HealthNet and AndHealth Open New Pharmacy in Indianapolis to Expand Affordable Medication Access and Integrated Specialty Care
HealthNet and AndHealth have officially opened the new HealthNet Pharmacy at the Barrington Health & Dental Center on Indianapolis’ east side, marking a significant step forward in expanding affordable medication access, specialty pharmacy services, and coordinated healthcare support for residents across Central Indiana. Community leaders, healthcare professionals, elected officials, patients, and partners gathered this week to celebrate the ribbon-cutting ceremony, highlighting the growing need for accessible pharmacy services in communities facing healthcare disparities and increasing barriers to treatment.
The new pharmacy, located within HealthNet Specialty Care at Barrington Health & Dental Center, represents a major investment in patient-centered healthcare and reinforces HealthNet’s mission to ensure that individuals and families have convenient access to the medications and support services they need. The initiative was developed through a partnership with AndHealth, a healthcare organization based in Columbus, Ohio, that specializes in improving outcomes and access to specialty care and specialty pharmacy services for Community Health Centers nationwide.
Healthcare leaders say the pharmacy expansion arrives at a critical time as communities throughout Indiana and across the country continue to experience pharmacy closures, workforce shortages, and growing healthcare access challenges. These issues often have the greatest impact on medically underserved populations, including low-income families, Medicaid beneficiaries, seniors, individuals with chronic diseases, and patients who require specialty medications to manage complex health conditions.
René Kougel, President and Chief Executive Officer of HealthNet, emphasized that the new pharmacy reflects the organization’s long-standing commitment to reducing barriers to care and improving health outcomes throughout the region.
“This pharmacy represents access, partnership, and our commitment to making healthcare easier to navigate for the patients and families who count on us every day,” Kougel said during the ceremony. “For many individuals, a trusted pharmacist is an essential member of their healthcare team. Access to medications can determine whether a patient successfully manages a chronic condition, avoids hospitalization, or achieves better overall health. We want every patient who walks through our doors to have the support they need to thrive.”
The expanded pharmacy provides a comprehensive range of services designed to simplify medication management and improve continuity of care. In addition to traditional retail pharmacy services, patients can access specialty medications, prescription affordability programs, medication counseling, insurance navigation assistance, prior authorization support, medication delivery options, and coordinated care services that connect pharmacists directly with HealthNet’s physicians and healthcare teams.
By integrating pharmacy services within the same healthcare environment where patients receive primary and specialty medical care, HealthNet aims to eliminate many of the obstacles that often delay treatment. Patients can now benefit from a more streamlined healthcare experience in which providers, pharmacists, and care coordinators work together to address medication-related concerns and ensure timely access to treatment.
The collaboration with AndHealth further strengthens this integrated model by bringing specialized expertise in managing complex conditions that often require costly medications, extensive insurance approvals, and ongoing patient monitoring. Through the partnership, patients gain access to enhanced specialty pharmacy resources while remaining connected to their trusted healthcare providers within the HealthNet system.
HealthNet serves a patient population that frequently faces economic and social challenges affecting healthcare access. According to organizational leaders, approximately 96 percent of HealthNet patients live at or below 200 percent of the federal poverty level, while nearly 80 percent are either enrolled in Medicaid or lack health insurance altogether. For many individuals in these circumstances, obtaining medications can be complicated by transportation difficulties, financial limitations, pharmacy closures, and administrative barriers associated with insurance coverage.
Healthcare advocates note that pharmacy deserts—areas with limited access to nearby pharmacies—have become an increasing concern in many communities. When local pharmacies close, patients often must travel farther distances to fill prescriptions, creating challenges that can result in missed medications, delayed treatment, and worsening health conditions.
Kougel noted that HealthNet recognized the growing impact of these challenges and viewed the pharmacy expansion as an opportunity to provide a reliable healthcare resource for vulnerable populations.
When a pharmacy closes, it creates real barriers for patients,” Kougel said. “The consequences extend beyond inconvenience. Missed prescriptions and delayed treatments can have serious effects on health outcomes. Our goal is to remove those barriers and ensure patients have access to the medications and care coordination they deserve.”
The pharmacy’s expanded capabilities are expected to benefit patients managing chronic illnesses such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, asthma, autoimmune disorders, and other complex medical conditions that require ongoing medication therapy. By offering specialty pharmacy services on-site, HealthNet can assist patients with navigating financial assistance programs and identifying resources that help reduce out-of-pocket costs.
Alexandria Crumble-Owolabi, Pharmacy Manager at HealthNet Pharmacy, highlighted the importance of providing practical support for patients facing affordability challenges.
When we learned that several nearby pharmacies were unfortunately closing their doors, we knew we needed to act quickly to ensure patients continued to have access to pharmacy services,” Crumble-Owolabi said. “Our specialty pharmacy team works closely with patients to identify financial assistance opportunities and connect them with programs that can significantly reduce medication costs. In many cases, these resources help patients obtain life-changing treatments that might otherwise be financially out of reach.”
The ribbon-cutting ceremony attracted participation from numerous community stakeholders and public officials who emphasized the importance of strengthening healthcare infrastructure in underserved neighborhoods. Representatives from the offices of U.S. Senators Todd Young and Jim Banks, Congressman André Carson, Indiana State Senator Fady Qaddoura, and Indiana Family and Social Services Administration Secretary Mitch Roob attended the event to demonstrate support for initiatives that expand healthcare access.
Roob’s presence carried particular significance in light of Indiana’s recent decision to exempt Federally Qualified Health Centers from proposed Medicaid-related restrictions involving the federal 340B Drug Pricing Program. The program enables eligible healthcare organizations to purchase outpatient medications at discounted prices and reinvest savings into services that benefit vulnerable patient populations.
HealthNet leaders expressed appreciation to Governor Mike Braun, Secretary Roob, Indiana Medicaid Director Audrey Frenzel, and state policymakers for preserving the flexibility that allows community health centers to utilize 340B savings to enhance patient care and medication affordability.
Speaking during the event, Roob underscored the importance of ensuring patients can actually access the healthcare benefits available to them.
If you can’t access that Medicaid pharmacy benefit, do you really have it?” Roob said. “The objective is to make sure individuals can obtain the medications they need and receive the care they deserve. Access remains one of the most important components of an effective healthcare system.”
State Senator Fady Qaddoura echoed similar sentiments, emphasizing the broader impact that healthcare access has on families, workplaces, and communities.
Healthcare is deeply personal,” Qaddoura said. “When individuals have access to quality healthcare and affordable medications, families become stronger, communities become healthier, and people can continue contributing to the workforce and supporting those around them. Investments like this pharmacy help create opportunities for better health and greater stability.”
One of the most memorable moments of the ceremony came from HealthNet patient and Board Chair Toby Salyers, who shared his personal experience with the organization’s pharmacy services. Salyers explained that transferring his family’s prescriptions to HealthNet Pharmacy significantly reduced medication costs and simplified the process of managing ongoing healthcare needs.
Today, all of my prescriptions are filled at the HealthNet Pharmacy,” Salyers said. “When I transferred my medications and saw the cost, it felt like a tremendous relief. Having affordable access to prescriptions has made a meaningful difference for my family.”
Patient stories such as Salyers’ illustrate the practical impact that accessible pharmacy services can have on everyday lives. Healthcare providers note that affordability remains one of the leading reasons patients delay or forgo prescribed medications, making initiatives focused on cost reduction and care coordination especially valuable.
The opening of the new pharmacy further strengthens HealthNet’s position as one of Indiana’s leading providers of integrated community healthcare services. By combining primary care, specialty care, pharmacy services, behavioral health treatment, dental care, women’s health services, and social support programs under a coordinated care model, the organization seeks to address both medical and non-medical factors that influence health outcomes.
Founded in 1968, HealthNet has grown into one of Indiana’s largest Federally Qualified Health Centers, serving more than 55,000 patients annually throughout Marion, Monroe, and Morgan counties. The organization continues to focus on expanding access to high-quality, affordable healthcare for individuals and families regardless of income level, insurance status, or background.
With the opening of the new Barrington pharmacy, HealthNet and AndHealth are advancing a shared vision of healthcare that is more accessible, integrated, and patient-focused. Leaders from both organizations believe the investment will help improve medication adherence, strengthen care coordination, reduce treatment delays, and ultimately create healthier outcomes for thousands of residents across Central Indiana.
As healthcare systems nationwide continue to confront challenges related to affordability and access, the new HealthNet Pharmacy stands as an example of how collaborative community partnerships can help bridge gaps in care and ensure that patients receive the support necessary to manage their health with confidence and dignity.
About And Health
AndHealth helps Community Health Centers (CHCs) radically improve access and outcomes in specialty care for patients, providing everything CHCs need to deliver in-house specialty care and specialty and retail pharmacy, built for the unique needs of our medically underserved populations.
AndHealth is dedicated to helping CHCs become an even larger and more successful part of our healthcare system. Based in Columbus, Ohio, AndHealth is led by former CoverMyMeds co-founder and CEO Matt Scantland and the team that built Ohio’s first healthcare technology unicorn, who have dedicated their lives to transformative innovation that improves access for patients. AndHealth is supported by key investors including the American Medical Association’s innovation subsidiary, Francisco Partners, and the state of Ohio’s economic development organization.
