In 2025, Family Health Centers made a goal to make strong progress in expanding the use of our internal pharmacy services. This effort directly benefits our patients while strengthening the long-term sustainability of our organization. Our pharmacy program plays a critical role in improving medication access, affordability, particularly for patients who face barriers to care. At the same time, our pharmacy operations has become the main driver of operating revenue for Family Health Centers, eclipsing grants and other insurance-based revenues.
Two key factors have driven this growth: our “Race to the Top” initiative and the continued expansion of the Iroquois Annex Pharmacy. Race to the Top is an internal strategy designed to encourage appropriate internal pharmacy utilization through site- and individual-level incentives, supported by weekly check-ins to reinforce patient education about pharmacy benefits. During the first four months of the year, this initiative resulted in an 8% increase in prescriptions filled, providing strong momentum to start 2025.
Sustained utilization and growth at the Iroquois Annex Pharmacy further fueled success, contributing to an overall 18.5% increase in prescriptions filled across the year.
As policymakers and manufacturers consider rebate-based models that would require FQHCs to front the full cost of medications and wait for reimbursement, internal pharmacy efficiency, volume, and cash flow become even more critical. Expanding internal pharmacy utilization helps Family Health Centers remain resilient in the face of uncertainty, ensuring we can continue to reinvest pharmacy savings into comprehensive services that are essential to our patients but often inadequately reimbursed.
Strengthening our
pharmacy program is no longer just a growth opportunity, it is a necessary strategy to protect access, affordability, and the long-term sustainability of care for the communities we serve.
