Establishing On-Site Pharmacy Access at a Community Health Center
Lack of access to pharmacy services is a particular problem for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) communities and people living with HIV/AIDS.Grantee Name
The Callen-Lorde Community Health Center
Funding Area
Special Projects Fund
Publication Date
January 2013
Grant Amount
$300,000
Grant Date:
May 1, 2009 – April 30, 2010
Lack of access to pharmacy services is a particular problem for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) communities and people living with HIV/AIDS. In addition to being unable to afford medications, many of these patients feel stigmatized or judged in health care settings.
Numerous studies have found that pharmaceutical access within a multidisciplinary care team improves coordination of care for a patient, increases the patient’s ability to adhere to a prescribed treatment course, and improves health outcomes. In 2007, the Callen-Lorde Community Health Center (CLCHC) found that its membership in the 340B Drug Pricing Program, a Federal program which allows health centers to offer deeply discounted medications to their patients, was being underutilized; only 10-15% of its 44,000 patients were using the designated off-site community retail pharmacy to fill prescriptions.
In May 2009, NYHealth awarded CLCHC a grant to establish an on-site integrated pharmacy to improve health care outcomes and increase medication adherence among the underserved populations reached through CLCHC’s primary care and related services.
Outcomes and Lessons Learned
- Achieved sufficient liquidity to channel funds into CLCHC’s general operations;
- Filled 29% of all initial and renewal prescriptions written at CLCHC at the on-site pharmacy during 2011;
- Received high marks on a patient satisfaction survey of pharmacy staff and services; and
- Published challenges and successes of the program in the report, “Establishing On-Site Pharmacy Services in a Community Health Center: A Case Study.”
Read the report associated with this grant, “Establishing On-Site Pharmacy Services in a Community Health Center: A Case Study.”