Out of your medication? Start a $45 online bridge-refill visit for eligible stable medications. A licensed clinician reviews your intake, verifies your current medication, and e-prescribes when clinically appropriate. No urgent care or ER bill for eligible refills.
Bridge-refill fit: Review Bidwell's online bridge refill page first if you need eligibility rules, refill limits, excluded medications, or pharmacy workflow before starting.
Call 911 if: you're having seizures, chest pain, severe asthma, or adrenal crisis symptoms from missing meds
What counts as an "emergency" refill
A missing prescription can create an urgent problem, but the safest next step depends on the medication, how long you have been without it and any symptoms. The situations below may fit a bridge-refill review only when you are otherwise stable. A pharmacist may also be able to help with an existing refill or transfer.
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, or medication damaged in the wash. Suspected accidental ingestion is a separate urgent safety issue, not a routine refill request.
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 a few 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 online visit.
2
Submit your intake for review. A licensed U.S. clinician reviews your intake 7 days a week, including weekends. If the clinician finds the refill appropriate, the prescription is sent electronically to your pharmacy. Approval is not guaranteed.
3
Pick up at your pharmacy. Pickup timing varies. Call your pharmacy if you want to confirm it arrived. Medication is separate; confirm the insurance, cash or discount-card price with the pharmacy.
Late-night submissions? If you submit late overnight, your intake is queued for review the next day. Reviews happen 7 days a week, including weekends.
Why $45 online refill visits can beat urgent care and ER for refill emergencies
Option
Cost
Time
Bidwell online refill
$45 visit; medication separate
Online review 7 days a week; no fixed approval time
Urgent care walk-in
Ask the clinic about self-pay or insurance costs
Contact the location for availability
Emergency room
Charges depend on the evaluation and coverage
Triage depends on clinical urgency
Primary care prompt visit
Depends on coverage and the practice
Ask about coverage when your usual clinician is away
Choose care based on the problem as well as cost. A stable medication gap may fit an online review; new symptoms, missing monitoring or an uncertain diagnosis can require an in-person visit. Emergency symptoms need emergency care without waiting for a refill decision.
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. Bidwell does not prescribe controlled substances (including pregabalin, a federal Schedule V medication) or bridge gabapentin or Fioricet. Contact your usual prescriber about an appropriate care option. Other telehealth services may have different prescribing options; DEA telemedicine rules have separate requirements.
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. Bidwell has separate visit pathways for UTI, yeast, BV, ED, hair loss, recurrent cold sores or genital herpes, travel care, eyelash growth and epinephrine auto-injector refills. Each has its own eligibility rules; herpes and epinephrine visits require a prior diagnosis. Explore available visits. For a condition outside those services, contact primary care.
Your medication was recently changed. Medications started within the last six months or doses changed within the last three months are outside our published bridge-refill criteria. Follow up with your usual prescriber.
You're outside our 11 states. We're licensed in Florida, 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 stroke symptoms — seek emergency help whether or not you missed medication. A blood pressure above 180 systolic and/or 120 diastolic together with new concerning symptoms is also an emergency
Severe asthma attack — struggling to breathe or speak, blue lips, or symptoms that are not relieved by your prescribed rescue medicine. Having an inhaler does not make these warning signs safe to wait on. See NIH asthma guidance.
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 not an emergency service. For a nonpregnant adult with a reading above 180 systolic and/or 120 diastolic but no new concerning symptoms, repeat it after at least one minute; if it remains that high, contact a healthcare professional promptly rather than waiting in the refill queue. See American Heart Association guidance. Emergency symptoms require immediate help, regardless of the blood pressure number.
What happens after you start a refill visit
1
You start the intake. Medical history, current medication, dose, pharmacy info, and a photo of your current pill bottle label.
2
You submit, pay the $45 online visit, and get a confirmation email. Your intake goes to the review queue.
3
A licensed U.S. clinician reviews. They assess the medication, dose, history and safety information, and may ask follow-up questions before deciding whether a refill is appropriate.
4
Prescription sent electronically. If prescribed, it goes to your chosen pharmacy. Confirm that the pharmacy can receive and fill the prescription; sending it does not establish stock or pickup readiness.
5
You pick up. Pharmacy fill timing varies. You pay your normal pharmacy copay or cash price for the medication.
Medication examples for a stable bridge-refill review
Examples below may fit a bridge-refill review; they are not automatic approvals. Bidwell's published limits exclude medications started within six months and dose changes within three months, and require current monitoring when needed. If appropriate, a clinician may prescribe up to 90 days.
Sildenafil / tadalafil for ED: use the separate ED visit; these are not accepted by the bridge-refill visit.
Topical medicines: exact medication and indication require review. Check current service availability rather than assuming all skin treatments are offered.
Gout maintenance: allopurinol, colchicine
Statins and similar lipid meds not listed above
If your medication isn't on this list, you can still submit intake — the clinician 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 visit fee if we can't help.
Start your refill visit
Licensed in 11 states · eligible bridge refill · no insurance billing
How fast can I actually get an emergency prescription refill online?
Bidwell emergency refills are reviewed 7 days a week, including weekends. If approved, the prescription is sent electronically to your pharmacy; timing depends on clinician review and pharmacy processing.
Is a $45 online visit really the total visit cost — no hidden fees?
Yes. The cash-pay $45 online visit is the total visit cost. That covers the licensed clinician review and, if clinically appropriate, 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 clinician will message you after review. If online care is not appropriate, the $45 visit fee is refunded.
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?
You choose the pharmacy. Confirm it can receive and fill the prescription, then enter its current name and address in the secure visit. Stock, price, shipping and pickup times are controlled by the pharmacy.
What if I'm in a state Bidwell isn't licensed in?
We can only prescribe to patients physically located in Florida, 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. "Telehealth and Telemedicine." aafp.org
Drug Enforcement Administration. "Telemedicine Prescribing of Controlled Substances." dea.gov
Originally clinically reviewed by Bidwell Cranage, APRN, FNP-C, AANP board-certified Family Nurse Practitioner, licensed in 11 states. Original review date: April 20, 2026