Portage, Indiana – NorthShore Health Centers today announced a new program in partnership with healthcare technology company SUNRx that will help provide discounted prescription drugs to low-income patients who may be struggling to afford medications.
“During tough economic times, it becomes even more difficult for families to afford prescription drugs,” said Janice Wilson, CEO of NorthShore, which provides medical and dental care to patients regardless of their ability to pay. “It is important that we do everything possible to ensure that our patients have access to the medications they need.”
NorthShore recently partnered with SUNRx to implement a 340B discount program for the health center. Created by the federal government to expand access to affordable medications, 340B programs discount medications up to 60% below retail prices through qualified community health centers and hospitals. Despite the need, many community health centers have limited 340B programs – or none at all – due to the program’s complexity. SUNRx’s fully automated solution helps health centers manage 340B programs, reduce paperwork and provide more effective patient care.
NorthShore will use SUNRx technology to offer prescription discounts through the health center’s in-house pharmacy in Lake Station. Soon, NorthShore will also open a pharmacy at the Scottsdale Health Center in Portage. Having pharmacies with discounted medications at the health center allows patients to save time, money and gas. NorthShore patients can also have prescriptions filled at the Fagan Pharmacies on Highway 6 in South Haven (Valparaiso) and East 37th Avenue in Hobart.
“Previously, we had a limited drug discount program. But as the number of NorthShore patients grew and the need for affordable medications became more pronounced, we needed a more effective program,” said Wilson. “We will rely on SUNRx to help us ensure that every eligible patient is able to fill a prescription at a price they can afford.”
NorthShore provides care to 25,000 patients and experiences more than 65,000 patient visits each year. The health center’s patients are not unlike those nationwide who struggle to afford medications. In a recent study by the Kaiser Foundation, more than a quarter of Americans said they have not filled a prescription because of the expense, and nearly one in five said they cut pills in half or skipped doses in an attempt to save money.
