Two DOPs Deal With Operations, The 340B Program, And Drug Manufacturers’ Restrictions
ProxsysRx recently organized an introductory Zoom meeting between the DOPs of two health systems we serve: Southwest Mississippi Regional Medical Center’s (SMRMC) Tiffany Poole and Andrew Wright of Conway Medical Center (CMC).
ANDREW
CMC is a private non-profit, acute care DSH (Disproportionate Share Hospital) with 240 beds. We now have 40 340B contract pharmacies, having recently added 15. I was brand new to 340B when I started, and it’s a beast.
TIFFANY
SMRMC is a 160 bed DSH. We have 17 contract pharmacies, plus 14 CVS specialty pharmacies. PBM (payor) mandates forced us to add CVS to our contract pharmacy network. Working with ProxsysRx, I’m genuinely amazed by how much growth we’ve had. It’s been exponential.
ANDREW
Having the expertise of ProxsysRx on our side, advising us, gives me the freedom to focus on my other areas of responsibility.
TIFFANY
One of ProxsysRx’s 340B Program Specialists manages our daily activity. Honestly, I don’t know how she does it. The one-on-one attention to detail is something I did not expect.
ANDREW
What I like about ProxsysRx is the small company feel. I have immediate access to everyone I need, nearly at all times. That’s such a welcome change, after dealing with other groups that never get back to you.
TIFFANY
ProxsysRx owns and operates SMRMC’s outpatient pharmacy, and our retail revenue has tripled since they took over. We’ve had the same success with the Meds To Beds program ProxsysRx administers. We didn’t have the staff or the time to do it ourselves, and the impact ProxsysRx has had has been huge.
ANDREW
ProxsysRx also owns and operates our outpatient pharmacy — and our Meds To Beds program. They’ve really helped us improve our operations since taking them over. More importantly, we’ve seen significant improvement in patient care — especially with the way they follow-up with our patients after discharge.
That said, we got hit bad by ESP, but it could have been way worse. And we have ProxsysRx to thank for that.
TIFFANY
ESP is so difficult to navigate. Sometimes it just feels like we’re being held hostage.
ANDREW
They’ve really forced us into a corner, and that’s an awful place to be when we’re just trying to take care of the patients this hospital is dedicated to serving.
TIFFANY
In the first months, when we were ramping up with ProxsysRx, the manufacturer restrictions hit — and it nearly stopped us altogether. But with ProxsysRx’s help, we were able to turn it around. Had we not had their support and guidance, it would have been devastating for our 340B Program.
ANDREW
We don’t want to turn away patients. That’s what we’re here for. The other hospital in our area is for-profit, so they just don’t have the same dedication to serving uninsured patients the way a DSH does.
TIFFANY
And then those patients come to you for help. We’re in the exact same position. You have to keep the doors open, but our patients really are our priority — so we have to find ways to provide the care they need. Our relationship with ProxsysRx lets us spread our scarce resources further than we ever could on our own.
ANDREW
It’s allowed us to expand into areas of medicine we never thought we could offer. We’ve added a cancer center, a pain clinic as part of our orthopedic practice, a dermatology clinic, and a women’s center. We’re expanding our footprint, and we’re treating so many more patients than we used-to. Without ProxsysRx and 340B, that wouldn’t have been possible.
Launching & Supporting CMC’s 340B Program
Since ProxsysRx initiated its relationship with CMC, the health system has added a significant number of child sites. We’ve also helped them add contract pharmacies appropriate to realizing 340B savings associated with these additional child sites.
Supporting SMRMC’s 340B Program
ProxsysRx also guides SMRMC in adding contract pharmacies to their network, and in selecting TPAs willing to work for fair and reasonable fees.
Outpatient Pharmacy Operations and 340B
ProxsysRx’s own outpatient pharmacies serve as contract pharmacies for both hospitals — further increasing 340B savings. Each hospital designated our onsite pharmacy as the preferred pharmacy for the manufacturers who have imposed restrictions, while our Meds to Beds programs ensure those 340B savings stay within their systems.
ProxsysRx is here to help, if you have questions.
There are so many ways to optimize 340B drug programs’ savings and benefits. For more information, contact Howard Hall. C: 214.808.2700 | howard.hall@proxsysrx.com
