340B Drug Discount Program

There’s been a lot of news about buses taking seniors to Canada to escape high drug prices. But why go to Canada? Your prescription drugs may be just as inexpensive when they are prescribed by doctors at the Scenic Rivers Health Services (formerly Northland Medical Clinic) in Bigfork, Northome, Big Falls or Floodwood and filled at the Bigfork Valley Pharmacy.

Bigfork Valley Pharmacy has been named a provider under a federal program called the 340B Drug Pricing Program. This means it is able to offer patients discounts on most prescription drugs. There are no restrictions based on patient age, income level or assets. There are no application forms to fill out. Cash customers may still submit their receipts to their insurance companies to be credited toward health insurance deductibles.

Under this program, discounts may be greater than those offered under Medicare discount cards or with other discount drug cards. In some cases Pharmacist Keith Pearson said that he has seen discounts as high as 30 percent.

Here’s how it works: when a prescription comes in, it is submitted to the 340B program through software. The price the customer will be charged is calculated by the program and may vary depending on the current agreements in place between the federal program and the drug company for that product.

It’s a program unique in this area, and it recognizes that Bigfork Valley Pharmacy provides rural care on a community level. The only requirement is that the prescription is written by the local doctors at Scenic Rivers Health Services at Bigfork or one of the other Scenic Rivers clinics at Big Falls, Northome or Floodwood.

Does this mean the patient must travel to Bigfork? No. The prescription can be called in by the doctor or clinic and then mailed to the patient. To find out more information or how this program may benefit you, stop in or contact the Bigfork Valley Pharmacy at (218) 743-4444.