Free Clinic of the NRV receives recognition for work with Rx Partnership
Free Clinic of the New River Valley pharmacy assistant Cindy Nelson (middle) and Executive Director Michelle Brauns (right) accept a certificate of recognition on behalf of the clinic from Amy Yarcich, Rx Partnership executive director. Photo courtesy of Free Clinic of the NRV
This summer, the Free Clinic of the New River Valley received a certificate in recognition of the $4,315,000 in free prescription medication that the clinic has received for its low-income, uninsured patients through participation with the statewide nonprofit Rx Partnership, based in Richmond. RxP is a public/private partnership organization that provides access to free prescription medications for Virginia’s eligible uninsured through free clinic and community health center partners throughout the state.
The free clinic began participating as an affiliate in 2004 and has seen significant benefit for the organization’s patients since that time.
“This past year, we provided nearly 14,000 prescriptions to our patients,” said Executive Director Michelle Brauns. “This program allows us to provide our patients with a variety of free brand-name prescription medications that would otherwise be unaffordable, and as a result, prescriptions can be filled immediately, avoiding the 6-12 week wait that is common to other Patient Assistance Programs.”
RxP relies on the support of the Virginia General Assembly, several foundations and six pharmaceutical manufacturers: GlaxoSmithKline, Merck & Co., Novartis, Abbott, Alcon and AstraZeneca. Because of these partners, 137 medications treating chronic and acute conditions, such as asthma, diabetes, hypertension and high cholesterol, are available to Virginia’s eligible uninsured. The retail value of medication distributed through RxP to all Affiliates exceeds $80 million, translating to more than 363,000 prescriptions for 46,500 unduplicated patients.
“Rx Partnership is pleased to recognize the outstanding success of the Free Clinic of the New River Valley in providing critical medication to clinic patients that helped improve patient health while avoiding costly emergency room visits,” said Amy Yarcich, RxP executive director. “While there is still much uncertainty regarding the implementation of health care reform, the clinics in Virginia have made a commitment to serving vulnerable populations today and into the future.”
– Submitted by Madison Stephens, Free Clinic of the New River Valley
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