ASHEVILLE, N.C. — Two new pharmacies in western North Carolina are helping underserved communities access the medications they need, some for no cost. This is all possible because of the 340B Drug Pricing Program created by Congress in 1992, and it has been making its way to the mountains.

“These medications are all from our Dispensary of Hope, so they’re all going to be free for the patient,” certified pharmacy technician Laura Bailey said, referring to the charitable medication distributor that helps provide medication access to people who are low income or uninsured.

She works at Mountain Area Health Education Center’s new pharmacy in Biltmore Village. The pharmacy filled its first uninsured prescription in February 2023.

Bailey has played a significant role in its opening. 

“That involved developing new processes,” she said. “How did we want to complete paperwork? Everything was sort of from the ground up.”

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found in 2021 that North Carolina had an uninsured rate of 17.6% among adults under 65; that was 5 percentage points higher than the national average.

“Discovering what the need was for our patients … we discovered there was a great need and nobody really to do these applications and help patients through the process,” Bailey said.

According to the Institute of Medicine on the National Library of Medicine website, two-thirds of uninsured people are members of lower-income families. 

MAHEC wanted this pharmacy and its programs to help find long- and short-term solutions. While they help patients find and apply for programs, they also make sure the patients have the life-saving medication they need as they wait to complete the application process.

“I have patients tell me, ‘I’ve been rationing my insulin. I have had to choose between whether I’m going to eat or pay for my medicine,’” Bailey said. “So being able to make that difference has meant everything to us.” 

She hopes to see these opportunities expand for underserved communities across the state.

“I think these types of pharmacy services should be offered everywhere,” Bailey said. “We have such a variety of ways to help our patients from start to finish. They have a whole team of pharmacy technicians that can help them through that process.”

According to MAHEC, both locations will offer prescriptions as well as over-the-counter medicines, pharmacist access and services, such as vaccines and medication synchronization.