Welvista marks 25th anniversary with new headquarters and recognition of champions

Welvista marked its 25th anniversary with the grand opening of its new headquarters at 121 Greystone Boulevard on Tuesday, November 29.

Welvista is a 501(c)3 organization that helps uninsured and underserved South Carolinians gain access to essential health services while reducing the long-term health care costs that can result from untreated conditions. Founded in 1991, Welvista provides free medications for the treatment of chronic disease to more than 14,000 adults each year and provides routine dental care to more than 3,600 children in four school districts.

Of the 300,000 South Carolinians who are uninsured, many suffer from chronic conditions like diabetes, depression and hypertension. Welvista partners with pharmaceutical companies, community leaders and medical professionals to bring life-saving medications to vulnerable populations.

The prescription assistance program provides a single access point to over 170 free medications needed to treat chronic illnesses. Welvista collaborates with pharmaceutical companies to accept donations of brand-name drugs and uses charitable contributions to buy additional generic prescriptions.

To qualify for the program, patients must be a resident of South Carolina, uninsured and live at or below 200% of federal poverty guidelines. Patients are identified by a healthcare provider and connected with a patient advocate, or they may apply directly to be considered for eligibility. Welvista provides a simple application process and once approved, free prescription medications are mailed to the patient’s home.

In 2015, Welvista filled 95,000 prescriptions at an average wholesale price of $78 million. The new 5,288 square-foot pharmacy on Greystone Boulevard represents an 85 percent increase in space over Welvista’s previous location in Forest Acres. The organization is projecting a 32 percent increase in patients and an 80 percent increase in prescriptions filled for 2016.

Welvista’s pediatric dental program provides routine dental care and restorative services to impoverished children through dental clinics in high-need school districts. The clinics are located on school grounds, removing transportation barriers in South Carolina’s rural communities. Currently, the program offers services in Allendale, Dillon, Manning and Summerton.

The Surgeon General ranks oral healthcare as the number one most common chronic disease in children, five times greater than asthma. Approximately one-third of the children in South Carolina are in need of dental care. In the regions Welvista serves, more than 75 percent of the children are unable to receive oral healthcare, which can impact a child’s ability to learn and is often a precursor to other medical issues.

Since 2004, 14,636 students have received dental care through Welvista’s program with 82,000 fillings and sealants provided.

“We believe that no one should be without basic health services,” said Juanita Wright, Welvista’s CEO. “We directly address this gap by mobilizing resources that make essential services like chronic disease medication and pediatric dental care available to this population at no cost, and without transportation barriers. In doing so, we are directly improving lives while reducing the long-term costs of health care in our state.”

During the grand opening ceremony attended by more than 150 healthcare partners, donors and supporters, Board Chair Lathran Woodard recognized 24 individuals and businesses as “Welvista Champions” for their dedicated service and commitment to the organization. Honorees included:

• Baker and Baker Foundation
• The Family of Dr. Bart Barone
• Bignon Family Foundation
• BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina
• Burgess Mills & Associates
• Callison Tighe & Robinson
• The Duke Endowment
• First Citizens Bank
• Lexington Medical Center
• Anya Martin
• Michael J. Mungo Foundation
• Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough
• Marlena Myers
• Nexsen Pruet
• The Nord Family Foundation
• Palmetto Health
• Providence Health
• Sisters of Charity Foundation
• South Carolina Department of Health and Human Services
• South Carolina Hospital Association
• South State Bank
• Spartanburg Regional Healthcare System
• Anne Wilson
• Juanita Wright

Springhill Construction served as the general contractor on the renovations of Welvista’s new headquarters with architectural services provided by Sherer and Associates.