Harrisburg, PA – Continuing the Shapiro Administration’s commitment to expanding access to quality, affordable healthcare for Pennsylvanians, Secretary of the Commonwealth Al Schmidt announced today that participation in the Cancer Drug Repository Program (CDRP) increased 900% – from two pharmacies to 20 pharmacies across 12 counties – since the Department of State urged pharmacies in March to join the program.
“Increasing the number of pharmacies participating in this program means many more Pennsylvanians now have access to safe and affordable cancer drugs,” Schmidt said. “We want to thank the pharmacies that have made the decision to join this program, and we encourage all licensed pharmacies to consider participating, further increasing access to these lifesaving medications.”
Enacted by the General Assembly in 2008, the CDRP promotes access to cancer drugs and treatment for all Pennsylvanians, regardless of their ability to pay, by permitting participating pharmacies to accept cancer drugs donated by pharmacies, health care facilities, drug manufacturers, and wholesale drug distributors and dispense them to qualifying individuals.
In March, officials with the Department’s Bureau of Professional and Occupational Affairs reached out to pharmacies licensed by the State Board of Pharmacy, encouraging all licensed facilities to consider joining the CDRP.
Here is a list of the participating pharmacies to date:
- Palmer Pharmacy, LLC in Russellton, Allegheny County
- Lehighton Pharmacy, Inc. in Lehighton, Carbon County
- Palmerton Pharmacy, Inc. in Palmerton, Carbon County
- The Medicine Shoppe Pharmacy in Berwick, Columbia County
- Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center in Hershey, Dauphin County *
- Pechin Pharmacy in Connellsville, Fayette County
- Emmaus Ave. Pharmacy, Inc. in Allentown, Lehigh County
- Macungie Community Pharmacy, Inc. in Macungie, Lehigh County
- Freeland Pharmacy in Freeland, Luzerne County
- Lehigh Care Pharmacy, Inc. in Hazleton, Luzerne County
- Yocum’s Pharmacy, Inc. in Hazleton. Luzerne County
- Luzerne Discount Pharmacy, Inc. in Luzerne, Luzerne County
- Geisinger Wyoming Valley Medical Center in Wilkes-Barre, Luzerne County
- Effort Pharmacy, Inc. in Effort, Monroe County
- Collegeville Pharmacy, Inc. in Collegeville, Montgomery County
- Hatfield Community Pharmacy, Inc. in Colmar, Montgomery County
- Mt. Bethel Pharmacy Inc. in Mt. Bethel, Northampton County
- Wind Gap Community Pharmacy, Inc. in Wind Gap, Northampton County
- Shop and Carry Pharmacy in Philadelphia, Philadelphia County *
- Dushore Pharmacy in Dushore, Sullivan County
*Pharmacies participating prior to March 2024
A pharmacy, health care facility, drug manufacturer, or wholesale drug distributor may donate legally obtained cancer drugs to an approved participating pharmacy if the drug meets the legal requirements.
In order to receive a donated drug, the patient must be diagnosed with cancer, not possess or have limited prescription drug coverage related to treatment of the patient's cancer, not meet the eligibility requirements under the State Medical Assistance Program, and meet the financial eligibility requirements of the Cancer Drug Repository Program.
Licensed pharmacies interested in joining the CDRP can submit an application at pals.pa.gov.
For more information on the CDRP, including how to participate, visit the Department of State’s website.