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A new program at Roane County Family Health Care in Spencer will
start saving patients between 35-40% on many prescription drugs,
according to Larry Dent, interim CEO. The 340b program starts July
1st.
"We at Family Health Care are excited to be able to bring this
exceptional program to our patients to help do our part to
substantially reduce prescription costs," said Dent.
The 340b program is a federal program that allows Family Health Care
to purchase pharmaceutical products off of the Federal
Supply Schedule.
"This means that Family Health Care can pass on substantial savings
to its patients," said Dent. Through a contractual
agreement with Staats Pharmacy, 340b prices for prescriptions
written for Family Health Care patients by Family Health Care
medical providers will be available at Staats Pharmacy.
Family Health Care prescriptions can be filled at any pharmacy, but
to be eligible for 340b prices the prescription must be filled at Staats
Pharmacy in Spencer.
The 340b program is only available in Roane County to patients of
Family Health Care because it is a Federally Qualified
Health Center.
The lower prices are available much the same as the prices offered by
the Veteran's Administration for its
patients due to volume purchasing by the federal government.
Not all medication is on the Federal Supply Schedule but for
those medications there is an anticipated savings of at least 35-40%.
Medicaid patients do not participate in the 340b
program. The 340b pricing is automatically available to patients of
Family Health Care regardless of age or income level.
There are no cards and no fees for enrollment. Any patient of Family
Health Care can participate regardless of other
prescription coverage.
Patients with insurance coverage may not realize savings as much as
self pay or
Medicare patients.
Since, by law, Family Health Care cannot reduce co-payments for
prescriptions the insurance plan will be
billed in the same manner.
In many cases the 340b prices are less than the insurance company
co-pay requirement.
Patients will be given the best price possible considering their
individual payment options.
The 340b program does not
provide free prescriptions but it does help to lower the cost of your
medication across the counter.
You may call, e-mail or write Family Health Care for an informational
brochure on the 340b program to find out how you can
benefit.
Brochures may be picked up at Staats Pharmacy, and brochures will
be mailed out in July bills. Call Danny Harper at
927-2241 Extension 173 or send an e-mail to dharper@rcfhc.org for a
prompt response. | 
