Healthy Skepticism Library item: 7829

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

Mangino MH, Ptachcinski RJ, Hrinya M, Stdenis J.
Five year experience with a medication acquisition cost reduction program for the indigent
ASHP Midyear Clinical Meeting 2001 Dec; 36:

Abstract:

Rising medication costs have threatened the ability of institutional pharmacies to support charity care programs. This project describes the progression of a university-based indigent care drug program over a 5-yr period. Recovery dollar amounts documented for institutions with similar charity care programs range from $400,000 to $1,000,000 annually. Improvements made to our program to increase our yield included utilizing all Pharmaceutical Manufacturer’s Assistance Programs (PMAPs) relevant to patient drug therapy, development of a low-cost alternative drug formulary, and allowing drugs to be purchased immediately by eligible patients at a discounted rate. With these improvements, dollars recovered has increased to $500,000 per year. These improvements also have expanded the original limited service program, making it a cost effective means of assuring care to the indigent population. The program was restructured to tap the full potential of existing patient assistance programs and resources, establishing a method to foster compliance by providing greater access to medications and include affiliated outpatient clinics. Our program is a cost effective method of making prescriptions available to indigent patients and one that operates within the limits of budgetary restraints. Future plans include measuring the impact on readmissions previously caused by noncompliance, and a possible expansion to a community venture.