Free prescriptions for chronic medical conditions.
Uninsured patients who have a chronic illness can receive free prescription medications from a program created by the Dispensary of Hope (DOH) as well as the non-profit Medco Foundation.
The program will focus on people with no or very limited health insurance plans. Qualified individuals may now be able to access from the national initiative a variety of critical prescription drugs that may be needed for severe medical conditions or chronic illnesses.
A number of generic drug manufacturers and pharmaceutical companies will be donating medications for the uninsured. The assistance will allow doctors to match patients with the clinical needs that the uninsured and working poor may be facing. The medications will be distributed by free community clinics across the country. The Medco Foundation will also be providing support services and pharmacy training to community clinic staff and physicians to help close the gaps in medical and health care needs.
The existing prescription medication and community clinic system, which is very fragmented, will be replaced with a smarter approach to providing prescription medicine for the uninsured. Doctors and nurses from the clinics will be able to provide coordinated health care as well as medications that match patients' needs for their chronic conditions. Patients will greatly benefit from more complete medical care.
Locations that offer medications for chronic conditions
Today most non-profit community clinics, Federal Government Qualified Health Centers, and other free health care centers do their best to offer affordable and high quality health care to the less fortunate. Most clinics are able to provide free medical care for the low income and uninsured, but unfortunately they have limited resources for distributing medicines. So Dispensary of Hope and Medco are working together to alleviate that.
Medico and DOH are offering additional resources to the clinics that can help them ensure that they are filling orders and that they have access to needed prescription drugs. The medicines will then be provided to those who need them. Well trained staff will help ensure people with chronic medical conditions are adhering to their health care regimen as well.
Studies show that patients with complex and chronic medical and health care needs comprise an astounding 20 percent of the total U.S. population. Out of that percentage, those patients with chronic medical conditions are particularly hard hit when it comes to paying medical bills and their need for prescription drugs. It is estimated that 11.4 million Americans with a serious medical need do not have health insurance.
This means that those millions of people have more of a need than ever for long-term, consistent prescription drug assistance. Due to their income or insurance coverage, they need these medications for free, or at a very reduced cost. Studies from the Center for Studying Health System Change indicate that about 69 percent of uninsured people who have chronic medical or health care conditions have reported not being able to fill their prescription drugs because of its cost to them, and because of their lack of insurance and lower incomes. Without the proper assistance, the conditions these patients have could worsen, leading to additional and probably more costly medical expenditures.
Dispensary of Hope as well as the non-profit Medco Foundation are working together to offer a select number of prescription drugs for free to qualified individuals and families. The medications best represent the therapeutic classes of those in need and they focus on addressing mostly chronic conditions. For example, receive free medications for conditions such as asthma, diabetes, and hypertension.
According to another study completed by the non-profit Kaiser Family Foundation, almost 35 percent of uninsured people have at least one chronic medical condition. About 15 percent of those patients without health insurance have two-or-more chronic conditions.
In addition to offering help to consumers, Medco will also provide staff at clinics and health centers with education and training in medication management. They also provide information on other affordable generic medications which can benefit the chronically sick.
Consumers who are interested in learning more can stop by or call a community clinic in their county near them. Find more details below. Doctors or medical professionals will create individual medication regimes for patients who rely on the clinics for their care, and they have the ability to create programs for people with multiple chronic medications as well.
Applying for chronic health care medications
Contact your local community clinic for more information. they often have referrals to support for people with chronic conditions. Find community clinics near you for a listing. Or call the Dispensary of Hope at 615-736-5075.
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