Information for Clinics and Pharmacies
What is a medication repository?
A program that accepts donations of safe, unused medications destined for disposal and redistributes them to patients struggling to afford their medications. These medications often come from long-term care facilities where patients’ medications are packaged into bubble packs and must be disposed of after a change in dose, medication, or transfer of services. Some of these medications can be sent back to their distributor, but many are flushed down toilets or incinerated. A repository reduces this waste and improves patient access to medications.
Are repository products safe for patients?
Yes! ​RoundtableRx is committed to ensuring the safety and quality of our repository products. Donated products are thoroughly inspected by a pharmacist before being accepted. Some of the basic requirements are:
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Unopened, tamper-evident packaging
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Not expired, adulterated or misbranded
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No controlled substances
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Must be a room temperature product
How does it work?
RoundtableRx has been designated by the Minnesota Board of Pharmacy to operate as Minnesota's Medication Repository Program. RoundtableRx is the Central Repository and is licensed as a pharmacy wholesaler in Minnesota; therefore, we rely on partnerships with Local Repositories to connect eligible patients with our medications. A Local Repository is a clinic, pharmacy, or prescriber that has established a partnership with RoundtableRx.
Donated medications are shipped to the Central Repository, checked by a licensed pharmacist for quality and safety, entered into inventory, then made available for Local Repositories to order for eligible patients. Our inventory is available to Local Repository partners at no-cost -- even shipping is free!
Become a Local Repository
A Local Repository must establish a partnership with RoundtableRx to obtain products from our inventory. To become a Local Repository, provide us some information about your site by completing our Intake Form, here. We will follow up with you soon, answer any outstanding questions about our program, provide the necessary forms required by the Minnesota Board of Pharmacy, and create your account on our website.
Need help creating the Policies & Procedures or your site? We have an optional Policies & Procedures Template we can share as well!
Qualified Patients
Our medications are reserved for Minnesota residents who are uninsured or ‘underinsured’. Because our inventory fluctuates, RoundtableRx is intended as a safety net program for affordable medications during challenging times (coverage lapse, Medicare ‘donut hole’, etc.), or for patients that do not qualify for insurance.
Local Repository Clinic and Pharmacy Responsibilites
Once received, Local Repositories are responsible for maintaining the inventory they order, and keeping it separated from regular inventory. The Local Repository must also maintain records related to repository activity. There is no cost associated with becoming a Local Repository or ordering medications from us. To keep the program sustainable, Local Repositories may charge the patient an optional dispensing fee of up to 250% of the current Medicaid dispensing fee. A dispensing fee CANNOT be charged to an individual with active Minnesota medical assistance or MNCare. The dispensing fee can be applied to each product and is kept in full by the Local Repository.
Ordering Medications
Local Repositories can log into our website and order the medications they need from our Live Inventory. Our inventory includes common maintenance medications, inhalers and more! View our Live Inventory now: https://tinyurl.com/RRxLIVE.
Delivery of Medications
Medication orders will be filled by the Central Repository within 1-2 business days of being placed, and will arrive at the Local Repository by mail within 1-3 business days after being filled. The Local Repository is responsible for dispensing the medication to the patient. Medications may arrive in a bubble pack, which can be repackaged by the Local Repository or dispensed as-is. By law, medications may only be dispensed by professionals authorized to dispense, which includes pharmacists and most prescribers.