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Program for procurement of drugs for indigent patients
1Department of Pharmacy Services, City of Hope Medical Center, Duarte, CA 91010.
American Journal of Hospital Pharmacy
|March 1, 1994
Summary
A pharmacy program successfully procured free medications for indigent patients, significantly offsetting drug costs for a medical center. This initiative provided essential treatments while reducing overall healthcare expenses.
Area of Science:
- Health Economics
- Pharmaceutical Management
- Patient Assistance Programs
Background:
- Medical centers provide substantial free care to indigent populations, facing significant drug costs.
- A need existed to offset pharmaceutical expenses for vulnerable patient groups without compromising care quality.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe a pharmacy-led program for obtaining free medications from manufacturers for indigent patients.
- To evaluate the cost-saving potential and operational impact of such a drug procurement initiative.
Main Methods:
- Identification of high-impact pharmaceuticals on the pharmacy budget.
- Surveying pharmaceutical manufacturers regarding patient assistance programs.
- Hiring a dedicated pharmacist to manage patient eligibility, applications, and medication distribution.
Main Results:
- Estimated first-year cost avoidance of $150,000.
- Program served 200 patients in fiscal year 1992 and over 300 in fiscal year 1993.
- Acquisition cost of free medications received was $448,851 (1992) and $504,211 (1993).
Conclusions:
- A pharmacy-based program effectively procures free medications for indigent patients.
- This model helps medical centers defray the costs associated with providing comprehensive care to underserved populations.
- The program demonstrates a sustainable approach to managing pharmaceutical expenses in safety-net settings.