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The VA operates seven Consolidated Mail Outpatient Pharmacy (CMOP) centralized hubs that efficiently distribute prescription medications and related supplies to veterans across the country. |
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Consolidated Mail Outpatient Pharmacy (CMOP) centralizes and streamlines the prescription fulfillment process primarily for drugs but also for certain medical supplies and certain medical devices to our nation’s veterans. CMOPs are specialized facilities designed to handle large-scale prescription processing. By centralizing operations through one of seven CMOPs the VA achieves economies and efficiencies of scale for its mail-order prescription distribution system.
When a veteran's healthcare provider prescribes a medication, the prescription can be electronically transmitted to the local facility pharmacy or to a CMOP based on a matrix of factors. Urgency is always the first factor as it generally takes a CMOP 5 to 10 business days from receipt of prescription to final delivery. A medication requiring specialized handling, such as a controlled substance, or a medication with complex dosing instructions are generally not suitable for fulfillment through the CMOP system. If the provider directs the prescription to a CMOP, a team that includes VA pharmacists review the prescription to ensure accuracy and appropriateness before the medication is prepared and shipped directly to the veteran's home. Additionally, the CMOPs offer features such as prescription refills and medication adherence programs.
CMOPs typically source the medications they distribute through the VA Prime Vendor in order to leverage the buying power of the entire VA healthcare system. Utilizing the VA Prime Vendor streamlines the purchasing process to ensure timely receipt of the large quantities needed to fulfill the mail-order demand. However, CMOPs also maintain their own purchasing authorities to source products through open market solicitations when the VA Prime Vendor is out of stock or for certain items not available through the VA Prime Vendor.
While CMOPs are primarily focused on the distribution of prescription medications, they also handle certain medical supplies and medical devices. For example, CMOPs may distribute a specific injection device or a nebulizer along with a medication. CMOPs may also distribute common or simple medical devices such as blood pressure monitors or glucose meters since these types of items are directly related to a prescribed medication.
CMOPs offer several key benefits to veterans including the convenience of at-home delivery and lower prescription costs compared to traditional retail pharmacies. The most similar type of entity in the commercial market is Express Scripts. CMOPs, at their core function, are often referred to as the backbone of the VA prescription distribution process.