The term medical food, as defined in section 5(b) of the Orphan Drug Act (21 U.S.C. 360ee (b) (3)) is "a food which is formulated to be consumed or administered enterally under the supervision of a physician and which is intended for the specific dietary management of a disease or condition for which distinctive nutritional requirements, based on recognized scientific principles, are established by medical evaluation." Your Ancillary Advantage representative can provide you with additional background information on medical foods, including a report from Frost and Sullivan on the impact these products are having on health care.
Supplements support the healthy function of the body by adding to substances already in the body. For example, glucosamine and chondroitin, taken for osteoarthritis, naturally occur in the body's joints. Glucosamine stimulates joint repair, chondroitin maintains joint viscosity.
Supplements are regulated by the FDA as a food (not a drug). There is no requirement that their effectiveness be based upon medical or scientific evidence and they do not require a prescription.
Commercial payers include insurance companies such as Blue Cross/Blue Shield, Aetna, United Healthcare, etc. Patients covered by these payers often times have a pharmacy benefit card that enables them to fill their prescriptions at a retail pharmacy. However, these prescriptions can also be filled in your office at the point of care through our Cash and Carry program.
The Ancillary Advantage Cash and Carry program is offered to patients as an alternative to having their prescriptions filled at a retail pharmacy. We provide you with a product formulary that includes most of the medications that you are already prescribing to your patients.
Prescriptions are filled and the practice collects the co-payment amount that would otherwise be paid to the retail pharmacy. There is no need to process a prescription card for adjudication and payment. In addition to being a convenient option for your patients, a cash and carry program is also a financial revenue opportunity for your practice.
