PINEHURST, N.C. – Patients who participate in FirstHealth CARES – a medication assistance program that partners with providers and pharmaceutical companies to help patients get chronic disease medications – are asked to complete a survey that poses the question: “What would you do if you didn’t have access to the program?”
Many respond that they would try to live without medication, skip doses or borrow money from family members to pay for it. But for some, without their medication, they respond that they would die.
That is the scary reality that Paul Reese faced before becoming part of the program.
“If I wasn’t able to get my medicine for free through FirstHealth, I just wouldn't take it,” Reese said. “And it’s for my diabetes. I need it to live.”
Reese has been in the program since 2022, after being referred by his primary care provider. He met with a FirstHealth CARES pharmaceutical resource assistant, who helped him fill out the necessary paperwork. It took him about six weeks to start receiving his medicine for free.
FirstHealth CARES consists of five dedicated nationally certified pharmacy technicians (CPhT) – covering the FirstHealth service area and based in Hoke, Richmond, Montgomery and Moore counties – who help advocate for patients and work with the pharmaceutical companies to ensure patients receive medication assistance.
“The girls who work in the program are truly wonderful,” said Reese. “They will call me and just check in to see how things are going and to make sure I’m getting what I need. They have been so easy to work with.”
Medication assistance is available for people with chronic diseases who cannot afford the cost of their prescription medications. Chronic diseases include anxiety/depression, asthma, COPD, diabetes, hypertension and high cholesterol. You must meet certain financial and insurance qualifications. However, these qualifications differ depending on the drug program guidelines and the drug company manufacturer.
Since the program started more than 25 years ago, it has grown along with the service area. FirstHealth partners with The North Carolina Office of Rural Health, MooreHealth and Hoke County Health Department to help supplement program operations.
Amy Hamilton-Forester, administrative director of community health services, said the impact of the program is seen in helping patients.
“It’s a program we truly believe in because we know that if people have access to their medication, they will have a better chance of achieving positive care plan outcomes,” she said. “It’s from hearing stories from patients like Mr. Reese that we can really see the impact FirstHealth CARES has on our patients.”
More About FirstHealth CARES
When you call FirstHealth CARES, we will set a time for you to come in and meet with a pharmaceutical resource assistant. We will discuss your finances and complete a patient assistance application. If your application is approved, your medication should arrive for pick-up in four to six weeks. For Montgomery County residents, call (910) 571-5975, for Moore and Lee County residents, call (910) 715-5431, for Richmond County residents, call (910) 417-3330 and for Hoke and Cumberland County residents, call (910) 878-6190.
