History

The Columbus Medical Association Foundation initiated Prescription Access (Formerly known as Prescription for Care) in the spring of 2000.  Until recently, Franklin County did have have a sytem of providing prescription medications to low income, uninsured individuals.  While many community agencies attemped to provide health care services to people who are unable to afford medical help, these programs were specific to disease states and often excluded large populations.  These fragmented and uncoordinated efforts often lead to costly duplication of services resulting in significant unment community needs.

In response to this growing problem, more than 30 health and human service organizations joined together to leverage their resources on a system-wide basis to develop a comprehensive plan that would improve low-income patients' access to prescribed medications.  Under the administration of Columbus Neighborhood Health Center, Inc., Prescription Access has developed mechanisms to reduce the financial burden social service agencies experience when supplying medications to the community's medically fragile populations.