MedBank Partners with Rincon, GA Church to Bring Needed Medications to Uninsured

PRLog (Press Release) - May 10, 2012 - (SAVANNAH, GA) MedBank Foundation, Inc. (http://www.medbank.org/) announces a collaborative, creative partnership with St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Rincon, GA, to help bring needed prescription medications to uninsured and underinsured patients in Effingham County. http://medbank.org, http://www.stlukesrincon.com/

Held in the church’s reception area in Rincon, the St. Luke’s clinic holds open office hours one afternoon a week, Wednesdays from 3-5pm, inviting anyone who lacks insurance for needed prescription medications to come in and begin the process to obtain free medicine through pharmaceutical companies’ programs.  Patients are asked to come with proof of income such as their latest tax return or last three paycheck stubs; medications lists; and physician information, if possible.

Trained by MedBank to handle the complex process of filing the necessary paperwork, Father Liam Collins the vicar of St. Luke’s; Reverend Eddie Adkins, one of the church’s deacons; and a group of volunteers like Rincon resident Barbara Westerfield work with many walk-in patients each month as they begin or continue to access pharmaceutical companies’ outreach programs.

Most patients can get much needed medications--for conditions ranging from diabetes and high blood pressure to mental health problems--in as few as ten days, and at zero cost to the patient.  And when needed, MedBank can even temporarily fill prescriptions at their Savannah office if the patient can’t wait that long.  MedBank is also actively seeking pharmacy partners in Effingham County in order to provide this same service in the Effingham community.

MedBank can also refer patients to various free and low-cost clinics in the Savannah area if they are in need of further medical services.

MedBank Executive Director Liz Longshore says, "The Rincon program has proven incredibly effective in helping many needy patients in the Effingham County area.  We thank the Episcopal Diocese of Georgia, and especially Father Collins and Reverend Adkins, for their tireless efforts on behalf of people who otherwise might have to choose between food, gas and the medications they need to stay healthy."

Reverend Eddie Adkins says, “The partnership between MedBank and St Luke's is working well.  We only hope that more folks in Effingham County will hear about us and take advantage of the services we offer. By the way, we also are offering free blood pressure checks!”

MedBank Foundation, Inc., helps over 10,000 eligible patients in southeast Georgia acquire free prescription medications through pharmaceutical company Patient Assistance Programs and accepts referrals from physicians, hospitals and social service agencies.  In addition to its main office in Savannah’s Medical Arts center, MedBank also operates clinics in Effingham, Liberty, Long and MacIntosh Counties, GA, all within a budget under $200,000.

For more information, please contact Executive Director Liz Longshore at 912-373-6369 or medbank@bellsouth.net; or visit our website at http://www.medbank.org/ ; our Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/pages/MedBank-Foundation-Inc/238408929516082 ; or on Twitter @MedBankSavannah.