Free Clinics and Charitable Pharmacies are better together. While one in four adults report difficulty affording their medications, collaboration holds the key to create systems change that partner free clinics with charitable pharmacies to improve medication access. In this session, learn about the Equity Rx Project in Ohio and how it is overcoming medication access barriers by developing a network of free clinics and charitable pharmacies that serve “mutual patients” throughout the state.

This session will review the strategies behind engaging a grant funder in a “big picture” multi-year project. Charitable Healthcare Network received grant support from Cardinal Health Foundation to initiate the Equity Rx Project to create both a short-term and a long-term solution for Ohio’s medication access crisis.

This session will explain a case study in which one charitable pharmacy has connected with three free clinics to function as a network committed to care of their mutual patients. Practical tips for overcoming barriers will be discussed with tangible deliverables that can be adapted to replicate these successes in other areas. Also, this session will challenge attendees to work collaboratively, in many instances with their state association, to leverage clinical strengths to better care for patients.