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How does it work?

Designated donation sites collect any unused (sealed) medications, including medication samples, from hospitals, health care professionals, and community members. Enrolled prescribers refer patients to the program and monitor the medication inventory for medications that match eligible patients’ needs. Eligible patients receive donated medications from approved dispensing sites, or by mail from the Wyoming Medication Donation Program. In order to meet eligibility criteria, individuals must be low-income and un- or under-insured.

Benefits

  • Better Health—Improving medication access and compliance through expanded resources improves patient health.
  • Better Care—Expanding medication resources helps healthcare providers to develop and support comprehensive care plans for low-income patients.
  • Lower Cost—Helping patients maintain medication access and care compliance improves disease-state control, reduces costly hospital/ER visits, and reduces the number of medication vouchers provided at discharge.

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How does it help?

  • Helping Patients—Since 2007, the program has helped eligible Wyoming residents to fill more than 66,000 prescriptions (worth approximately $4.3 million) that they could not have afforded otherwise.
  • Reducing Costs—In 2012, the Wyoming Medication Donation Program provided more than $1.3 million worth of donated prescription medications, free of charge.
  • Improving Health—Medication compliance is one of the most important factors related to improving health, in cases of chronic or complex disease management.
  • Reducing Risks—Removing unused medications from homes reduces the risk of accidental poisonings and drug abuse.
  • Reducing Pollution—Preventing old/unused medications from polluting our streams and landfills supports and improves Wyoming population health as a whole.

Establishing a ‘Medical Neighborhood’

A well-functioning medical neighborhood allows for the effective flow of information across care facilities, and between clinicians and patients. The focus is centered around patients, with a balance between evidence-based care and patient preferences.

The Wyoming Medication Donation strategy plays a vital role in Medical Neighborhood development by helping Patient-Centered Medical Homes (PCMHs) and hospitals link un-insured/under-insured patients to prescription assistance.