Healthy Skepticism Library item: 7766

Warning: This library includes all items relevant to health product marketing that we are aware of regardless of quality. Often we do not agree with all or part of the contents.

Publication type: Journal Article

Thornton RA, Hamilton S, Helmeczi AW.
Effective utilization of manufacturer's indigent medication reimbursement programs and patient financial screening to reduce financial losses in an ambulatory pharmacy setting.
ASHP Summer Meeting 2002; 59:36

Abstract:

Facing the likelihood of reduced funding for indigent patient care, managing ambulatory prescription costs for the indigent patient population has become a critical need for Pharmacy administrators within institutions providing outpatient prescription services to this population. At our institution, over 130,000 prescriptions are dispensed annually under our indigent prescription program at a significant dollar loss to the organization. To address this loss, a multi-disciplinary process was developed to efficiently and effectively utilize the indigent medication reimbursement programs offered by the pharmaceutical manufacturers. Through utilization of a web-based pharmaceutical manufacturer reimbursement program resource site, dedicated Pharmacy reimbursement staff, and the institutions patient assistance and social services departments, the Pharmacy has reduced its indigent prescription services dollar loss by over one million dollars annually. The results of this program will strengthen our institution’s ability to continue to provide this service to our community.