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Expanding to better meet the needs of our community has always been the hallmark of Allies for Health + Wellbeing, and in spring 2024, Allies will once again enhance its services by opening its own pharmacy at its East Liberty location. While Allies has offered mail-order pharmacy services since 2007 through a contract pharmacy, the new Allies Pharmacy will offer clients and patients the added convenience of being able to pick up their prescriptions while at Allies for their medical or other appointments.
Providing patients and clients with added convenience is just one of several reasons behind Allies’ decision to open its own pharmacy onsite.
“We believe that by making access to a pharmacy more convenient, our clients and patients will be more likely to get their prescriptions filled and be more treatment adherent, leading to better health outcomes,” said Sean DeYoung, CEO of Allies for Health + Wellbeing. “Additionally, bringing our pharmacy services in-house was also a prudent business decision for Allies’ long-term financial health.”
Allies is part of the federal 340B Drug Discount Program, which requires drug manufacturers that participate in the Medicaid program to offer certain drugs to “covered entities” – like Allies – at discounted prices. Covered entities are then reimbursed by insurances at a higher rate and the difference is used to support services for the community. At Allies, the funds generated through the 340B pharmacy program are used to underwrite more than 50 percent of our clinic and much of our community outreach programming.
“Without the revenue from the 340B pharmacy program, Allies would be forced to drastically cut its services, as would many community-based clinics,” DeYoung said. “Nationally, the issues around the 340B Drug Discount Program are complex, involve many health-related industries and billions of dollars. To protect ourselves from some of the proposed changes, we not only participate in advocacy groups, but also decided to open our own pharmacy rather than just use a contract pharmacy.”
Building out the Allies Pharmacy was a huge undertaking and a substantial financial investment. Fortunately, the Eden Hall Foundation awarded Allies a generous grant to underwrite most of the construction and start-up costs. Allies also engaged Maxor National Pharmacy Services to guide it through the construction and licensing processes, which were successfully completed in January 2024. Allies will continue to partner with Maxor, which has decades of experience and expertise, to operate Allies Pharmacy moving forward.
Allies plans to have the Allies Pharmacy open to its clinic patients and case management clients in May 2024. While all Allies patients and clients can use Allies Pharmacy, they are not required to and can continue to use the pharmacy of their choice.
Along with the convenience of being able to pick up your prescription in the same space as your medical visit, Allies Pharmacy can also provide financial assistance with deductibles and co-pays. Allies Pharmacy will provide necessary medications regardless of the individual’s insurance status or ability to pay.
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