Wenda Ostrem holds a distinctive position at University of Iowa Health Care (UIHC), one that significantly benefits patients struggling with prescription costs.

As a pharmacist financial counselor at the UI Health Care Medication Assistance Center, Ostrem, a 1986 UI College of Pharmacy graduate, works with uninsured or underinsured patients who have difficulties paying for medications. All patients can be referred for assistance if they have financial concerns. Together with a team of fellow pharmacists and social workers, Ostrem reviews options for assistance and utilizes various resources to help patients obtain prescribed drug therapies at lower or no cost. 

For uninsured patients, Ostrem’s team can point to resources such as discount cards for generic medicines or online discount pharmacies. If a patient is insured but can’t afford their high co-pay, helpful options including co-pay cards or co-pay assistance grants are available. 

Ostrem views her job as a pharmacist financial counselor as a facilitator. Patients first come to her, then she can direct them elsewhere if needed. If she can’t find the right resource for a patient, Ostrem will connect them with a social worker, who can help the patient apply for free medications through the manufacturer. 

On any given day, Ostrem might be conducting benefits investigations for providers, fielding calls from patients, or distributing drugs to the Infusion Suite or other pharmacies at UIHC. 

“It’s not boring,” Ostrem said of her job. 

What she enjoys most about her role is being able to make a meaningful impact alongside her team of five pharmacists and six social workers. 

“The feeling you get when you can say to someone, ‘I brought your medication cost down from $800 to $25,’ is huge,” Ostrem said. “You know there are patients out there who are skipping doses or cutting down on medicine or trying to decide if they’re going to buy food or medicine that week. Being able to help them get what they need to stay out of the hospital and healthy is huge.”

During the 2022-2023 fiscal year alone, the UI Health Care Medication Assistance Center saved patients more than $69 million. Ten years prior, that number was $7.9 million. Ostrem points out that this increase is due to things like the higher cost of drugs, but the impact is still hard to ignore. 

“We don’t make the hospital money; we cost the hospital money,” Ostrem said. "But I think we make a good argument for cost avoidance. If patients can get the drugs they’re supposed to take, then hopefully, we will cut down on ER visits and hospitalizations.”

Ostrem has seen many changes in the health-care system during her 37 years at UIHC. As the cost of medication continues to rise, the work her team is doing is more critical than ever.  This vital service allows her to accomplish why she entered the pharmacy profession in the first place.

“I think all pharmacists are the kind of people who want to help,” Ostrem said.