The Wayne County Health Department will try for six months dispensing drugs through the federal 340B program, which ensures eligible health organizations receive significant discounts primarily on expensive HIV and hepatitis C medications.
During their May 20 meeting, Wayne County’s commissioners approved a contract with RxFusion for the trial period. Joshua Free, who founded RxFusion and is the department’s 340B consultant through Nelco, appeared during the meeting by Zoom from Oregon. Free designed a program for the health department to dispense the medications without using a pharmacy.
By dispensing the drugs itself, the health department avoids paying percentages to the contracted pharmacy and a third-party payer. Those percentages total 31% of the revenue the health department receives. The change does not impact what the health department bills patients’ insurance carriers.
During the trial period, the health department would pay RxFusion 10%. That would change to 12% or a monthly minimum $1,000 if the program continues past the trial period. Burk said he would not feel comfortable self-dispensing without the trial period.
If the health department wants to continue the program beyond the six months, RxFusion prefers a five-year contract.
Free said two to three months are necessary to align insurance companies and implement the program. The six-month trial will begin on the yet-to-be-determined go-live date.
Commissioner Jeff Plasterer told Free that the commissioners appreciate how he has worked with the health department and the county in his consulting role and in developing the self-dispensing program.
Primex grant
Commissioners approved an $85,000 economic development income tax grant for Primex Plastics.
Primex plans to invest $8 million in a new line and add six jobs.
Commissioner Aaron Roberts said he appreciates Primex being good partners with the county and community.
A version of this article appeared in the May 27 2026 print edition of the Western Wayne News.