Rural Health System Drug Cost Savings: $10.8M Strategy
Avita Health System in rural Ohio has delivered $10.8 million in medication access to patients sence 2022, directly confronting rising drug costs. Their patient assistance programme,a critical initiative born from pandemic-era challenges,supports patients with essential medications for conditions like kidney disease and heart failure. Pharmacists and technicians expertly navigate complex assistance programs,copay cards,and vouchers,ensuring vulnerable patients receive vital treatments. The system also reuses unused medications. News Directory 3 notes this innovative approach to affordable healthcare in their coverage. Discover what innovative programs are next for rural healthcare.
ohio Health System Saves Patients Millions on Medication Costs
Updated June 03, 2025
Avita Health System, serving rural Ohio with two critical access hospitals and a smaller acute care facility, has facilitated patient access to $10.8 million in medications since launching its assistance program in 2022. The initiative addresses rising drug costs and complex financial hurdles for patients.
Based in Galion, Ohio, Avita initiated the program in response to patient struggles during the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly among older adults who had previously relied on free medication samples. The program now operates across three clinics,employing pharmacists and a pharmacy technician to guide patients through intricate assistance programs.
Brad Schwartz, Avita’s pharmacy clinical services manager, noted that both patients and providers often lack the knowledge to navigate assistance programs, copay cards, and vouchers. Pharmacists, he said, play a crucial role in bridging this gap.
The program supports patients in obtaining brand-name anticoagulants, insulin, and treatments for conditions such as kidney disease, pulmonary disease, and heart failure. This extensive approach ensures patients receive the medications they need, irrespective of financial constraints.
Avita Health System also participates in a pharmacist-led repository, collecting and redistributing unused medications, including insulin, to patients facing delays or shortages. This further enhances access to essential medications within the community.
“It’s a sustainable, billable technician model with pharmacist support for things that may come up that are outside of the scope of the technician,” Mr. Schwartz said. “That coordination of care involves patient assistance, education about benefits. … When they need to do therapeutic interchange, that’s when they’ll bring in the pharmacist, either virtually or in person, to review.”
What’s next
Avita plans to expand its medication assistance program, aiming to reach more patients and further reduce the financial burden of healthcare in rural Ohio. The health system will continue to refine its processes and explore new avenues for providing affordable medications.