Hunterdon County Medication Access Partnership Receives Donation
Published June 3, 2008
MDAdvantage Insurance Company of New Jersey, a leading provider of medical professional liability insurance in New Jersey, sponsors the longest running medical awards program to recognize New Jersey's healthcare efforts - The Edward J. Ill Excellence in Medicine AwardsT. The Edward J. Ill Excellence in Medicine Foundation honors exemplary physicians and leaders whose dedication to education, research and public service have significantly impacted the delivery of healthcare in New Jersey and around the nation. The Foundation provides profits from the annual awards program to a worthy cause or program in New Jersey that is able to fill a niche or a gap in services to needy New Jersey citizens. The profits from this year's event, $30,000 were donated to the Hunterdon County Medication Access Partnership (HCMAP).
HCMAP was formed to address healthcare issues for residents in need. Hunterdon Healthcare System is a founding partner and supporter of the program. HCMAP is designed to help connect individuals with the prescription medications they need, educate the community about the available options for affordable prescription medicine, and most importantly, help patients stay compliant with their medicine.
Today, the program has 200 active patients that regularly receive their medications with HCMAP's assistance," stated Karen Kallens, RN Coordinator of HCMAP at Hunterdon Medical Center. Since 2005, HCMAP has provided more than $1.5 million of free medicine to Hunterdon County residents. Today, over 1000 residents have been helped by HCMAP, via many of the pharmaceutical company's patient assistance programs, Medicaid, Medicare, PAAD (Pharmaceutical Assistance to the Aged and Disabled) and discount programs. "A significant portion of the donation from the Edward J. Ill Awards dinner will be used to support and expand the program," explained Kallens.
"There is no doubt that HCMAP's success today is due in no insignificant part to the efforts of the Edward J. Ill Excellence in Medicine Foundation, MDAdvantage and Hunterdon Healthcare System," stated Mark Peters, II, PharmD, Co-Chairperson of the HCMAP Committee. Last year, Mark Peters of Raritan Township, received the Community Service Leader Award from Edward J. Ill Excellence in Medicine Foundation on behalf of the HCMAP team.
This coalition of businesses, faith-based and community organizations has been so successful in Hunterdon County that it plans to support pilot programs in other New Jersey communities.
For information on HCMAP, call Karen Kallens, RN at 908-788-6572.