Ascension, one of the nation’s leading nonprofit Catholic health systems, today announced the expansion of the Dispensary of Hope program across its own Ascension Rx pharmacy network. Dispensary of Hope is a national nonprofit medication distributor that supplies donated medications to over 300 partner sites across the country. This expansion means Dispensary of Hope now supplies to 35 Ascension Rx pharmacies.
Over the past six months, 11 additional Ascension Rx pharmacy locations have joined the initiative, bringing Ascension’s total participating sites to 35 across nine states. Through these participating Ascension Rx pharmacies, donated medications supplied by Dispensary of Hope are dispensed at no cost to uninsured and low-income patients.
“By strengthening access to donated medications, we are helping ensure patients do not have to choose between their health and other basic needs,” said Scott Cornwell, Chief Executive Officer of Dispensary of Hope. “Through our work with Ascension pharmacies and other partner sites nationwide, we are able to reach more communities, meeting people where they are with the medications they need.”
For many people, especially those managing chronic conditions, consistent access to needed medication can mean the difference between stability and serious complications. Across Dispensary of Hope’s nationwide network, more than 3,500 prescriptions are dispensed each day at no cost to patients. Last fiscal year alone, the program supported 1.2 million prescriptions, serving 164,000 patients across its network.
Ascension’s dedicated pharmacy, Ascension Rx, was created to reduce barriers to medication access by improving affordability, convenience, and care coordination. Through community pharmacy locations, home delivery, and specialty pharmacy services, Ascension Rx provides coordinated, personalized support that helps patients start and stay on the medications they need. Together, Ascension Rx and Dispensary of Hope help ensure cost is not a barrier to essential treatment.
“Every decision we make at Ascension is grounded in our Mission and our responsibility to care for the communities we serve,” said Dr. Mike Wascovich, Chief Pharmacy Officer of Ascension. “By continuing to expand the Dispensary of Hope program, we are helping more patients access prescribed treatments that support long-term stability and prevent disease progression. This expansion reflects our commitment to treating every person with dignity and making sure access is never determined by someone’s financial circumstances.”
Expanded access is already translating into measurable outcomes. Dispensary of Hope has reported a 20% reduction in hospital stays and a 27% decrease in utilization costs. Consistent access to medications helps patients manage chronic conditions more effectively, reducing flare-ups, easing symptoms, and helping prevent avoidable hospital visits.
About Ascension
Ascension is one of the nation’s leading non-profit and Catholic health systems, with a Mission of delivering compassionate, personalized care to all, with special attention to those most vulnerable. In FY2025, Ascension provided $1.7 billion in care of persons living in poverty and other community benefit programs along with $1.8 billion of unreimbursed care for Medicare patients. Across 17 states and the District of Columbia, Ascension’s network encompasses approximately 97,000 associates, 23,400 independent providers, 90 wholly owned or consolidated hospitals, and ownership interests in 29 additional hospitals through partnerships. Ascension also operates 22 senior living facilities and a variety of other care sites offering a range of healthcare services.
