Overview - Pharmacy
Thundermist Health Center has operated a deeply discounted pharmacy for our patients since 2002 taking advantage of Section 340B of the US Public Health Service Act which allows community health centers that operate pharmacies to purchase prescription drugs at dramatically reduced prices.
However, the complexity of running a pharmacy became too much and in June 2007 Thundermist Health Center and CVS/pharmacy announced an innovative partnership which provides access to affordable prescription medications to Thundermist’s 26,000 patients across the State. CVS/pharmacy now operates the on-site pharmacy at Thundermist’s flagship health center in Woonsocket and offers patients of Thundermist discounts on prescription medications through the special pricing provisions available to community health centers.
The 340B program allows Thundermist to discount prescription medications to its patients and the partnership with CVS allows them to pass these discounts onto Thundermist patients at the health center pharmacy site. CVS also offers the same 340B discounts to Thundermist patients at two additional locations:
• CVS/pharmacy—1125 Main Street, West Warwick
• CVS/pharmacy—11 Main Street, Wakefield (Open 24 hours)
The additional retail pharmacy sites gives access to Thundermist patients served by their South County and West Warwick health centers.
“The partnership with CVS/pharmacy allows us to reach all our 26,000 patients across the state with the broadest possible range of available medications, and state-of the art pharmacy services through one of the nation’s premier pharmacy,” said Maria Montanaro, President/CEO of Thundermist. “We are very grateful for CVS’s partnership. It will make a huge difference in allowing us to expand access to affordable medications to our patients and offer them state-of –the-art pharmacy services. We could not achieve that on our own.”
“We are excited to be working with Thundermist Health Center in assuring that their patients have access to the prescription medications they need at a discounted price,” commented Chris Bodine, President, CVS Caremark Health Services. “With access to medications both onsite at Thundermist and at two additional CVS/pharmacy locations, including one that is open 24 hours, Thundermist patients will have added convenience to support their health and the well-being of their families.”
“At Thundermist, we use health care as a galvanizing point for the community. Access to health care is vital to the well being of both individuals and our communities.”
- Maria Montanaro, MSW, Thundermist President/CEO