It is not always on the $4.00 list....

   

Working in a community health center with patients that have limited funding can be very tricky and providers are often challenged to prescribe medications that the patient can both afford and will treat the condition in question.  As we all know, every medication that a patient needs is not available on the $4.00 drug list at the local pharmacy, and the cost of medications when you are taking four, five, six or even more medications can be high, especially when you have to choose between your medications and other necessities.

    Let me tell you about John (names have been changed to protect the innocent)…. John is a 57 year old man; he works as an auto mechanic at a job that does not offer health insurance. He has been coming to our CHC for management of his blood pressure and elevated cholesterol for 2 years. We have been maintaining him on a combination of medications from the $4.00 drug list at the local Wal-Mart; he is pretty compliant taking his medication and was doing what he could to decrease his risk factors. Unfortunately, John still had a heart attack.  He received a stent and was discharged home from the hospital on several new medications, including Plavix. Plavix is an expensive medication that is not on the $4.00 druglist. John presented to our office with the bottles in hand and told us that he could not afford the Plavix and would have to stop taking it and just risk another heart attack. I happily informed him that it would not be necessary for him to stop him medication because we had the resources available to help. Johnson Health Center (JHC) is blessed to offer not only an onsite pharmacy but we have a medication assistance program (MAP) as well.

    Community health centers have the benefit of having some form of medication assistance program available to help patients get the medications they need even when they cannot afford them. Our CHC processes hundreds, maybe even thousands, of medication through our MAP every year so that patients who are considered disadvantaged can still have the advantage of getting critical medications such as Plavix and Insulin. I know many of the patients at our CHC would be in a very difficult position if it was not for the MAP. It was extremely rewarding to be able to assist my patient in obtaining this medication, and he only pays $1.67 a month.  I don't know what we would without out pharmacy team, so I thank them all for the hard work they put in everyday!