More patients have access with the opening of a new dispensing pharmacy at Karmanos
Michigan residents impacted by cancer and the costs of cancer medication now have a new resource to help address the financial burden and the waste of unused cancer medication. Founded as a 501(c)(3) charitable service organization in June 2023, YesRx coordinates and supports Cancer Drug Repository (CDR) Programs that help individuals with cancer get the medication they need for free and donate unused medication to others in need across Michigan.
Thanks to a new partnership with one of the state’s largest cancer care networks, several Karmanos Cancer Network locations, anchored by the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute in Detroit, part of McLaren Health Care, have become a large part of the YesRx Network of CDR programs, creating improved cancer medication access for tens of thousands more cancer patients.
Physicians providing cancer care at 13 Karmanos Cancer Institute clinics throughout the state now have access to medications available through the CDR to provide to their patients free of cost. These sites, which are located near a McLaren Health Care hospital and make up a large portion of the Karmanos Cancer Network, also accept donations of unused medications from individuals. Karmanos’ retail pharmacy at the Weisberg Cancer Center in Farmington Hills is now a dispensing pharmacy for the YesRx program. Karmanos Cancer Network locations may request unused medications from YesRx to provide to patients who need those therapies at their clinics.
“We see the burden high-cost cancer medications can have on patients throughout the Network and state. Having a dispensing pharmacy at the Farmington Hills location allows Karmanos and McLaren to provide equitable medication access to our cancer patients,” shared Justin Klamerus, executive vice president and Chief Clinical Officer of McLaren Health Care.
Founded as a 501(c)(3) charitable service organization in June 2023, YesRx coordinates and supports CDR programs that help patients with cancer get the medication they need for free and donate unused medication to patients in need across Michigan. YesRx has built the first-ever and largest statewide membership of health care sites, the YesRx Network, collectively working together to provide the benefits of CDR programming to their patients. The YesRx Network is further strengthened with the participation of Karmanos and McLaren.
Since August 2023, the YesRx Network has prevented over $17 million in cancer medication from being thrown away. Patients, families, and caregivers choose to donate unopened medication they no longer use, and the YesRx Network helps it reach patients in need. So far, over $10 million in cancer medication has been provided by clinicians to patients in Michigan at no cost.
“The Karmanos Cancer Network team and Karmanos pharmacy leadership have been working extensively to bring this partnership with YesRx to Karmanos and McLaren. We’re pleased to be able to offer this program to so many locations throughout our Network,“ remarked Brian Gamble, president of the Karmanos Cancer Hospital and Cancer Network. “This is an opportunity for Karmanos to continue to provide quality care and assistance to our communities across the state.”
Karmanos serves more than 14,000 new cancer patients a year. With the new partnership, patients, families and caregivers may donate unopened medication they no longer use to the Karmanos pharmacies at the Karmanos Cancer Center (Detroit), Weisberg Cancer Center (Farmington Hills), Karmanos Cancer Institute – Roseville, and the Karmanos Cancer Institute locations at McLaren Bay Region (Bay City), McLaren Clarkston, McLaren Central Michigan (Mount Pleasant), McLaren Flint, McLaren Greater Lansing, McLaren Lapeer, McLaren Macomb (Mount Clemens), McLaren Northern Michigan (Petoskey), McLaren Oakland (Pontiac), and McLaren Thumb Region (Bad Axe).
The YesRx Network is moving health equity and community health forward in Michigan through improved access to free cancer medication and prevention of cancer medication waste harming land and water systems. The 78 health care sites participating in the YesRx Network receive free support to implement CDR programs for their patients. YesRx received startup operations funding from Blue Cross Blue Shield Michigan Value Partnerships Program via the Michigan Oncology Quality Consortium, Trinity Health Michigan, and the Michigan Society of Hematology Oncology.