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A national HIV-focused pharmacy is combining resources with three other companies that offer meds to underserved communities.
National HIV-focused pharmacy services organization Avita has merged with three other major pharmacy companies and will move forward with an increased concentration on assisting underserved communities. Avita (officially, Longs Pharmacy Solutions/Avita Pharmacy) completed its merger with Paramount Specialty Pharmacy, PharmBlue, and PharMedQuest in March, resulting in an entity with a “unified focus on vital 340B pharmacy services,” according to an Avita news release.
Avita has been a longtime supporter of Section 340B programs — run under a provision of the Public Health Service Act that requires pharmaceutical manufacturers participating in Medicaid to sell outpatient drugs at discounted prices to health care organizations that care for uninsured and low-income patients. With 60 locations throughout the country, Avita is also the largest independent nationwide provider of pharmacy services for Ryan White/STD grantees, AIDS service organizations, and federally qualified health centers.
In a statement to the press, company officials said the merger will give Avita an even greater ability to “ensure access to critical medications for underserved communities and for patients with complex conditions, including HIV.” In addition to helping folks living with HIV receive treatment and care, Avita has been a leader in providing access to PrEP and other LGBTQ-related health care services. It also offers personalized and confidential med delivery, 24/7 pharmacist access, financial assistance, and ongoing patient outreach programs, among many other services.
“I am so proud that we built our brand around our core values, which celebrate our commitment to compassionate care for our patients, our covered entity partners, and for each other,” Avita CEO Lorrie Carr said in the press release. “At Avita, we share a sense of community and we treat and respect our patients as individuals because we believe everyone should have the care they need, delivered with the compassion they deserve.”
In celebration of the merger, Avita unveiled a new logo of interlocking hearts, which the company says represents a “shared sense of community and commitment to delivering compassionate care. Under one company, Avita is building its culture based on a vision to unlock the full potential of health. Avita’s mission is to provide individually focused pharmacy services, support, and advocacy for patients and partners.”
