Learning & Networking at the Annual

Patient Assistance Program Conference

Virginia Health Care Foundation’s (VHCF) Medication Assistance Team attended the Informa Connect Annual Patient Assistance Program Conference in Philadelphia, PA, in March, where the industry’s leading access and affordability experts provided vital insights into best practices and changes across the industry. We were delighted to run into Medication Assistance Caseworkers (MACs) who use The Pharmacy Connection (TPC) from the Eastern Shore of Virginia, Southwest Virginia, and North Carolina! Next year’s conference will be offered in person and virtually. Save the Date for March 17-20, 2025!

ALERT! New Medications Available for FREE in TPC

Did you know that TPC offers access to over 3,600 free and low-cost medications and medical supplies? Keep current on what’s new in TPC under Research-Program Changes! New forms, updated eligibility requirements, new FDA-approved medications and more! Check out a sample of the new medication highlights below:

Cibinqo (used to treat moderate to severe atopic dermatitis)
Eohilia (used to treat inflammation specific to the esophagus)
Ojjaara (used to treat adults with certain types of myelofibrosis who have anemia)
Opsynvi (used to treat Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension)
Winrevair (used to treat Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension)
Rezdiffra (used with diet and exercise to treat nonalcoholic fatty liver disease)
Syfovre (a prescription eye injection used to treat geographic atrophy secondary to age-related macular degeneration)
Tezspire (used with other asthma medicines for the maintenance treatment of severe asthma)

Charlottesville Free Clinic Shares the

Benefits of a Medication Formulary

Pharmacy Manager Lawrence Thompson (pictured on the right with VHCF’s RxRelief Virginia Program Officer Liana Judy) of the Charlottesville Free Clinic recently presented at the TPC Spring Roundtable sessions on a medication formulary tool put together by the clinic's pharmacy department and Medication Access Team. This resource uses a color-coding system to help its volunteer providers identify how quickly patients can access needed medications available from PAPs and other resources. For a sample of the formulary, please be sure to check out the Roundtable follow-up notes distributed by email.

Reminder: Novo Nordisk to Discontinue Levemir Flexpen & Vial

Due to global manufacturing issues and the availability of other long-acting insulin treatments, Novo Nordisk will be discontinuing Levemir Flexpen and Vial on December 31, 2024. Many patients may already be experiencing supply disruptions with refills of these products from the Novo Nordisk PAP that started in January 2024. New patient applications are no longer being accepted. To discuss inventory availability for your patients currently on Levemir, please contact the Novo Nordisk PAP at 866-310-7549. To view alternative options in TPC, visit https://www.thepharmacyconnection.org/mobile and search by Subclass: Diabetes: Insulins to discuss options with your health care providers.

Eyeglasses E-voucher Program Update from New Eyes

As of April 1, 2024, each eyeglasses application has a $10 non-refundable application fee for administrative costs.

The fee is payable online with any major credit or debit card, pre-paid credit card, or PayPal. Caseworkers and health advocates have three options for making the $10 payment.

Pay immediately on behalf of the client at the time of the application.
Pay later or forward the emailed Pay Later link to your client for payment.
Request your organization be set up with monthly invoicing from New Eyes.

New Eyes is often asked about upgrades to eyeglasses prescriptions, such as tints, transitions, or progressives. Some adults have expressed the desire to purchase a second pair of eyeglasses given their dependency on prescription eyeglasses. In response, New Eyes is in the process of developing a new feature where individuals can pay out of pocket to upgrade at discounted pricing. Stay tuned for more information on the launch date later this year!

Eyeglasses can be ordered and tracked through TPC under the Supply formulary on the Medications screen. Learn more about New Eyes here. Questions can be directed to info@new-eyes.org.

Get Low-Cost Refurbished Nebulizers with New Tubing & Masks

Global Links is a Pittsburgh, PA based non-profit dedicated to improving health in communities with need. Since 1989, Global Links has been sharing surplus rescued from the US healthcare system and the public.

The Breathe Hope initiative recovers gently used nebulizer breathing machines from people across the US and shares them with partners in communities with need at home and abroad.

If you are a licensed clinic provider who uses TPC, you can become a Global Links’ Breathe Hope partner. You can provide your patients in need a like-new nebulizer with new tubing and masks. For organizations outside of Pittsburgh, delivery is available. Each unit costs $15 and a minimum quantity of 5 is required for an order. Nebulizers can be ordered and tracked through TPC under the Supply formulary.

For more information, visit the website or contact breathehope@globallinks.org.

New Profile of Virginia’s Uninsured Data Released

The 2024 Profile of Virginia’s Uninsured, developed by the Urban Institute, is complete and available on VHCF’s website! This year’s report shows the lowest uninsured rates in Virginia since VHCF began tracking them in 1996 (7.7% or 544,000 of nonelderly Virginians).

The 2024 Profile draws from the US Census’ American Community Survey and the CDC’s Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance Survey (both conducted in 2022). It provides thorough findings of the demographic characteristics of Virginia’s uninsured, including:

Separate analyses of uninsured children and adults;
Maps showing the distribution of uninsured across the Commonwealth by region, and;
Estimates of access to primary care, oral health and behavioral health services

Attention Assisters! New Cover Virginia Call Center Menu

Effective April 1, 2024, the Cover VA Interactive Call Response (IVR) menus changed. Updates were made throughout the IVR to remove items for the Public Health Emergency Unwinding, but the most notable change for our navigator/ assister partners is the placement for the Assister option on the Main Menu. The previous flow had the Assister/ Navigator placement as option 7 on the Main Menu. Once the changes went into effect on April 1, that option was moved to option 9. The updated flow is shown below:

Stay Current with TPC Training and Support!

Take advantage of being part of the TPC learning community. Learn best practices from your peers and stay on top of PAP changes and alternative medications. Check out the upcoming sessions for beginners, experienced users, and monthly networking for all!

Click Here to Register and View the Full Schedule (EST)

Beginner Trainings	Advanced Trainings	Monthly Support Calls
May 14	June 25	June 11
June 12	August 20	July 17
July 18	October 22	August 22