The CVS Caremark fax number depends on the plan. For Medicare Part D prior authorization, Caremark lists 1-855-633-7673. For Medicaid it lists 1-866-255-7569. Commercial (non-Medicare) requests on the Formulary Exception/Prior Authorization Request Form go to 1-888-836-0730. New mail order prescriptions on the FastStart form go to 1-800-378-0323, sent from the prescriber's secure fax line. If a Caremark letter or form gives a different number, use that one.

This guide covers each CVS Caremark fax number we verified on caremark.com, which plan type it belongs to, and the mistakes that send a request back to the prescriber.

  • Four verified numbers, each linked to the Caremark page or form it came from
  • Plan type decides the number: Part D, Medicaid, and commercial are handled separately
  • Prescriber faxes only for prior authorization and mail order prescriptions

Table of Contents

What CVS Caremark accepts by fax

CVS Caremark is a pharmacy benefit manager. It reviews drug coverage for employers, health plans, Medicare Part D plans, and Medicaid programs, and it runs a mail service pharmacy. Fax is still common for three kinds of paperwork:

  • Prior authorization and formulary exceptions. The prescriber asks the plan to cover a drug that needs approval or is not on the formulary.
  • Medicare Part D coverage determinations. The Part D version of a prior authorization or exception request.
  • New mail order prescriptions. A prescriber sends a maintenance prescription to CVS Caremark Mail Service Pharmacy.

Retail CVS Pharmacy stores are a different business with store-specific fax lines. Our pharmacy fax guide covers those.

Verified CVS Caremark fax numbers

Every number below appears on caremark.com. A number is listed only for the plan type its source names.

Verified November 2026:

Plan type What to fax Fax number Source
Medicare Part D Prior authorization requests (phone 1-855-344-0930) 1-855-633-7673 Caremark prior authorization page
Medicaid Prior authorization requests (phone 1-877-433-7643) 1-866-255-7569 Caremark prior authorization page
Non-Medicare (commercial) Formulary Exception/Prior Authorization Request Form 1-888-836-0730 Global PA form (PDF)
Non-Medicare (commercial) Request for a drug-specific criteria form 1-888-836-0730 Clinical PA criteria request form (PDF)
Mail order FastStart New Prescription Fax Form, non-controlled drugs only 1-800-378-0323 FastStart form (PDF)

A few notes:

  • Non-Medicare phone line. Caremark's prior authorization page lists 1-800-294-5979 for non-Medicare questions but no fax there. The 1-888-836-0730 fax comes from the forms themselves.
  • Drug-specific forms. Many health plans post their own Caremark forms with a different fax number printed on them. When you use one of those, fax it to the number on that form.
  • FastStart form age. The FastStart form carries a 2020 revision code. Caremark still hosts it, but confirm the number by phone if you have not sent one recently.
  • Electronic options. Caremark also takes electronic prior authorization (ePA), and mail order prescriptions can be e-prescribed to CVS Caremark Mail Order Electronic, NCPDP ID 0322038.

The number on your form or letter wins

Caremark manages benefits for thousands of plan sponsors, and many of them have custom forms, custom fax lines, or a different review team. That is why one rule matters more than the table above.

If a Caremark form, letter, or portal screen gives you a fax number, use it. That includes:

  • A denial letter. It names the appeals unit, fax number, and deadline for that member's plan. Appeals lines vary by plan and drug type, so we do not list a general one.
  • A drug-specific prior authorization form from the health plan's website.
  • A request for more information from Caremark about a pending case.

Sending a commercial request to the Medicare Part D line, or the other way round, does not get it forwarded quickly. It lands with a team that has no matching case.

How to fax CVS Caremark, step by step

  1. Identify the plan type. Check the member ID card. Medicare Part D, Medicaid, and employer or individual plans each route differently.
  2. Pick the right form. Commercial requests use the Formulary Exception/Prior Authorization Request Form or a drug-specific form. Part D requests use the plan's coverage determination form. Mail order prescriptions use FastStart.
  3. Complete every field. Patient name, date of birth, member ID, the drug and strength, diagnosis, and the prescriber's NPI, phone, and secure fax number.
  4. Attach the clinical evidence. Chart notes, drugs already tried and why they failed, and relevant lab results. Our prior authorization guide covers what reviewers look for.
  5. Fax from the prescriber's office. The prescriber signs prior authorization forms, and FastStart faxes are only accepted from a prescriber's secure fax line.
  6. Keep the confirmation with a copy of exactly what you sent.

If the practice does not have a fax machine handy, you can send a fax online for $2.99 with no subscription and no account. Remember that the FastStart mail order form must still come from the prescriber's own secure fax line, so check that requirement before using any other line for prescriptions.

Why Caremark faxes get sent back

Most delays come from a short list of avoidable problems:

  • Wrong plan line. A Part D request sent to the commercial fax, or the reverse.
  • Missing clinical notes. A form with only a diagnosis code rarely gets approved on the first pass.
  • Controlled substances on FastStart. The form is for non-controlled drugs only.
  • No urgent flag. If waiting the standard review time could seriously harm the patient, check the expedited box and have the prescriber sign the attestation.
  • Illegible pages. Faxes are black and white. Scan chart notes straight, in normal contrast, so small print survives.
  • Unsigned forms. The prescriber's signature and date are required on prior authorization requests.

A sent-back request costs days, not money, but those days matter when a patient is waiting for medication.

Faxing CVS Caremark comes down to three things: the right number for the plan type, a complete form with clinical support, and a confirmation you keep.

Fax your CVS Caremark documents now →

Frequently asked questions

What is the CVS Caremark prior authorization fax number?

It depends on the plan. Caremark's prior authorization page lists 1-855-633-7673 for Medicare Part D and 1-866-255-7569 for Medicaid. Its commercial Formulary Exception/Prior Authorization Request Form says to fax completed forms to 1-888-836-0730.

What is the CVS Caremark Medicare Part D fax number?

Caremark's prior authorization page lists fax 1-855-633-7673 and phone 1-855-344-0930 for Medicare Part D. Some Part D plans use their own forms or contact details, so check the member's plan materials first.

How does a doctor fax a prescription to CVS Caremark mail order?

The prescriber completes the FastStart New Prescription Fax Form and faxes it to 1-800-378-0323, or e-prescribes to CVS Caremark Mail Order Electronic (NCPDP ID 0322038). The form is for non-controlled drugs only and is accepted only from a prescriber's secure fax line.

Can a patient fax a prior authorization to CVS Caremark?

Prior authorization forms are completed and signed by the prescriber, so the request normally comes from the doctor's office. Patients can still ask their prescriber to submit one, and can appeal a denial using the instructions in the denial letter.

What fax number do I use to appeal a CVS Caremark denial?

Use the fax number printed in the denial letter. Caremark appeals are routed by plan and drug type, and the letter names the correct appeals unit and deadline for the member's plan.

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