Core Insights - The National Association of Free & Charitable Clinics (NAFC) announced nine Equity Rx grantees to enhance access to prescription medications for the uninsured and underinsured [1] - The Cardinal Health Foundation has committed $5 million to the Equity Rx program, with the latest funding round distributing $1.6 million to various clinics and pharmacies [2] - The Equity Rx program aims to dispense 1 million prescriptions by 2030, addressing barriers to medication access [6] Funding and Support - The Cardinal Health Foundation's support has expanded the Equity Rx program nationally, with initial grants of $45,000 awarded to establish programs in 10 clinics across multiple states [3] - The program has successfully reached over 11,100 patients and delivered more than 145,000 prescription medications in its first year [4] - The NAFC and Cardinal Health Foundation are aligned in their missions to promote equitable healthcare access [5] Program Objectives and Impact - The Equity Rx program focuses on community-driven, data-informed strategies to improve health outcomes and strengthen the charitable care network [7] - Key objectives include providing sustainable funding to high-performing grantees and revamping a national Charitable Pharmacy Playbook to share best practices [9] - The program addresses significant barriers to medication access, with 29% of people unable to fill prescriptions due to drug costs [5]

Core Insights - Cardinal Health is expanding its Equity Rx program to improve access to prescription medications for those who cannot afford them, with a total investment of $5 million from the Cardinal Health Foundation [1][3][5] Group 1: Program Expansion - The Equity Rx program, initially launched in Ohio in 2023, aims to address the critical need for affordable medication access, especially for individuals with chronic conditions [2][3] - The program has successfully established partnerships with charitable clinics, allowing for the direct delivery of medications to patients during their primary care visits [3][6] - Equity Rx has expanded to 10 charitable clinics across Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, and Illinois, helping thousands of patients access free medications [3][6] Group 2: Statewide Drug Repository - Cardinal Health is launching Ohio's first statewide prescription drug repository to facilitate the donation and distribution of unused medications, which will help expand access to care [4][6] - The repository will be developed in partnership with the Ohio State Board of Pharmacy and is expected to be fully operational by 2027 [4][6] - The initiative aims to reduce waste from unexpired medications in nursing homes and long-term care facilities, ensuring they are redirected to those in need [4][6]