Rx Partnership, a statewide nonprofit dedicated to supporting access to medications for uninsured Virginians, was recently awarded a grant from the Williamsburg Community Foundation to support a new program that focuses on helping patients at free clinics and community health centers receive free or low-cost generic medication to treat a variety of chronic conditions. Rx Partnership’s Access to Medication Program (AMP) centralizes pharmacy services to reduce cost and create efficiency, allowing more uninsured Virginians to access the medications they so desperately need.
“Rx Partnership created AMP to alleviate the financial burden that generic medications can create for both clinics and patients,” said Amy Yarcich, executive director of Rx Partnership. “Currently, either a clinic bears the cost of the prescriptions for patients, which impacts the clinic’s ability to provide other needed medical services, or patients are faced with choosing between filling their prescriptions and managing their bills like rent, utilities or purchasing food. This choice for patients can result in risky behaviors such as splitting pills or skipping doses which can lead to costly emergency room visits.”
The financial grant provided by the Williamsburg Community Foundation helps support access to over 1,300 prescriptions for approximately 450 patients in the Williamsburg area. By providing access to the most-needed generic drugs, Rx Partnership aims to reduce the facilities’ overall spend on medication, increase the fill rate for patients and, ultimately, improve health outcomes for people who cannot afford the rising costs of medications to manage chronic conditions.
“We are excited to be a part of this new program to provide generic medications at no cost to our patients,” said Kendra Robinson, MSN, RN, CDE, and clinic director at Old Towne Medical Center. “We are hopeful that the success of this venture will have a positive impact on our patients, their families and the community at large.” Since starting this program, Olde Towne Medical has seen their patient medication pick-up rate increase to 97%.
AMP started as a phased program and now has six sites across Virginia: Olde Towne Medical & Dental Center in Williamsburg, Lloyd F. Moss Free Clinic in Fredericksburg, Mel Leaman Free Clinic at Emory & Henry College in Marion, Fauquier Free Clinic, Ledwith Lewis Free Clinic in Tappahannock and St. Luke Community Clinic in Front Royal.
Content provided by Rx Partnership.