Final preparations are underway at Ackerman Union for the Dec. 12 “soft opening” and Jan. 9 grand opening of the new Bruin Health Pharmacy, serving students seen at the UCLA Arthur Ashe Student Health and Wellness Center. Faculty and staff will also be able to fill prescriptions at the pharmacy starting in Fall 2017.
Relocating from its longtime home at the Ashe Center, the pharmacy is being been expanded to better serve its thousands of student customers, said John Bollard, Ashe Center chief of operations. Located on the Ackerman Union A-Level just up the steps on the northwest corner of the building, the pharmacy will offer a full range of prescription medications and more than 70 over-the-counter medications.
While the Ashe Center is eager to open the pharmacy to faculty and staff as well, said Bollard, a decision was made to wait until next fall because “we want sure we do it right rather than quickly.” Insurance will be accepted from two UC employee medical plans, UC Care and Health Net Blue & Gold, both of which cover medical care by all UC medical centers and UC medical groups as well by selected hospitals and providers outside of the UC system. Both plans will feature the Bruin Health Pharmacy on their preferred pharmacy list, making it easy for physicians to arrange for prescriptions, said Bollard, who added that insurance from additional UC medical plans may be accepted at a future date.
This is the second Ashe Center facility to relocate to expanded facilities at Ackerman Union. In June 2014, U See LA, a full-service optometry clinic, opened at a location adjacent to the UCLA Store.
