Michigan Covered Entities

The staff at Ascension St. John Hospital in Detroit works hard to successfully meet the challenge of providing care to a large community, especially those most in need. Today, the hospital has more than 50 medical and surgical specialties.

Ascension Standish Hospital is a critical access hospital with acute and critical care beds, a full-service emergency department, and a skilled nursing facility. The hospital was founded to meet important community needs and remains committed to providing high quality, accessible, value-driven programs and services, with attention to the physical, spiritual and emotional dimensions of health.

Residents in and surrounding Tawas have faced tough economic times. Currently 17 percent of the population is living below the poverty level, the unemployment rate is 7.1 percent, and eight percent are uninsured. From a health perspective, Losco County ranks 73rd out of 83 Michigan counties for overall health outcomes. Some 20 percent of the patients served at Ascension St. Joseph Hospital are uninsured or on Medicaid. In a 2016 community-wide survey, Losco County residents were surveyed about their healthcare needs. Many shared that expensive copays often prevent their access to healthcare. A local woman responded that she would soon be forced to choose between going to the doctor and purchasing prescribed medications, and saving money to cover her regular household expenses. Ascension St. Joseph has used 340B to help community members avoid having to make such difficult choices.

Ascension St. Joseph began participating in the 340B program in July 2012 and its benefits help support Ascension St. Joseph’s Infusion Center. Infusions at the center treat infections that do not respond to oral antibiotics, cancer-related pain, dehydration, gastrointestinal disorders, immune deficiencies, and multiple sclerosis. Ascension St. Joseph started a medical home program to improve access to needed services. One successful component of this program is a prescription assistance program, which helps financially needy patients obtain medications and supplies for free or at reduced cost.

The Ascension Michigan covered entities have achieved $88.6 million in 340B benefits for FY2023, which helps to support the needs of residents. The 340B program has also helped patients who have chronic illnesses minimize difficulties in receiving care. Funding for these crucial community services would be jeopardized without 340B. Ascension Michigan in FY22 provided $311 million in charity care and community benefit.

Programs enhanced by 340B benefits:

• Ascension St. Joseph’s Infusion Center: provides essential cancer treatments to vulnerable patients. The nearest infusion center is 35 miles away and does not accept patients who are on Medicaid or are uninsured.
• Medication affordability program: helps financially vulnerable patients obtain medications and supplies for free or at reduced costs.
• Discharge prescription program: supports uninsured and underinsured patients with their prescribed discharge medications/assists them in finding coverage.
• Cancer Center of Excellence: provides comprehensive cancer treatment and services to uninsured patients.
• Charitable pharmacies: operates 13 Dispensary of Hope locations serving uninsured populations with free medication across the state.
• Medical Mission at Home: historically held at least annually at multiple locations across the state, the event provides free medical, vision, and dental services to those in need.