Special Projects Fund

Project Title

NYCRx: Improving Medication Access and Adherence for New Yorkers

Grant Amount

$299,958

Priority Area

Special Projects Fund

Date Awarded

November 16, 2006

Region

NYC

Status

Closed

Website

http://www.fphny.org

Each year 1 million New York City residents—many of whom are either uninsured or under-insured—fail to fill a prescription due to cost. Failures to adhere to medication regimens causes more than 3,000 deaths and costs billions of dollars annually. NYCRx targeted this problem by expanding access to programs that offer free pharmaceuticals to clinics throughout New York City.

This grant, which supported the NYCRx program through a collaboration with the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, directly targeted this problem. The grant sustained the program that was initiated with a federal grant and supported the program through its start-up phase.

NYCRx creates user-friendly systems that make accessing needed drugs easier for patients, and improves quality of care by strengthening medication adherence and disease management. Major project activities included: (1) expansion of the NYCRx 340B systems to 30 additional safety-net sites; (2) incorporation of NYCRx as a 501(c)(3) organization; (3) creation of a sustainable organizational infrastructure; and (4) implementation of a medication adherence intervention for patients on long-term medication for diabetes and hypertension. The project used a sustainable approach, saving money for uninsured patients and generating savings and revenue for safety net providers. After the start-up phase, the administrative function that assists health centers in qualifying for discounted pharmaceutical prices became self-funded through small fees associated with the drug purchases.