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That is the stark choice that faces more and more members of our own community. As costs of prescription drugs continue to rise and the numbers of uninsured reach all time highs, providing a no cost source for life-saving prescription drugs becomes critical. NC MedAssist exists to provide free medications to the uninsured by qualifying patients for patient assistance programs offered by pharmaceutical companies and dispensing them directly to patients. MedAssist has been in operation since 1997. During the last fiscal year (2011-12), MedAssist dispensed more than $20 million worth of free medication to over 34,000 low-income North Carolinians.
NC MedAssist serves as a Community Pharmacy dispensing free prescription medication to our neighbors who are uninsured. Residents of North Carolina can qualify for our services if they are at or below 200% of the Federal Poverty Level and are without insurance coverage. If you believe that you may be eligible for help with your prescription medication, please call us at 704-536-1790. We can screen you on the phone to let you know how we may be able to assist you.
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Job Description
Position title: Social Worker
NC MedAssist
Reports to: Associate Executive Director/Social work supervisor
Positions Supervised: none
Position Summary:
To assist uninsured, low-income North Carolina residents with obtaining prescription drug assistance. The focus of this job is to assure that clients have the best prescription medication resources and educational information available to them so that they are better able to manage their chronic diseases.
This position would work with free clinics and medical facility partners throughout the state to obtain the necessary documents to enroll their patients in the NC MedAssist program. Some traveling out of County may be required. The Social Worker would work to enroll clients by phone or in person at our offices. The position requires accurate data entry of client demographics and medical information into the data base once all of the necessary documents are received.
Position Qualifications:
Bachelor of Social Work or Healthcare Management Degree or equivalent experience
Must demonstrate exceptional customer service skills
Must have excellent written and verbal communication skills
Must have excellent organizational skills
Must be willing to be trained as a patient navigator, if asked
How to Apply:
Email your resume to Susan Royster at
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
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Save a life - join 12 for 12
How much does it take to save a life? In North Carolina, you can save the life of a neighbor in need for just $12 a month.
That's all it takes to provide a year's worth of life saving medications through NC MedAssist.
MedAssist provides free prescription medicines to low-income, uninsured North Carolinians.
And now, it's easier than ever to support NC MedAssist. For just $12 a month - $144 a year - you can sponsor a MedAssist client for an entire year.
Join 12 for 12 on-line or call Kelly Musante, development director, at 888-808-6631.
Your $12 a month means that a MedAssist client no longer has to choose between buying food or getting their needed medicine.
Watch the 12 for 12 video here.
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Stephanie Alexander: Client and Volunteer |
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Stephanie Alexander is one of our newest volunteers and has become a great asset to the MedAssist team. Stephanie has spent most of her life in Charlotte and has been blessed with three grown children and nine grandchildren. But Stephanie has a unique volunteer story because she is also a MedAssist client. Like many of our clients, , she lost her job in 2008 because of the recent economic decline. This came as quite a surprise to Stephanie as she had worked for the same company for 20 years. After being unemployed for a year, Stephanie’s Cobra benefits expired and her life took a downward spiral. Stephanie had been diagnosed with diabetes several years prior to losing her job and now struggled with the choice between buying food or the insulin she needed to survive.
When she had coverage affording her medication was not an issue. Without coverage she found it impossible to pay $120 for her insulin shots. Her son offered assistance but he had two children with special needs and she couldn’t let him do that. Stephanie chose to pay for food and go without her medicine. After three weeks went by, her body could no longer survive without insulin and Stephanie admitted herself to the hospital. At this point her blood sugar levels were extremely high. “Without the insulin shots, my body couldn’t process food into sugar,” said Stephanie. “…. I felt like I was walking through molasses. My entire body ached and I couldn’t think clearly.” Stephanie feared she may die from not taking her medication. A family member informed her of MedAssist and she promptly made an appointment after leaving the hospital. It has been three years since Stephanie enrolled into our program and it’s been three years since she’s had to choose between food or medicine. This spring, when Stephanie came to MedAssist to recertify, she learned about the different volunteer opportunities that we have and signed up immediately. She had developed a passion to help others in need just as MedAssist had helped her. She spends her time at MedAssist filing and doing data entry. Volunteering at MedAssist has really opened her eyes to the thousands more that have had similar challenges and experiences. “MedAssist is a life saver,” she says. “You helped me and now I am helping you.” We are so appreciative to have you on our team Stephanie! Thank you for giving your time and efforts to support others in need! |
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Attention MedAssist Clients - we are giving away 8 over the counter medicines per individual on Friday, June 14th, from 9:00am-4:00pm. We have everything from allergy medicine to laxatives to vitamins to pain relievers! Come to suite 350 and get your free meds!
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Lori Giang
Susan Royster
Karen Garner
Kelly Musante
