DOC RxRelief Physician Practice FAQs

What does DOC RxRelief do?
The DOC RxRelief program assists the low-income uninsured patients of private practice physicians in securing prescription medications from the pharmaceutical companies patient assistance programs. This program removes much of the administrative burden of completing Patient Assistance Program (PAP) applications by enhancing the technological sophistication of the process. This is done by utilizing full-time advocates specially trained in applying to pharmaceutical company PAPs and in use of The Pharmacy Connection software.

What is The Pharmacy Connection (TPC)?
Through a grant from the Virginia Health Care Foundation, the MSV Foundation is able to utilize this powerful software to assist private practice physicians in obtaining free brand-name prescription medications for their patients without prescription coverage. TPC was designed to streamline the Patient Assistance Program application process, greatly reducing the time it takes to complete PAP applications, and has an automatic reapplication notification function. TPC's powerful database contains all of the PAPs individual applications and automatically fills out the appropriate application for each patient as their prescription needs are entered. This database is frequently updated to ensure that the most current applications are available.

Who is eligible?
As a general rule, PAPs limit eligible patients to those at or below 200% of the Federal Poverty Level who do not have prescription drug coverage. However, some programs provide drugs to patients up to 400% of the FPL and others allow patients with Medicare Part D coverage to also apply for prescriptions.

How does the process work?
Patients are referred to the program by their participating physician. The MSV Foundation Patient Advocates work with these patients to collect the program application and all necessary income eligibility documentation. The advocate then uses The Pharmacy Connection (TPC) software to complete the patient's applications for medications, and submits this information to the appropriate pharmaceutical companies. In 8-10 weeks, the pharmaceutical company mails the prescription to the patient or prescribing practice.

Can this process be customized to fit the operations of my practice?
Absolutely! This program is designed to relieve the stress on the practice to meet the prescription needs of patients. It is our goal that this program benefits both your patients and your staff, and that the process fit neatly into your practice’s current operating procedures.

What are the benefits to my practice?

• Allows your practice to provide a valuable service to your patients by capitalizing on the resources of the Medical Society of Virginia Foundation.
• Provides your patients without prescription insurance coverage with the medication resources to follow your prescribed treatment protocol – resulting in healthier patients with fewer office visits.
• Offers your patients without prescription insurance coverage access to brand name medications.
• Eliminates the redundancy of completing multiple forms for multiple manufacturers.
• Provides your office staff with access to specially trained advocates who can navigate complicated charitable medication programs.
• Advances the caring nature of your practice throughout your community, and the caring nature of the health care profession statewide.
• Allows your practice to participate in a novel program that has the potential to serve as a model for advancing care nationwide.

What are my practice’s obligations in providing this service to my patients?

• Maintain 50% active membership in the Medical Society of Virginia.
• Have appropriate staff complete MSVF trainings.
• Work with the DOC RxRelief advocate to provide appropriate documentation.
• Accept delivery of medications from the pharmaceutical companies and store the medications in a secure area until the patient picks up the medication.
• Regularly provide feedback regarding the program. Any feedback the practices can provide us will only strengthen the program’s outcomes and sustainability.
• Once a year, assist MSVF in collecting surveys from participating patients. This feedback will be used to make appropriate modifications to the program.

How do I get involved?
To enroll your practice in this program, please contact:

Ashley Cunningham
Director of Programs & Quality Initiatives
804 | 377-1047