Medication Assistance Program and
The Pharmacy Connection

Tri-Area Health Clinic
Laurel Fork, VA
Mt. Rogers Medication
Assistance Program

Ferrum Community
Health Center
RxRelief at Ferrum
Community Health
Center
How to start a MAP
program in your
community
Steps to Starting a MAP
Good planning is essential to your
success.
Develop Funding/Sustainability Plan


Develop a Budget- Determine the cost of the
program including one-time expenses
Plan ahead for how the MAP will be sustained in
the future. Remember, people will be relying on
you for necessary medications and will be
relying on the MAP to be there in the future.


VCHF funds will cover a portion of program
expenses
Do you have any partners?
Identify Available and Needed
Resources







Adequate office space, including space for filing
cabinets
A dedicated phone line with voicemail
Access to fax and copier – very important!
Funds for postage
Other miscellaneous office supplies
High-speed internet connection
Computer that can run The Pharmacy
Connection
Identify Available and Needed
Resources


Forms – applications, informational
handouts
Advertising – brochures, fliers
Evaluate Staff Needs



TPC is used best by someone who can
work with the program on a regular basis.
A successful MAP typically has dedicated
paid staff to work as Medication
Assistance Caseworker(s)Create job description – see VHCF’s
example for starting point
Staff Training – How are you going
to train your staff?


Train Staff on Intake of Information
Train Staff on TPC


VHCF training – required
Via other TPC users
Develop a Strategy for Storing and
Dispensing the Medications



In-house pharmacy
Contracted pharmacy
Delivery to physician offices
Plan for tracking medication
How will you know the
patient has received
the medication?
Develop Strategy for Marketing and
Outreach
How do you find patients?
Go to where the people are who need help
Develop Strategy for Marketing and
Outreach

For patients/users of the health clinic




Use income information you have to identify
qualifying patients
Identify patients by medications
Flyer, brochure placement – front desk,
waiting room, exam rooms
Referrals from staff – providers, nurses,
clerks, etc.
Develop Strategy for Marketing and
Outreach

For outside patients:








Social Service Agencies
Health Departments
Food banks
Clothing banks
Community Action Programs
Mental Health Agencies
Faith-based organizations
Pharmacies
Develop Strategy for Marketing and
Outreach

For Physicians
Face-to-face meetings office manager or physician
 Don’t forget to go to specialists as well
 Discuss how medicine will be delivered

Develop Strategy for Marketing and
Outreach

Community Support
Kick-off event
 Newspaper articles
 Presentations to service clubs (Rotary, Kiwanis,
Lions, Rescue Squads, Fire Departments, etc.)

Develop Strategy to Evaluate and
Improve


Survey your patients to determine if you
are meeting their needs.
Working with MAP/TPC is a dynamic
process. As pharmaceutical companies
change their requirements, a successful
MAP will continually improve its processes
and procedures to adapt to changes.