Ascension Illinois has launched a pharmacy assistance program aimed at expanding medication access for low-income, uninsured residents across Chicago and its suburbs.
The initiative is part of a national partnership with Dispensary of Hope, a nonprofit organization that distributes free, donated pharmaceuticals through more than 200 partner sites. The program is available at all three Ascension Illinois hospital campuses in Chicago, Elk Grove Village, Ill., and Hoffman Estates, Ill., according to a Feb. 5 health system news release. Patients must be uninsured and earn less than 300% of the federal poverty line to qualify.
More than 400,000 people in Chicago and suburban Cook County lack health insurance, according to local public health data. Ascension Illinois leaders said the program reflects the system’s mission to serve all patients regardless of ability to pay.
Dispensary of Hope reported a 20% reduction in hospital stays and a 27% drop in utilization costs across participating sites. The program aims to improve medication adherence and reduce preventable emergency visits by offering access to essential medications at no cost.
The initiative follows a recent expansion by Glendale, Wis.-based Ascension Wisconsin, which added four sites to its Dispensary of Hope network in late January. That program now operates at nine Ascension pharmacies across the state and serves eligible patients earning $46,000 or less annually.
Ascension covers operational costs for both programs, while pharmaceutical manufacturers supply the medications. Patients do not need to receive other services from Ascension to enroll.
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