The Wayne County Health Department’s 340B federal drug program has improved and is in good shape moving forward, according to the department’s consultant.
Joshua Free of Nelco Advisory reported audit findings during the Wayne County Board of Health’s Aug. 11 meeting. Free said the audit was “unexciting,” just like it should be. Nelco was contracted during January 2025 as the consultant for the program that enables the health department to purchase discounted outpatient drugs from pharmaceutical manufacturers.
Free said he would help the health department remain current with small changes made to the federal program, including state Medicaid changes. He also would have some recommendations, such as minor changes to departmental polices and the structure of internal review of claims. He is recommending the department end contracts with two pharmacies not currently being used in the program and explore adding Walgreens as a contract pharmacy.
Free also is working with the department as it prepares to dispense drugs itself, enabling it to keep more of the revenue generated. He said that would likely begin within 30 to 45 days.
During the meeting, Dr. Jennifer Bales, the county’s health officer, noted that vaccinations for students are available from the health department, 100 S. Fifth St., Richmond. During the 2025-26 school year, 87.6% of Wayne County kindergartners were fully vaccinated, she said, topping the state average of 85.2%.
Bales also said the county has had 10 confirmed cases of cyclosporiasis, an intestinal infection caused by a parasite. The local cases peaked during the second week of July and no new cases had been reported in a week.
A version of this article appeared in the August 19 2026 print edition of the Western Wayne News.
