PORTLAND, Ore.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Wellpartner, a nationally recognized provider of pharmacy distribution services, today announced that The Western Pennsylvania Hospital has selected the company as its 340B program administrator. The Western Pennsylvania Hospital is the latest in a rapidly growing number of hospitals and other healthcare organizations using Wellpartner’s 340B Access Solution™ to improve access and lower prescription costs for their patients.
The Federal 340B Drug Discount Program was created to help uninsured and underinsured patients get the medications they need at prices they can afford – offering discounts of as much as 51% below typical retail. As a 340B qualified organization, The Western Pennsylvania Hospital is authorized to purchase prescription drugs at deeply discounted prices and make them available to its patients through select local pharmacies.
“Cost is a principal reason many prescriptions go unfilled,” said Sanford R. Kurtz, MD, Executive Vice President, Chief Medical Officer and President, West Penn Allegheny Health System Physician Organization. “Wellpartner has helped us create a program that allows us to make lower cost prescriptions available to significantly more patients.”
The Western Pennsylvania Hospital qualifies for 340B purchasing as a Disproportionate Share Hospital (DSH). Such hospitals are identified by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) for providing care to a significant number of low-income patients in their community. Purchasing outpatient drugs through 340B helps the hospital mitigate the rising cost of healthcare for those most in need.
A key component of Wellpartner’s 340B solution for The Western Pennsylvania Hospital is the creation and management of a retail pharmacy network in the greater Pittsburgh area. “Previously, we could only offer discounted prescriptions through the pharmacy located here at the hospital,” added Gregory Burfitt, President and CEO of The Western Pennsylvania Hospital. “Working with Wellpartner will allow us to offer prescription cost savings through a number of pharmacies throughout our service area, which makes it much more convenient for our patients.”
“We’re proud that The Western Pennsylvania Hospital chose us as their 340B partner,” said Michael Wright, Wellpartner President and CEO. “Working together, we’ll help their patients lower the cost of staying healthy.”
About The Western Pennsylvania Hospital
The Western Pennsylvania Hospital is an academic medical center affiliated with the West Penn Allegheny Health System. For more information, visit www.wpahs.org.
About Wellpartner, Inc.
Wellpartner is a privately held, nationally recognized pharmacy distribution services provider that delivers innovative mail-order and specialty pharmacy services for health plans, Medicaid programs and self-insured customers. The company is also the nation’s largest independent contract pharmacy services administrator for community health centers and qualified hospitals. Wellpartner is committed to cost savings for payers, access to high-quality pharmacy care for patients and better health outcomes for everyone it serves. Learn more at www.wellpartner.com.
CONTACT:
Wellpartner, Inc.
Nelson Pratt, 503-718-5700
KEYWORDS: United States North America Oregon Pennsylvania
INDUSTRY KEYWORDS: Health Hospitals Pharmaceutical Retail Specialty
MEDIA:
| Logo |