EAST LIVERPOOL, Ohio - The Community Action Agency of Columbiana County’s East Liverpool Pharmacy opens for business Tuesday.

The new pharmacy is a 340B pharmacy, meaning it’s part of the federal government’s 340B Drug Pricing program that requires drug manufacturers to provide outpatient drugs to eligible health care organizations and covered entities at significantly reduced prices.

It is located inside CAA’s newest medical center at 16480 St. Clair Ave. The center also houses a medical center and dental center; women’s health, behavioral health and Medication Assisted Treatment services.

“There are few Federally Qualified Health Centers with in-house pharmacies in the state of Ohio,” said Jenna Wonner, COO of CAA’s Health, Behavioral Health and Dental Centers.

“Adding pharmacy and consultation services for our patients to assist them in their journey toward a healthier life has been an agency goal since 2015,” said Thomas Andrews, CEO of CAA of Columbiana County.

Any CAA patient is welcome to use the CAA East Liverpool Pharmacy, Wonner explained, noting the goal is to utilize the pharmacy in several phases, with the first phase being to open this month.

Patients will see their CAA medical, behavioral health or dental providers, and will be able to pick up their prescriptions the same day at the pharmacy, according to pharmacist David Hudoba. “The goal is to have no more than a 15-minute wait for meds,” he noted.

CAA medical, behavioral health and dental center providers see patients with insurance, Medicare or Medcaid, and a sliding fee scale is used to serve those patients with no insurance. The same will hold true for the pharmacy, as most insurances will be accepted, as well as Medicare and Medicaid, and the sliding fee scale will be used for those needing medicines and without insurance.

The pharmacy’s hours are 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays. Hours on Tuesdays are 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. The pharmacy is closed each weekday from 1 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. for lunch. Patients may wait inside for the prescriptions to be filled or there is a drive-through lane available.