CHN Medication Access Program

St. Vincent de Paul receives grant funds from Cardinal Health to help launch the development of Ohio’s first statewide medication donation & distribution hub 

Cardinal Health Foundation is expanding its Equity Rx fund to tackle prescription drug access across Ohio and beyond. Its latest investment will launch the development of Ohio’s first statewide prescription drug repository and distribution center where donated, eligible medications will be processed and provided at no cost to organizations in the Charitable Healthcare Network (CHN). 

 

• Read the official release: Cardinal Health Foundation expands Equity Rx to increase access to prescription medications, bringing total investment to $5M – Jul 30, 2025,  

• Read the article published in USA Today: Cardinal Health Foundation seeks to increase medication access in Ohio 

 

Strengthening Access to Life-Saving Prescriptions for Cincinnati Neighbors and Statewide 

St. Vincent de Paul – Cincinnati (SVDP) is proud to announce its role in the Charitable Healthcare Network (CHN) Medication Access Program, the statewide initiative designed to expand access to life-saving prescription medications by safely redistributing donated, unexpired medicines.  

 

“Too often, life-saving medications are destroyed when they could be donated and safely redistributed to help a neighbor in need,” said Rusty Curington, Vice President of Pharmacy, “so we are taking bold steps to close medication access gaps with the potential to save lives statewide.” 

 

In partnership with the Cardinal Health Foundation, CHN, and the Ohio State Board of Pharmacy, SVDP will operate a centralized hub to process medication donations from individuals and long-term care facilities, getting critical medications to charitable pharmacies and free clinics across Ohio at no cost. 

 

While the program will benefit patients statewide, the effort directly strengthens care for neighbors here in Cincinnati. “This is a mission-driven expansion of what we already do: remove barriers to care for people who can’t afford their prescriptions,” said Curington. “By building a streamlined pathway for donated medications, our local pharmacists can spend more time with patients, and our three Cincinnati-area Charitable Pharmacy locations will have more consistent access to the medicines our neighbors need.” 

 

Brad McMonigle, CEO of SVDP added, “This collaboration allows us to serve Greater Cincinnati even better while sharing our expertise to strengthen Ohio’s safety net. It’s not a shift away from local care; it’s an investment that makes local care stronger.” 

 

What the CHN Medication Access Program includes 

During a two-year innovation phase, SVDP will: 

• Launch a donation website to help individuals mail qualifying, unexpired medications directly to SVDP for safe inspection and redistribution.
   

• Design and staff a dedicated donation-processing warehouse adjacent to the SVDP Charitable Pharmacy location in Milford, integrating warehouse automation to handle donations from nursing homes and long-term care pharmacies.
   

• Stock SVDP’s three Charitable Pharmacy locations (Neyer Outreach Center – Cincinnati, Milford, and Western Hills) and supply free clinics and charitable pharmacies statewide with bulk medications at no cost.
   

Eligibility will follow Ohio law and Board of Pharmacy rules; controlled substances, compounded medications, and certain categories are not eligible for donation.  

 

What this means for our neighbors 

• More time for patient care: Centralized sorting and processing move this work off the pharmacy counter so SVDP pharmacists can focus on counseling, adherence, and health outcomes.
   

• More consistent inventory: A reliable pipeline of donated medications reduces costly workarounds and medication changes driven by shortages.
   

• Stronger safety net: SVDP’s local pharmacies will be better stocked while SVDP helps supply peer clinics across Ohio, extending impact without diluting local services.
   

“This is a bold moment of mission-focused innovation for St. Vincent de Paul’s Charitable Pharmacy, Cardinal Health, and the Charitable Healthcare Network, one that directly impacts the health and stability of our neighbors while strengthening the safety net for vulnerable Ohioans. Together, we can remove barriers to care, ensure no patient goes without needed medication, and model a scalable system for medication access that could inspire other states,” said Kaytlynd Lainhart, Vice President of External Relations for SVDP.
 

Background 

The Charitable Healthcare Network (CHN) is the statewide membership organization for Ohio’s free and charitable clinics and charitable pharmacies. Its network of 58 member organizations serves patients in 86 of Ohio’s 88 counties, providing care to uninsured and underinsured individuals who might otherwise go without needed health services. 

The Cardinal Health Foundation has expanded its Equity Rx investment to support CHN’s statewide Medication Access Program, including funding for start-up technologies and operations for Ohio’s first statewide drug repository.  

SVDP will house and operate this repository in partnership with the Ohio State Board of Pharmacy, with the facility anticipated to be fully operational in 2027. SVDP’s Charitable Pharmacy program has long partnered with clinics to provide free, life-saving medications to uninsured and underinsured neighbors and will build on that experience to lead the donation and redistribution hub.
 

To learn more about the SVDP Charitable Pharmacy, watch this video: