is closed, not returning calls, or won't send one.
You lost them. Bottle left in a hotel room, stolen bag, kids got into the cabinet, meds went through the wash.
You're traveling. Out of state, away from your home pharmacy, transfers aren't working, and you need a few days' or a month's supply to get you through the trip.
You're locked out of your prescriber. Moved, insurance changed, PCP retired, lost a job, or the office you used to go to won't refill without an in-person visit you can't get for weeks.
If that's you, keep reading. If you're in active medical distress from a missed dose — seizure, severe asthma attack, cardiac symptoms, insulin crisis — skip this page and call 911.
What to do right now
1
Open the intake form. Go to bidwellhealth.com/bridge-refill-intake. Takes about 15 minutes. You'll need your current medication bottle nearby (take a photo of the label), your date of birth, your pharmacy's name and address, and a card for the $45.
2
Submit and wait 1–2 hours. A licensed U.S. nurse practitioner reviews your intake during business hours (8am–10pm ET, seven days a week). If everything checks out — and for stable chronic meds it usually does — the prescription is sent electronically to your pharmacy.
3
Pick up at your pharmacy. Most pharmacies fill within 30–60 minutes of receiving an e-prescription. Call ahead to your pharmacy if you want to confirm it arrived. Pay your normal pharmacy copay for the medication.
Outside business hours? If you submit after 10pm ET, your intake is queued and reviewed first thing the next morning. If you submit between 8am–10pm ET, reviews are typically completed within 1–2 hours.
Why $45 beats urgent care and ER for refill emergencies
Option
Cost
Time
Bidwell online refill
$45 flat
15-min intake + 1–2 hr review
Urgent care walk-in
$150–$300 + copay
1–3 hr wait + drive
Emergency room
$500–$2,000+
3–8 hr wait
Primary care same-day
$75–$200 copay (if available)
If you can even get in
Urgent care is built for new injuries and sick visits, not refills. Many urgent care providers won't refill medications they didn't originally prescribe. The ER is built for actual emergencies, not pharmacy logistics — and an ER bill for a refill will cost more than a year of Bidwell visits. For a non-emergency refill of a medication you've been stably taking, a $45 online visit is faster and cheaper than any in-person alternative.
Who can't use Bidwell for an emergency refill
This service is for refills of stable non-controlled chronic medications. We can't help if:
You need a controlled substance. Adderall, Vyvanse, Ritalin, Xanax, Ativan, Klonopin, Ambien, Lunesta, oxycodone, hydrocodone, tramadol, and similar medications cannot be refilled via online-only telehealth under current DEA rules. Call your original prescriber or an in-person urgent care.
You've never taken this medication before. Emergency refills are continuations of medications you've already been stabilized on. First-time prescriptions — new antidepressant, new blood pressure medication, new thyroid medication — need a full diagnostic evaluation.
You need a diagnosis, not a refill. If you're thinking "I've been feeling off and think I need [X] medication" — that's a new diagnosis visit, not an emergency refill. We do new visits for UTI, yeast, BV, ED, and hair loss; for other conditions, see a primary care provider.
Your medication was recently changed. If your prescriber adjusted your dose in the last 90 days and that change hasn't been confirmed, we can't refill without the updated records.
You're outside our 12 states. We're licensed in Florida, New York, Virginia, Washington, Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Iowa, Maryland, Montana, New Mexico, and Utah. You must be physically located in one of these states at the time of the visit.
When a missed dose is an actual medical emergency
Call 911 or go to the ER immediately if you're experiencing any of these from a missed medication:
Chest pain, severe shortness of breath, or blood pressure over 180/120 — after missing cardiac medications
Severe asthma attack — wheezing, can't complete sentences, lips turning blue, no rescue inhaler available
Signs of adrenal crisis — severe weakness, vomiting, confusion, low blood pressure — after missing prednisone or hydrocortisone
Signs of DKA — fruity breath, vomiting, extreme thirst, confusion — after missing insulin
Signs of severe withdrawal — especially from benzodiazepines, alcohol, or opioids
Suicidal thoughts — after missing SSRIs or other psychiatric medications. Call or text 988.
An online refill is for the space before these situations — to prevent them. If you're already in one, the ER has resources telehealth does not. Call 911.
Timeline: what actually happens when you click "start my refill"
0:00
You start the intake. Medical history, current medication, dose, pharmacy info, and a photo of your current pill bottle label.
0:15
You submit, pay $45, and get a confirmation email. Your intake goes to the review queue.
0:15 – 2:00
A licensed U.S. nurse practitioner reviews. They verify your medication against the label photo, confirm it's a standard chronic medication with no red flags, and approve or message you with questions.
2:00 – 3:00
Prescription sent electronically. Straight to the pharmacy you listed — CVS, Walgreens, Walmart, Publix, Kroger, Rite Aid, Costco, or any independent pharmacy with e-prescribing (essentially all of them).
2:30 – 4:00
You pick up. Pharmacy fills the prescription (usually 30–60 minutes). You pay your normal pharmacy copay for the medication. Done.
Medications we can refill on an emergency basis
Bidwell can prescribe 90-day refills of these stable chronic medications, assuming you've been on the same medication at the same dose for at least 3 months:
If your medication isn't on this list, you can still submit intake — the NP reviewing your case will tell you if it's something we can refill or if you need to see your primary care provider. We'll refund the $45 if we can't help.
Get your refill today — $45
Licensed in 12 states · 90-day supply · No insurance needed
How fast can I actually get an emergency prescription refill online?
During business hours (8am–10pm ET), most Bidwell emergency refills are reviewed within 1–2 hours. After NP approval, the prescription is sent electronically to your pharmacy, and most pharmacies fill within 30–60 minutes. Realistic total: under 3 hours from starting the intake to picking up at your pharmacy.
Is $45 really the total cost — no hidden fees?
Yes. $45 flat is the total visit cost. That covers the licensed NP review and the electronic prescription. Your pharmacy copay for the medication is separate — use pharmacy insurance, GoodRx, or cash-pay at the pharmacy for the fill itself.
What if the NP can't approve my refill?
If your request doesn't meet criteria — wrong medication type, missing info, something that needs a primary care provider — the NP will message you within the same 1–2 hour window. In most cases where we can't fulfill the refill, we refund the $45.
Can I get an emergency refill if I've never seen Bidwell before?
Yes. Bidwell is a first-visit-friendly service — no existing relationship required. During intake, you'll upload a photo of your current prescription bottle. The NP verifies the medication and dose against that label and your medical history, same as any bridge-refill service.
Does it matter which pharmacy I use?
No. Any licensed U.S. pharmacy with electronic prescribing works — CVS, Walgreens, Walmart, Publix, Kroger, Rite Aid, Costco, Sam's Club, and any independent pharmacy. Just give us the pharmacy name and address on the intake form.
What if I'm in a state Bidwell isn't licensed in?
We can only prescribe to patients physically located in Florida, New York, Virginia, Washington, Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Iowa, Maryland, Montana, New Mexico, or Utah. If you're in another state, try your home pharmacy for a same-chain transfer, call your prescriber, or look for a telehealth service licensed in your current state.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. "Emergency Preparedness for People with Chronic Conditions." cdc.gov
American Academy of Family Physicians. "Policy on Prescribing and the Physician-Patient Relationship." aafp.org
Drug Enforcement Administration. "Telemedicine Prescribing of Controlled Substances." dea.gov
Clinically reviewed by Bidwell Cranage, APRN, FNP-C, AANP board-certified Family Nurse Practitioner, licensed in 12 states. Last reviewed: April 20, 2026