GoodRx Helps Medication Assistance Program to Provide Free Prescriptions to Underserved Communities
Our mission has always been to help Americans get the healthcare they need at a price they can afford. But the reality is that many can’t afford their healthcare, period.
Some communities feel this struggle more than others. Time and time again, we see that Black and Brown communities face disproportionately higher rates of certain diseases, such as diabetes and coronary artery disease, and yet have the biggest gaps in care. These inequities have become more evident during the COVID-19 pandemic, where being Black or Brown means you are about four times more likely to be hospitalized due to a coronavirus infection. According to a recent GoodRx analysis conducted in January 2021, healthcare and the economy have been inextricably linked, and the pandemic has triggered historic levels of unemployment. In fact, our analysis estimates that increased unemployment has resulted in 56 million fewer prescriptions filled during the first six months of the pandemic. Other research suggests that people of color, and specifically women of color, have been disproportionately affected by COVID-19 related unemployment.
For those who have nowhere else to turn, GoodRx wants to do more to help.
Last September, we set aside more than 1 million shares from our IPO for charitable purposes, and today we are formally announcing the next phase of our philanthropic efforts, GoodRx Helps — which will operate independently of GoodRx. Its first initiative is the GoodRx Helps Medication Assistance Program, which provides free medications through community and charitable clinics across the U.S., giving direct assistance to those unable to afford their care.
This work is made possible through a partnership with the National Association of Free and Charitable Clinics (NAFC), an established leader in helping the medically underserved access affordable, quality healthcare, to reach their network of trusted safety net providers. Together, the NAFC and GoodRx Helps have identified communities and partner clinics with patient populations in need. Over the course of the next year, the first cohort of participating clinics can each enroll hundreds of patients and give them access to free prescription medications for their chronic conditions.
| Alabama Free Clinic | Bay Minette | AL |
| Clínica Tepati | Sacramento | CA |
| *Peach Tree Health Clinic | Sacramento | CA |
| HAVEN Free Clinic | New Haven | CT |
| Premier Mobile Health Services, Corp. | Fort Myers | FL |
| Latino Leadership, Inc. dba Clínica Mi Salud | Orlando | FL |
| Chicago Women’s Health Center | Chicago | IL |
| Health Unit on Davison Avenue | Detroit | MI |
| Camino Community Center | Charlotte | NC |
| Heart Ministry Medical Clinic | Omaha | NE |
| Cherry Hill Free Clinic | Cherry Hill | NJ |
| The Brooklyn Free Clinic | Brooklyn | NY |
| Physicians CareConnection | Columbus | OH |
| Clackamas Volunteers in Medicine | Oregon City | OR |
| Greater Greenwood United Ministry | Greenwood | SC |
| Get Up Project (Hope Medical Clinic) | Austin | TX |
| Casa El Buen Samaritano | Houston | TX |
| Ibn Sina Foundation | Houston | TX |
| Hope Clinic | Jacksonville | TX |
| Christ Clinic | Katy | TX |
| El Bari Community Health Center | San Antonio | TX |
| Midvale Community Building Community Clinic | Midvale | UT |
| Neighborhood Clinic | Tacoma | WA |
*This participating clinic is not part of the NAFC.
In working closely with clinics, physicians, and medical professionals at the center of communities with the most health disparities, GoodRx Helps is positioned to provide an effective way to connect patients who are most in need with the care they deserve. In the first couple months of the Medication Assistance Program, the nonprofit has already received positive feedback from partner clinics:
“The new GoodRx Helps program is a win/win. It provides underserved patients with crucial medications at no cost and saves the clinic money that can be redirected to other areas of patient care.” Jodi Schrobilgen, Clinical Coordinator Get Up Project in Austin, TX |
“GoodRx has been a blessing to many in our community through their discounted medication services. However, the additional financial assistance GoodRx Helps has brought to many of our patients’ lives is incomparable. This program allows our patients to have one less thing to worry about when it comes to their healthcare. GoodRx Helps has been a blessing in the middle of chaos.” Janeth Arteaga Castilleja, Medication Coordinator Christ Clinic in Katy, TX |
As another part of the social impact efforts at GoodRx, we’re also joining Pledge 1%, a movement for businesses to commit to giving back to their communities. In addition to our philanthropic goals, GoodRx pledges to partner with national and local nonprofit organizations to create volunteering opportunities for our employees.
As of January 2023, the GoodRx Helps The Medication Assistance Program is no longer active.
