SFY 2024-2025 Medication Assistance Program RFA

The Office of Rural Health (ORH) announces the availability of grant funding to identify and fund community organizations in North Carolina that will help uninsured, low-income citizens of all ages evaluate their optimal prescription drug choices and apply for free, discounted, and low-cost drugs through public and private medication assistance programs.

These grant funds, supported through the North Carolina General Assembly, are for helping uninsured, low-income North Carolinians gain access to free and low-cost medications. Safety net organizations who care for underserved and medically indigent patients including community health centers, free and charitable clinics, rural health centers, and health departments offering medication assistance to the uninsured in their community are eligible to apply for this funding.

Requested funding must be commensurate with the size and scope of the proposed project and will depend on available funds. Applicants must demonstrate their potential to implement the following requirements:

• Provide services of a Prescription Assistance Coordinator (PAC) defined as an individual who assists all uninsured, low-income North Carolinians with identifying their optimal prescription drug options from among public and private programs, and providing direct assistance in obtaining medication using a web-based application that is capable of reporting the following mandatory data:
  • Dollar value of medications received for patients
  • Number of medications received for patients
  • Total number of unduplicated patients served

  MAP grantees must use The Pharmacy Connection web-based application to determine eligibility for free or low-cost prescription drug programs offered through pharmaceutical companies. The Pharmacy Connection (TPC) user and license fee of $3,000.00 is a reimbursable line-item expense of this grant. This annual fee, which supports administration, license renewal, invoicing, and payment, is managed by the Foundation for Health Leadership and Innovation (FHLI). The required TPC $3,000.00 fee is pre-populated in the MAP budget template spreadsheet.

  All applicants must specify a dispensing plan that will ensure their patients will receive the medications that are procured on their behalf and compliant with the NC Board of Pharmacy policies.

  Grant funds must be used exclusively to support the approved project and spent in accordance with the grant agreement and approved project budget.

  Based on the limited amount of funding available, grant funds may be used for PAC salaries, project-related travel, supplies, limited amounts of equipment, and other direct project expenses essential to supporting the PAC. These expenses must be budgeted to the categories and line items identified in the Budget. Salary for staff not directly involved in providing prescription assistance services should not be included.

  Maximum Award Amount: $28,850

  Applicant organizations must ensure that Medication Assistance Program funding does not duplicate or supplant any other funding, including Federal COVID funds.

  Funding Availability:

  ORH expects to receive more requests than can be funded. Therefore, submission of a grant application does not guarantee receipt of an award. Furthermore, grants that are awarded may not be funded at the requested amount.

  Final awards will be commensurate with the size and scope of the proposed activities.

  Proposed Project Period or Contract Term : August 1, 2023 – July 31, 2025

  All safety net organizations that provide or will provide medication assistance programs for uninsured, low-income patients are eligible to apply. This includes:

  • Federally Qualified Health Centers and Look-Alikes (FQHCs)
  • Free and Charitable Clinics
  • Health Departments
  • Hospital-Owned Primary Care Clinics
  • Rural Health Centers
  • School-Based and School-Linked Health Centers
  • AHEC Clinics
  • Other Non-Profit Community Organizations

  Only one application may be submitted per eligible organization. An eligible organization must submit one application rather than applications by service site, “doing business as,” or under separate EINs that are all connected to the same eligible organization.

  As a condition of receiving a grant award, successful applicants must:

  • Complete the contract process
  • Submit a monthly expense report for reimbursement in a format specified by ORH
  • Use an electronic financial software application (EXCEL spreadsheets are not acceptable formats)
  • Dispense prescription drugs according to NC Board of Pharmacy dispensing policies
  • Connect or have a plan to connect to NC HealthConnex

  (To meet the state’s mandate, a provider is “connected” when its clinical and demographic information are being sent to NC HealthConnex at least twice daily.” For further information, please see the HIEA website: https://hiea.nc.gov)

  Application Overview: Applicants must submit the following information electronically through the on-line application tool:

  1. Organizational Information
  2. Grant Narrative
  3. Budget
  4. Evaluation Criteria

  Deadline for Submission: Grant applications must be received electronically by ORH by May 5, 2023. Only electronic applications will be accepted.

  How to Apply: Access to the electronic application is a two-step process:

  • Step One: Use the ORH application link to submit your organization name and contact information. The link opens April 3, 2023, and closes on May 4, 2023. Office of Rural Health Application Link: https://ncorh.ncdhhs.gov/redcap/surveys/?s=W8LTKTWXX33AP3LM
  • Step Two: Upon submitting the required information in the link above, you will receive an email with a personalized link specific to your organization. The link in the email will give you access to the electronic application. The application closes May 5, 2023.

  Please begin the application process in time to have it completed by May 5, 2023, as no new application links will be opened on May 5, 2023

  Applications must be complete, and agencies must respond to all application requirements. Incomplete applications, or applications not completed in accordance with the instructions, will not be reviewed.

  All applicants will receive a confirmation notice after an application has been successfully submitted.

  How to Obtain Further Information:

  Funding Agency Contact/Inquiry Information: Nicole Fields-Pierre, Nicole.Fields-Pierre@dhhs.nc.gov

  For assistance with the application link: Sharema Williams, Sharema.Williams@dhhs.nc.gov

  Technical Assistance Webinars:

  To obtain further information: Funding Agency Contact/Inquiry Information: Nicole Fields-Pierre, Nicole.Fields-Pierre@dhhs.nc.gov

  For assistance with the application link: Sharema Williams, Sharema.Williams@dhhs.nc.gov