ImpactPharm, Inc

We're here for you.

Saving you time and money, starting with the line at the pharmacy.


We're here to help!


Our Pharmacist Coaches are knowledgeable about a variety of topics:


  • Cancer medications, treatments, and side effects

  • Medications, supplements or over-the-counter drugs that can be used while pregnant or breastfeeding

  • Chronic conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes, and high cholesterol


Happy patients, happy pharmacists!


  • Instant access to a pharmacist

  • Easily book an appointment



We believe in healthcare for everyone.


We aim to create a seamless experience for patients by reducing wait times, avoidable emergency room visits, and healthcare costs.


About Us

Meet the team


Kenneth Kao
Chief Technology Officer

Sophie Le
CEO / Co-founder
/ Pharmacist


Sarah Anderson
Pharmacist

Han Bao
Co-founder
/ Chief Strategy Officer


Jenna Carmichael
Pharmacist

Saikat Basu Majumder
Chief Advisor


Teresa Kao
Pharmacist

Plan of action

Stage 1

Research current ways to reduce out-of-pocket costs.



Stage 2

Explore pathways to deliver support to patients beyond what is currently available.


Stage 3

Develop our products:
IMPACTPHARMTM is our first mobile product. Our goal is to bridge the gap in healthcare and reduce the time it takes to get help by making pharmacist services accessible to all patients.


Stage 4

Aim for products that provide comprehensive coverage in addition to insurance.

Where are we now?

We are currently developing our first mobile platform, IMPACTPHARMTM, which is an app that allows patients to have direct access to pharmacists. The first prototype was created in December 2021, and we are now expanding our team.We are recruiting pharmacists, patients, and medical doctors who can test and provide feedback for our product.

Our core values

Sticking to our values drives us to make grounded, patient-focused decisions.

Happy

"Happy patients, happy pharmacists" is our slogan. We want to bring quality online healthcare to our patients to ease stress and let you get back to your life.

Care

We aspire to provide our patients with real care and real connection, so you know your voice is heard.

Simple

With ImpactPharm, technology and healthcare don't have to be complicated. We provide a convenient support system for you by simplifying every step so you can feel comfortable and relaxed when you need it most.

Innovative

We encourage the development of new and effective solutions in a world that is constantly changing.

Impactful

We see the reality of healthcare services in the US and how it creates issues for both the patients and pharmacists. Our services reduce these pain points.

Diversity

Valuing people for who they are as individuals and welcoming diverse perspectives which enables us to cater to all of our users.


Our Services

We're here for you!

Not sure if you are experiencing side effects due to medication? Questions about what over-the-counter product to get? Need help managing your prescriptions after chemotherapy?Our trained pharmacists can help you.

Talk with your personal pharmacist today!


Our Services

We're here for you!

Our pharmacists are knowledgeable about many different kinds of diets, and can help you determine which would be best for you.

Talk with your personal pharmacist today!


Our Services

We're here for you!

Pregnant or nursing? We can help protect your baby from health conditions and supply essential nutrients for their development.Our pharmacists can answer your questions about how your medications and supplements may affect your baby.

Talk with your personal pharmacist today!


Our Services

We're here for you!

Some supplements can interact with your medication and alter its effectiveness or safety.
Our pharmacists can help you choose trustworthy, effective products, and create a safe plan for taking them.

Talk with your personal pharmacist today!


Our Services

We're here for you!

Stress management techniques like exercise and meditation are valuable habits for maintaining your overall health.Looking for ways to incorporate these techniques into your life but have a hard time sticking to them? Our pharmacist coaches can help you find practices that work for you.

Talk with your personal pharmacist today!


End User Agreement

ImpactPharm, Inc.; a Delaware corporation
Terms of Use and Agreement (“End User License Agreement” or “Agreement”)

CAREFULLY READ THE FOLLOWING AGREEMENT. IT CONTAINS VERY IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT YOUR RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS, AS WELL AS LIMITATIONS AND EXCLUSIONS THAT MAY APPLY TO YOU. THIS DOCUMENT CONTAINS A DISPUTE RESOLUTION CLAUSE.

Software Product

This copy of ImpactPharm ("Software Product") and accompanying documentation is licensed and not sold. This Software Product is protected by copyright laws and treaties, as well as laws and treaties related to other forms of intellectual property. ImpactPharm, Inc. or its subsidiaries, affiliates, and suppliers (collectively "ImpactPharm") own intellectual property rights in the Software Product. The Licensee's ("you" or "your") license to download, use, copy, or change the Software Product is subject to these rights and to all the terms and conditions of this End User Agreement ("Agreement").


Acceptance

In order to access or use the Software Product, this Agreement must be accepted by You and ImpactPharm. You may indicate acceptance of this Agreement by: (1) by electronic acceptance indicating that You accept the Agreement; or (2) by accessing, using, printing, and/or displaying the Software Product. If You submit a purchase order for any products or services covered by this Agreement, You agree that any pre-printed terms of such purchase order shall not apply or modify this Agreement and that this Agreement shall solely control and govern the transaction between You and ImpactPharm shall constitute acceptance of this Agreement.You accept and agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement by selecting the "accept" option to register an account with ImpactPharm, upload certain identifying information, and gaining access to the services and software. You must agree to all of the terms of this agreement before you will be allowed to access the services and software.If you do not agree to all of the terms of this agreement, you must select exit out of the app and you must not install, use, not copy the software product not access, use, print, or display the services.Your use of the Software Product constitutes your express acceptance without reservation to the terms and conditions of this Agreement.


License Grant

ImpactPharm hereby grants to You and You hereby accept from ImpactPharm a limited, non-exclusive, non-transferable, revocable license to access, print and use the Software Product for the limited purposes of assessing academic achievement and instruction of each Licensed User associated with You, under the terms of this Agreement and only for Your business or professional activities.
All intellectual property rights in and to the Software Product and the website of ImpactPharm, and all other Software Product shall remain solely vested in, to and with ImpactPharm.


Fee Dispute Process

You shall pay all undisputed fees when due. In the event that You have a bona fide dispute about any fees, You shall pay the undisputed portion of the Fees and You shall bring details of such dispute to the attention of ImpactPharm and the parties shall work together in good faith in an attempt to resolve any such dispute.


Password Confidentiality

You are solely responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of Your password and agree that ImpactPharm has no obligations with regard to the use by third parties of such password. You are entirely responsible for any activity occurring under Your account and password, as well as the passwords of all Licensed Users within Your account. You agree to notify ImpactPharm immediately if You have any reason to believe that the security of Your data or any password has been compromised.


HIPAA and Confidentiality

You are solely responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of all information or documents that You access or download from ImpactPharm. You should be aware that HIPAA contains certain prohibitions on the disclosure of confidential healthcare information to third parties.


Restrictions on Transfer

Without first obtaining the express written consent of ImpactPharm, you may not assign your rights and obligations under this Agreement, or redistribute, encumber, sell, rent, lease, sublicense, or otherwise transfer your rights to the Software Product.


Restrictions on Use

This license entitles you to install and use one copy of the Software Product. In addition, you may make one archival copy of the Software Product. The archival copy must be on a storage medium other than a hard drive, and may only be used for the reinstallation of the Software Product. You may not use, copy, or install the Software Product on any system with more than one computer, or permit the use, copying, or installation of the Software Product by more than one user or on more than one computer. If you hold multiple, validly licensed copies, you may not use, copy, or install the Software Product on any system with more than the number of computers permitted by license, or permit the use, copying, or installation by more users, or on more computers than the number permitted by license.You may not decompile, "reverse-engineer", disassemble, or otherwise attempt to derive the source code for the Software Product.You may not use the database portion of the Software Product in connection with any software other than the Software Product.This Agreement does not permit the installation or use of multiple copies of the Software Product, or the installation of the Software Product on more than one computer at any given time, on a system that allows shared used of applications, on a multi-user network, or on any configuration or system of computers that allows multiple users.


Restrictions on Alteration

You may not modify the Software Product or create any derivative work of the Software Product or its accompanying documentation. Derivative works include but are not limited to translations. You may not alter any files or libraries in any portion of the Software Product. You may not reproduce any database portion or create any tables or reports relating to the database portion.


Restrictions on Copying

You may not copy any part of the Software Product, except to the extent that licensed use inherently demands the creation of a temporary copy stored in computer memory and not permanently affixed on a storage medium. You may make one archival copy which must be stored on a medium other than a computer hard drive.


Limited Software Product Warranty

For a period of thirty (30) days from the date that You download the Software Product, ImpactPharm warrants that when properly installed and used under normal conditions, the Software Product will perform substantially as advertised.


Disclaimer of Warranties and Limitation of Liability

Unless otherwise explicitly agreed to in writing by ImpactPharm, ImpactPharm makes no other warranties, express or implied, in fact or in law, including, but not limited to, any implied warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose other than as set forth in this agreement or in any documents provided with the software product.YOU ACCEPT AND AGREE TO BE BOUND BY THE TERMS OF THIS AGREEMENT BY SELECTING THE "ACCEPT" OPTION TO REGISTER AN ACCOUNT WITH IMPACTPHARM, UPLOAD CERTAIN IDENTIFYING INFORMATION, AND GAINING ACCESS TO THE SERVICES AND SOFTWARE. YOU MUST AGREE TO ALL OF THE TERMS OF THIS AGREEMENT BEFORE YOU WILL BE ALLOWED TO ACCESS THE SERVICES AND SOFTWARE.IF YOU DO NOT AGREE TO ALL OF THE TERMS OF THIS AGREEMENT, YOU MUST SELECT EXIT OUT OF THE APP AND YOU MUST NOT INSTALL, USE, NOT COPY THE SOFTWARE PRODUCT NOT ACCESS, USE, PRINT, OR DISPLAY THE SERVICES.Because some states or jurisdictions may not allow the exclusion or the limitation of liability for consequential or incidental damages, in such states or jurisdictions, such liability shall be limited to the full extent permitted by law.


End of License

Upon expiration or termination of this Agreement, the license granted above shall automatically and immediately terminate and You agree not to access, print, display, or use the Software Product and, upon request of ImpactPharm, to return the Software Product to ImpactPharm or destroy and certify to ImpactPharm the manner and date that You destroyed the Software Product.


Violation of this Agreement

If you violate this Agreement, ImpactPharm reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to immediately terminate your access to the Software Product, including any and all accounts you have established. You acknowledge that we are not required to notify you prior to terminating any such account.


Limitation of Remedies and Damages

Your remedy for a breach of this Agreement or of any warranty included in this Agreement is the correction or replacement of the Software Product. Selection of whether to correct or replace shall be solely at the discretion of ImpactPharm. ImpactPharm reserves the right to substitute a functionally equivalent copy of the Software Product as a replacement. If ImpactPharm is unable to provide a replacement or substitute Software Product or corrections to the Software Product, your sole alternate remedy shall be a refund of the purchase price for the Software Product exclusive of any costs for shipping and handling.Any claim must be made within the applicable warranty period. All warranties, if any, cover only defects arising under normal use and do not include malfunctions or failure resulting from misuse, abuse, neglect, alteration, problems with electrical power, acts of nature, unusual temperatures or humidity, improper installation, or damage determined by ImpactPharm to have been caused by you. All limited warranties on the Software Product are granted only to you and are non-transferable. You agree to indemnify and hold ImpactPharm harmless from all claims, judgments, liabilities, expenses, or costs arising from your breach of this Agreement and/or acts or omissions.


Import Taxes and Fees

When you acquire items, physical or otherwise, for delivery outside the United States, you are considered an importer and, as between you and ImpactPharm, you will be responsible for payment of all taxes, duties, fees or other charges that may be applicable to such importation, including VAT, and you must comply with all laws and regulations of the country in which you are receiving the goods. Your privacy is important to us and we know that you care about how information about your order is used and shared. We would like our international Users and Users dispatching products internationally to be aware that cross-border deliveries are subject to opening and inspection by customs authorities.


Export Control Laws

Software Product may be subject to United States and international export controls. By accessing the Software Product, you warrant that you are not located in any country, or exporting any product or service, to any person or place to which the United States, European Union or any other jurisdiction has embargoed goods or which place restrictions on you that hinder, prohibit, or prevent you from accessing the Software Product. You agree to abide by all applicable export control laws and further agree not to transfer or upload, by any means electronic or otherwise, any Software Product that may be subject to restrictions under such laws to a national destination prohibited by such laws without obtaining and complying with any required governmental authorizations.


Governing Law, Jurisdiction and Costs

This Agreement is governed by the laws of Minnesota, and the laws of the United States and international treaties, without regard to conflict of law provisions.


Severability

If any provision of this Agreement shall be held to be invalid or unenforceable, the remainder of this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect. To the extent any express or implied restrictions are not permitted by applicable laws, these express or implied restrictions shall remain in force and effect to the maximum extent permitted by such applicable laws.


Waiver

Failure of either party to object to any act or omission of the other party, no matter how long the same may continue, shall not be deemed to be a waiver by such party of any of its rights hereunder. No waiver by any party at any time of any other provision of this Agreement shall be deemed a waiver or breach of any other provision of this Agreement or consent to any subsequent breach of the same of any other provision hereunder. If any act or omission by any party shall require the consent or approval of another party, such consent or approval of such act or omission on any one occasion shall not be deemed a consent to or approval of such act or omission on any subsequent occasion or consent to or approval of any other act or omission on the same or any subsequent occasion. Waiver of any rights or remedies must be in a signed writing by the waiving party.


Modifications to Agreement and Software Product

ImpactPharm may add, change, discontinue, remove, or suspend any of the information, products, names, images, pictures, graphs, trademarks, icons, documents and Software Product, or features and specifications of products described, depicted, or posted within the Software Product and Subscription Service temporarily or permanently, at any time, to the extent it deems necessary without notice and without liability.


Survival

Any provisions of this Agreement which requires performance or grants a benefit after termination of this Agreement shall be deemed to survive the termination of this Agreement.


Interpretation

This Agreement shall be fairly interpreted in accordance with its terms and without any strict construction in favor of or against either party. Any ambiguity shall not be interpreted against the drafting party.


Entire Agreement

This Agreement set forth the entire understanding of the parties in respect of the transactions contemplated hereby and supersede all prior arrangements and understandings, whether written or oral, relating to the subject matter hereof.

Contact Information

ImpactPharm welcomes your questions or comments regarding this Statement of Privacy. If you believe that ImpactPharm has not adhered to this Statement, please contact ImpactPharm at:


ImpactPharm, Inc
801 S Marquette Ave #225 Minneapolis, MN 55402
Email Address:
sophie@impactpharm.dev


Telephone number:
612-471-6596
Effective as of April 06, 2022Or contact us.

Privacy Policy

Protecting your private information is our priority. This Statement of Privacy applies to ImpactPharm, Inc and governs data collection and usage. The ImpactPharm application is a web and mobile application. By using the ImpactPharm application, you consent to the data practices described in this statement.

Collection of your Personal Information

In order to better provide you with products and services offered, ImpactPharm may collect personally identifiable information,
such as your:
• First and Last Name
• Mailing Address
• Email Address
• Phone Number
If you purchase ImpactPharm's products and services, we collect billing and credit card information.
This information is used to complete the purchase transaction.
ImpactPharm may also collect anonymous demographic information, which is not unique to you, such as your:• Age
• Gender
• Race
• Household Income
We do not collect any personal information about you unless you voluntarily provide it to us. However, you may be required to provide certain personal information to us when you elect to use certain products or services. These may include: (a) registering for an account; (b) entering a sweepstakes or contest sponsored by us or one of our partners; (c) signing up for special offers from selected third parties; (d) sending us an email message; (e) submitting your credit card or other payment information when ordering and purchasing products and services. To wit, we will use your information for, but not limited to, communicating with you in relation to services and/or products you have requested from us. We also may gather additional personal or non-personal information in the future.


Use of your Personal Information

ImpactPharm collects and uses your personal information to operate and deliver the services you have requested.ImpactPharm may also use your personally identifiable information to inform you of other products or services available from ImpactPharm and its affiliates.


Sharing Information with Third Parties

ImpactPharm does not sell, rent or lease its customer lists to third parties.ImpactPharm may, from time to time, contact you on behalf of external business partners about a particular offering that may be of interest to you. In those cases, your unique personally identifiable information (e-mail, name, address, telephone number) is transferred to the third party.ImpactPharm may share data with trusted partners to help perform statistical analysis, send you email or postal mail, provide customer support, or arrange for deliveries. All such third parties are prohibited from using your personal information except to provide these services to ImpactPharm, and they are required to maintain the confidentiality of your information.ImpactPharm may disclose your personal information, without notice, if required to do so by law or in the good faith belief that such action is necessary to: (a) conform to the edicts of the law or comply with legal process served on ImpactPharm or the site; (b) protect and defend the rights or property of ImpactPharm; and/or (c) act under exigent circumstances to protect the personal safety of users of ImpactPharm, or the public.


Opt-Out of Disclosure of Personal Information to Third Parties

In connection with any personal information we may disclose to a third party for a business purpose, you have the right to know: the categories of personal information that we disclosed about you for a business purpose.You have the right under the California Consumer Privacy Act of 2018 (CCPA) and certain other privacy and data protection laws, as applicable, to opt-out of the disclosure of your personal information. If you exercise your right to opt-out of the disclosure of your personal information, we will refrain from disclosing your personal information, unless you subsequently provide express authorization for the disclosure of your personal information. To opt-out of the disclosure of your personal information, visit this Web page.


Security of your Personal Information

ImpactPharm secures your personal information from unauthorized access, use, or disclosure.ImpactPharm uses encryption and Jumio for this purpose.We strive to take appropriate security measures to protect against unauthorized access to or alteration of your personal information. Unfortunately, no data transmission over the Internet or any wireless network can be guaranteed to be 100% secure. As a result, while we strive to protect your personal information, you acknowledge that: (a) there are security and privacy limitations inherent to the Internet which are beyond our control; and (b) security, integrity, and privacy of any and all information and data exchanged between you and us through this Site cannot be guaranteed.


Right to Deletion

Subject to certain exceptions set out below, on receipt of a verifiable request from you, we will:• Delete your personal information from our records; and
• Direct any service providers to delete your personal information from their records.
Please note that we may not be able to comply with requests to delete your personal information if it is necessary to:• Complete the transaction for which the personal information was collected, fulfill the terms of a written warranty or product recall conducted in accordance with federal law, provide a good or service requested by you, or reasonably anticipated within the context of our ongoing business relationship with you, or otherwise perform a contract between you and us;• Detect security incidents, protect against malicious, deceptive, fraudulent, or illegal activity; or prosecute those responsible for that activity;• Debug to identify and repair errors that impair existing intended functionality;• Exercise free speech, ensure the right of another consumer to exercise his or her right of free speech, or exercise another right provided for by law;• Comply with the California Electronic Communications Privacy Act;• Engage in public or peer-reviewed scientific, historical, or statistical research in the public interest that adheres to all other applicable ethics and privacy laws, when our deletion of the information is likely to render impossible or seriously impair the achievement of such research, provided we have obtained your informed consent;• Enable solely internal uses that are reasonably aligned with your expectations based on your relationship with us;• Comply with an existing legal obligation; or• Otherwise use your personal information, internally, in a lawful manner that is compatible with the context in which you provided the information.


Children Under Thirteen

ImpactPharm does not knowingly collect personally identifiable information from children under the age of thirteen. If you are under the age of thirteen, you must ask your parent or guardian for permission to use this application.


Opt-Out & Unsubscribe from Third Party Communications

We respect your privacy and give you an opportunity to opt-out of receiving announcements of certain information. Users may opt-out of receiving any or all communications from third-party partners of ImpactPharm by contacting us here:• Web page: impactfarm.us
• Email: it@impactpharm.dev
• Phone: 6124716596


E-mail Communications

From time to time, ImpactPharm may contact you via email for the purpose of providing announcements, promotional offers, alerts, confirmations, surveys, and/or other general
communication. In order to improve our Services, we may receive a notification when you open an
email from ImpactPharm or click on a link therein.
If you would like to stop receiving marketing or promotional communications via email from
ImpactPharm, you may opt out of such communications by replying STOP.


External Data Storage Sites

We may store your data on servers provided by third party hosting vendors with whom we have contracted.


Changes to this Statement

ImpactPharm reserves the right to change this Privacy Policy from time to time. We will notify you about significant changes in the way we treat personal information by sending a notice to the primary email address specified in your account, by placing a prominent notice on our application, and/or by updating any privacy information. Your continued use of the application and/or Services available after such modifications will constitute your: (a) acknowledgment of the modified Privacy Policy; and (b) agreement to abide and be bound by that Policy.

Contact Information

ImpactPharm welcomes your questions or comments regarding this Statement of Privacy. If you believe that ImpactPharm has not adhered to this Statement, please contact ImpactPharm at:


ImpactPharm, Inc
929 Portland Ave #1706
Minneapolis, Minnesota 55404
Email Address:
sophie@impactpharm.dev


Telephone number:
6124716596
Effective as of April 06, 2022Or contact us.

User Guide

Simple touch for better healthcare.

  • Contact a licensed medical professional just about anywhere

  • Our pharmacist coaches help you get back on track with your health and give you personalized recommendations

  • Get a summary of each appointment, right in the app

How it works

Step 1
Set up your account in minutes

After downloading the ImpactPharm app, you just need to fill out basic information and your medical history.


Step 2
Select your preferred pharmacist

Choose a pharmacist based on your preference (consultation fee, expertise, etc.) and you're ready to book an appointment!


Step 3
You’re good to go!

After each session, you will receive a summary from your pharmacist. These are always available to your within the app.

Got questions?

Check out our Frequently Asked Questions.

Help & FAQs

1. How do I register for an account?

  • Our app tutorial video provides a step-by-step instructional guide for setting up your ImpactPharm account. Check out the tutorial here.


2. How do I book a conversation with a pharmacist?

  • Once you have registered for an account via the ImpactPharm app, you can browse pharmacists and select one based on factors such as price, specialty, and proximity.

  • Tap on the pharmacist's profile, and you will be taken to their Booking page, which includes a calendar of the pharmacist's availability. Select a date that works for you, pay the appointment fee, and you're good to go!

  • Your appointment will take place within the app, from the video call feature found by tapping the chat bubble icon on the bottom of the screen.


3. How do I cancel or reschedule an appointment?

  • Once you open the app, go to your account page by tapping the profile icon in the bottom right.

  • Then tap My Appointments. From here, you can view each appointment you have booked, with the option to cancel or reschedule by tapping the "Change" button at the bottom of the screen.


4. I forgot my password, how can I reset it?

  • If you forgot your password, tap "Forgot password" at the bottom of the screen when you open the app. Enter your phone number, and a code will be sent to your phone. The app will then prompt you to enter this 6-digit code within 30 seconds. Once you submit the code, you will be asked to reset your password. Afer you submit new password that complies with the rules, you can log in from the start screen as usual.


5. How do I delete my account?

  • To delete your account, log in and tap the profile icon at the bottom right. Then tap Settings > Remove Account. Once you have confirmed that you want to remove your account, you will be sent an email outlining your request for deletion. If you decide not to delete your account after submitting a request, you have 24 hours to email our support team at help@impactpharm.dev and let us know to restore your account.


6. I am having issues logging into my account. What should I do?

  • If you are having trouble logging in to the app, email help@impactpharm.dev. If can not log in because you forgot your password, tap "Forgot Password" at the bottom of the login screen.


7. I accidentally deleted my account, what should I do?

  • You have 24 hours after you submit your request for account deletion to recover your account. You can do this by emailing our support team at help@impactpharm.dev and letting us know that you deleted your account by mistake.


8. My account has been locked, how do I unlock it?

  • To unlock your account, email help@impactpharm.dev for instructions specific to why your account was locked.


9. How does ImpactPharm protect my private health information?

  • As outlined in our Privacy Policy, "ImpactPharm does not sell, rent or lease its customer lists to third parties." If you would like more information on how we use your data, click here.

Don't see what you're looking for? Contact us.

Help & FAQs

1. What are some procedures or drugs available to treat cancer?

  • There are many ways to treat cancer. Usually, a combination of surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy is used. The order and how much treatment a person is prescribed depends on the type of cancer and the stage when the cancer is diagnosed. For example, early-stage cancers may need only surgery and radiation to complete treatment. Later stage and metastatic cancers may only use chemotherapy.


2. What are the typical side effects of chemotherapy?

  • Traditional intravenous (IV) Chemotherapy targets rapidly dividing cells. These are usually cancer cells but there are also other cells in your body that rapidly divide - these are the cells lining your gut, your skin cells, your hair cells, and your bone marrow (where you make your immune and blood cells). This helps explain some of the side effects we see - nausea and vomiting, hair loss, rashes, mouth sores, diarrhea, and low blood counts.

  • Newer treatments, called Targeted Therapy, can be given through the vein or in a pill taken at home. These have a variety of side effects that are different than the ones we see with Traditional Chemotherapy. We can see changes in thyroid gland function, rashes on the face, hands and feet, hair discoloration, and others. The side effects are different with each drug, talk with your pharmacist for more information on your specific medications.

  • The newest therapy available is called Immunotherapy. These treatments make your immune system work better by unmasking the cancer cells. Side effects of these treatments include chills, constipation, coughing, decreased appetite, diarrhea, fatigue, fever and flu-like symptoms, headache, infusion-related reaction or injection site pain, itching, localized rashes and/or blisters, nausea, shortness of breath, or weight loss. These are not all of the potential side effects. Please contact your doctor or pharmacist if you have questions about your therapy or side effects.


3. Are there any vitamins or dietary supplements I should take during cancer therapy?

  • Yes, there are many supplements that can be added to help make cancer treatment a bit easier. However, like cancer treatment, there is no “one size fits all” when it comes to adding on supplements. If you are interested in adding supplements with good quality evidence to support their use in cancer treatment, please contact one of our pharmacists and we would be happy to support you.


4. What should I eat while on cancer treatment?

  • Diet is very important when it comes to how you feel while on treatment. There will be days that you don’t feel like eating, that’s ok but it is important to keep a stable weight. Have snacks prepared and ready to eat from the fridge (yogurt, cheese and crackers, apple and peanut butter, protein shakes, vegetable juices, etc) if you may become nauseated - sometimes the smell of cooking food can make nausea worse. Smaller, bland meals can help if you have an upset stomach. If you would like personalized guidance on what to eat while on treatment, talk with one of our pharmacists.


5. What follow-ups will I need after treatment (e.g. blood tests, imaging tests)?

  • Once you are finished with treatment, you go into surveillance. You will still be followed by your doctor, just not with the same intensity. Research suggests that side effects such as neuropathy (numbness and tingling in fingers and toes) will get better during the 6 months following finishing with treatment. If you have lasting side effects from your cancer treatment and would like advice on how to manage them, contact our pharmacists for support!


Talk with your personal pharmacist today!

Help & FAQs

1. How does pregnancy affect the pharmacokinetics of medications?

  • The physiological changes that occur with pregnancy can affect the absorption, metabolism, and clearance of medication. Certain medications can reach the fetus and either directly or indirectly cause harm. The first trimester is a crucial period; most birth defects are most likely to occur during the first trimester.


2. What medications have known teratogenic risks?

Definition: A teratogen halts the pregnancy or produces a birth defect.Some medications with known teratogenic risks include:

  • Some medications with known teratogenic risks include:

  • Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACE-I)

  • Angiotensin-II receptor blockers (ARBs)

  • Antiepileptic drugs

  • Warfarin

  • Tetracyclines

  • Fluoroquinolones

  • Trimethoprim

  • Vitamin A/Vitamin A derivatives


3. Who is at increased risk of nutrient deficiencies when pregnant?

In the U.S. certain women may be at increased risk for nutrient deficiencies, including:

  • Adolescents

  • Smokers

  • Vegetarians

  • Substance abusers

  • History of bariatric surgery

  • History of malabsorption syndromes

  • Pregnant with multiples

If you fall into one of these categories above, consider consulting with a dietitian to ensure adequate nutritional intake.
Feel free to ask one of our pharmacists for a referral!


4. What are some common vitamin and mineral supplements recommended in pregnancy?

During pregnancy, adequate maternal iron intake is needed to maintain sufficient red blood cell production for an expanding plasma volume. Iron-deficiency anemia appears to occur in approximately 20% of patients and may be associated with adverse outcomes, including preterm labor, low birth weight, and impaired fetal brain development.

  • Iron consumption of approximately 30 mg/day, an amount that is found in most prenatal vitamin supplements, is generally recommended to prevent iron-deficiency anemia.

  • Pregnant women who are found to suffer from iron-deficiency anemia should receive further supplementation of 30 mg to 120 mg/day to correct their condition.

Adequate maternal intake of folic acid is essential to prevent neural-tube defects in the developing fetus.

  • It is generally recommended that women receive folic-acid supplements of 0.4 mg to 0.8 mg daily starting 1 month before conception to reduce the risk of neural-tube defects in the newborn.

  • Most multivitamin prenatal supplements contain the recommended folic-acid requirement.

  • Women at high risk of having a child with neural-tube defects may receive supplementation as high as 1 mg to 4 mg daily for the first 12 weeks of gestation.

Calcium is important for proper fetal skeletal development as well as for maintaining and regulating maternal blood pressure during pregnancy. Although the daily recommended allowance of 1,000 mg of calcium for women does not differ based on pregnancy status, it is estimated that almost a quarter of all pregnant woman in the U.S. consume suboptimal quantities of this element.

  • Supplementation with 1 gram to 2 grams of calcium daily is recommended for women with low baseline dietary calcium intake and high-risk pregnant patients as a means to minimize the risk of preeclampsia.

Vitamin D deficiency is a common finding in pregnant women in the U.S., with an estimated prevalence of approximately 33%. Vitamin D deficiency has been associated with several negative health outcomes to both the mother and fetus including preeclampsia, gestational diabetes, postpartum depression, and low birth weight.

  • Currently, the clear clinical benefit of routine vitamin D supplementation is controversial. However, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) recommends routine supplementation of vitamin D with doses that are generally included in a prenatal vitamin (approximately 400 IU).


5. What immunizations are recommended in pregnancy?

The adherence to recommended vaccination schedules during pregnancy is essential to maintain adequate protection of both the mother and fetus against a variety of vaccine-preventable pathogens. Numerous agencies including the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA), and ACOG have published general recommendations for the immunization of pregnant women. Ideally, women should receive all recommended vaccines prior to conception and in accordance with the CDC-recommended adult-immunization schedule. The immunization of women during pregnancy is generally recommended for susceptible patients when the risks to the mother and/or fetus are high and the administration of the vaccine is unlikely to cause harm.

  • Immunizations that are recommended for all pregnant women as a routine part of prenatal care include the inactivated influenza vaccine (within season) and the adult formulation of the tetanus, diphtheria, acellular pertussis vaccine.

  • ACIP recommends that all women who are or who might be pregnant during the influenza season receive the inactivated influenza vaccine as soon as it becomes available, and prior to the onset of influenza activity in their community. This recommendation is based on observations that pregnant and postpartum women are at a higher risk for severe illness and complications from influenza. Any licensed, recommended, and age-appropriate inactivated influenza vaccine can be administered regardless of the stage of pregnancy.

  • In addition to the influenza vaccine, all pregnant women are recommended to receive the tetanus toxoid, reduced diphtheria toxoid, and acellular pertussis vaccine (Tdap) routinely during each pregnancy. This recommendation is made both to protect the mother and to ensure the production and transmission of maternal antibodies to the newborn. Infants under 3 months of age are at greatest risk of morbidity and mortality from pertussis, with 69% of all reported pertussis deaths occurring in this age range. The transmission of maternal antibodies is necessary to protect infants until they begin receiving protection from their primary immunization series against tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis. A single dose of Tdap vaccine is recommended by ACIP to be administered between 27 and 36 weeks of gestation to maximize maternal antibody production as well as antibody transfer to the fetus. Administration early in the recommended time frame is preferred as this dosing optimizes neonatal core blood pertussis-antibody levels and theoretically maximizes infant protection.

  • Over the past year it has been shown that pregnant and postpartum women are at increased risk of developing severe symptoms from COVID-19 infections compared with non-pregnant patients. Pregnant patients are more likely to require hospitalization, and ICU stay, and they have a higher mortality rate compared with controls. In addition, infection with COVID-19 during pregnancy has been associated with adverse effects on the fetus, including an increased risk of preterm birth. For these reasons, the CDC recommends that pregnant patients consider receiving recommended COVID-19 vaccines according to current guidance documents. At press time, neither the CDC nor the FDA has identified any maternal or fetal safety concerns when the currently available COVID-19 vaccines have been administered in pregnancy.


6. What are the risks associated with taking OTC medication during pregnancy or while breastfeeding?

  • Although the majority of OTC medications have been deemed safe, there are still some common products that could potentially cause harm to the growing fetus, cause problems during labor, or decrease milk production.


7. What OTC pain medications are considered safe in pregnancy?

  • Acetaminophen (Tylenol) has demonstrated efficacy and safety at all stages of pregnancy when used at recommended therapeutic doses and for short-term use. Adverse pregnancy outcomes or abnormalities are not commonly seen with the use of acetaminophen. However, recent data have shown potential risks with prenatal acetaminophen use, such as asthma, lower performance intelligence quotient, neurodevelopmental problems, poorer attention, and behavioral problems in childhood. Yet, acetaminophen is still a safer option for pain or fever in pregnancy and should be used only when needed at recommended doses. In addition, it has been deemed safe for use in lactating women, with the amount in breast milk actually less than the dose typically given to an infant for fever or pain.

  • Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), naproxen (Aleve), or aspirin are not recommended during the last 3 months of pregnancy due to an increase in blood flow and bleeding complications in the mother and baby during pregnancy and at delivery. However, ibuprofen is actually one of the preferred choices for pain/fever in breastfeeding mothers because of its low levels in breast milk and short half-life. Aspirin and naproxen are not preferred for breastfeeding due to longer half-lives and reported serious adverse reactions. It is important to note that combination acetaminophen/aspirin/caffeine (Excedrin) for headache may not be considered safe due to effects that aspirin and caffeine have on the growing fetus as well as the infant.


8. What OTC nausea/vomiting medications are safe during pregnancy?

  • Nausea and vomiting are the most common gastrointestinal complications in pregnant women. This may affect quality of life not only in the beginning of the pregnancy; in some women, the condition may impact much of their term. Multiple treatment options are available and may be considered safe during certain trimesters of pregnancy, and the majority of options are prescription medications. Common OTC products that are recommended and proven to be safe are vitamin B6 and ginger root. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and the American Family Physician recommend a combination of vitamin B6 (10-25 mg every 8 hours) and doxylamine (Unisom) (12.5-25 mg every 8 hours) to help reduce nausea and vomiting in the first trimester. This combination therapy may help decrease nausea and vomiting by 70%.


9. What OTC constipation medications are safe during pregnancy?

  • Due to physiological and anatomic changes in the gastrointestinal tract, constipation may occur in up to 38% of pregnant women, making it the second most common gastrointestinal disturbance. 27 Fluids, dietary fiber, and exercise can help relieve constipation; however, alternatives such as probiotics or laxatives may be needed to achieve additional relief. Many laxatives are considered safe during pregnancy, with their own characteristics that may deter long-term use or monitoring for side effects.27,28 Osmotic laxatives such as polyethylene glycol may cause flatulence and bloating but may be considered one of the preferred agents during pregnancy.

  • Stimulant laxatives such as senna may cause abdominal cramps and are limited to short-term use. Overuse of senna may cause the bowels to not function properly and may create dependency on the stimulant; routine use is not recommended and is limited to a last-line option for no more than 1 week. Lubricants such as mineral oil should be avoided due to hemorrhage and absorption reduction of fat-soluble vitamins with long-term use. For breastfeeding mothers, laxatives that are not absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract, such as docusate, senna, and psyllium, cannot enter the breast milk and are preferred for short-term use.


10. What OTC cough and cold medications are considered safe during pregnancy and/or breastfeeding?

Resources: https://www.uspharmacist.com/article/otc-medication-use-in-pregnancy-and-breastfeeding


11. What OTC medications used to treat yeast infections are considered safe in pregnancy?

  • With changes in hormone levels and the increase in glycogen in vaginal secretions, yeast infections are common in pregnancy, especially in the second trimester. Topical azoles such as miconazole (Monistat) are the therapy of choice due to safety data collected in humans. Therapy is recommended for 7 days, and shorter treatment duration does not show success. Probiotics, such as lactobacillus and bifidobacterium, may also be used to treat yeast vaginosis, and they have not been reported to cause adverse fetal outcomes. It is crucial to combat these infections, as they can pass to the baby’s mouth if left untreated during delivery, causing thrush in newborns.

  • If a yeast infection does occur while breastfeeding, topical azoles and probiotics (i.e., lactobacillus) are deemed safe and recommended; transfer to breast milk is unlikely.

Resources: *https://www.uspharmacist.com/article/pharmacists-role-in-prenatal-care-and-safe-medication-use*


Talk with your personal pharmacist today!


Press & Media

Have you been to a pharmacy to pick up a prescription and you were given a price that got you shocked? Do you know that Americans spend a lot of money on prescription drugs every single year? The average person spent more than $1,500 a year in 2020...
March 19th, 2023

It is no secret that prescription drug spending is one of the biggest problems in healthcare. Americans spent more than $580 billion on prescriptions in 2020 and this is expected to grow by 8% yearly. Medication non-adherence causes nearly 125,000 deaths...
March 19th, 2023

Did you know that more than three in four US adults think prescription drugs are unaffordable, and nearly one in three haven’t taken their medications as prescribed due to high costs? Americans spend a lot of money on prescription drugs...
March 19th, 2023

This week, we are excited to pitch at One Million Cups MSP!
Get a quick intro about what ImpactPharm, Inc does here, and then join the discussion at #1MC this Wednesday, August 3, at 9 am Central Time...
August 1st, 2022

Our ImpactPharm app launched on Bastille Day, July 14, 2022!
We aspire to bring more human connections into our healthcare consultations by bringing patients and pharmacists closer, as we learn from one another and improve our healthcare experience....
July 14th, 2022

ImpactPharm, Inc., the new medication consulting service founded in Minnesota, officially launched its first mobile application, ImpactPharm, on July 14, 2022. The app mainly focuses on medication consultation,...
July 14th, 2022

We graduated from the Founder Institute!
The past four months with the Founder Institute startup accelerator program as I work to build my start-up company has been both challenging and eye opening...
July 4th, 2022

It was last Thanksgiving on November 25, 2021. While having a feast with my husband, I shared with him the challenges that I faced working at a chain pharmacy and how it required a different skill set compared to my other jobs...
June 19th, 2022


Press & Media

How to save money on prescription medications with IntelligentRx

PRESS RELEASE Mach 19th, 2023

Have you been to a pharmacy to pick up a prescription and you were given a price that got you shocked? Do you know that Americans spend a lot of money on prescription drugs every single year? The average person spent more than $1,500 a year in 2020 and this number is expected to keep growing. With regards to prescription drug spending, that puts the United States behind 40 other countries ranked by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, a group that tracks healthcare spending in high income countries. There are several reasons why this is the case. The reasons are outlined here for more detailed information. This results in a lot of people overpaying for their medications or simply skipping the medications that they really need.Health insurance companies usually cover a big portion of the prescription drug costs because they negotiate prices with the pharmaceutical companies who make the drugs. How about those people who don’t have insurance? What about those people who have insurance but have a very high deductible plan and therefore have a very high co-pay? What about those people who have been prescribed a drug that is not covered by insurance? This is where prescription discount savings programs such as IntelligentRx are very helpful.At IntelligentRx, our mission is to increase access to affordable medications to everyone. Our prices are also lower than insurance prices 52% of the time. So, we recommend that you check the IntelligentRx price before you go to the pharmacy to pick up your medications. The best part is that it is totally FREE to use. Therefore, you don’t have anything to lose.

How does IntelligentRx work?

To use IntelligentRx, just download the FREE app or go to the website on your phone or computer. Here’s how to use each method to get savings on your prescriptions.

IntelligentRx app

The IntelligentRx app gives you access to prescription savings on the go. You can search for your medications on your phone or tablet to find, save, share, and use coupons easily. Simply download the app to your phone or tablet; when your prescription needs filling or re-filling, open the app and search for your medications. You can save coupons for easy access to use at a later time or day. When you arrive at the pharmacy, just show your pharmacist the coupon on your phone. The pharmacy staff will be able to get you the price shown on the coupon. You can even share coupons with friends and other family members right from the app.

IntelligentRx website

If you don’t have the app, you can get the same coupons on the IntelligentRx website. Simply search for the prescription in the search bar at the top of the landing page. The results will provide the medication prices at pharmacies close by with the provided coupon. Click “Get Coupon” next to the pharmacy that you would like to get your prescription from. Then either text, email, or print the coupon. Present this coupon (digital or paper) to the pharmacy staff to get your savings.

How about if you have insurance?

IntelligentRx cannot be used in conjunction with insurance. But it can be used instead of insurance. The cost of prescriptions is usually lower with a prescription insurance plan, but sometimes a prescription discount or coupon can offer a lower price than the insurance price. With both options available, you can choose the one with the lowest price for your prescription medication.
If you are a senior on Medicare, IntelligentRx can be used on prescriptions not covered by Medicare Part D. Please note that these purchases will not count towards the Medicare deductible. You could also use IntelligentRx coupon instead of Medicare if the prescription price is lower—but you cannot combine our coupons with Medicare.
This is a guest post written by Dr. Thomas Kosgei, Rph., B.S., PharmD. He is a pharmacist with more than a decade of experience working in retail pharmacy and pharmacy benefit management. He is the founder and CEO of IntelligentRx which is a 5-year-old company that helps consumers save money on their prescriptions. Up to date they have helped more than 360,000 patients save more than $20 million on their prescriptions. IntelligentRx is a company on a mission to make prescription medications more affordable for all Americans.

Press & Media

The Top 10 Ways to Save Money on Brand Name Prescription Medications

PRESS RELEASE Mach 19th, 2023

It is no secret that prescription drug spending is one of the biggest problems in healthcare. Americans spent more than $580 billion on prescriptions in 2020 and this is expected to grow by 8% yearly. Medication non-adherence causes nearly 125,000 deaths, 10 percent of hospitalizations and costs the already strained healthcare system $289 billion a year. The number one cause of medication non-adherence is cost.At IntelligentRx, our mission is to drastically increase access to affordable prescription medications for all Americans. We empower consumers with discounted drug pricing information and also provide lower-cost therapeutically equivalent alternatives so that they can make informed decisions on how they pay for their care.
There are many ways for patients to save money on prescription medications. Outlined below in much more detail are the best ways to save money on brand name prescriptions:

1. Use your Prescription Insurance

If you have health insurance that comes with a prescription drug plan, always use it for your prescriptions unless you have been told otherwise. Prescription drug plans are commercial, or government sponsored health insurance plans that help lower prescription costs in exchange for a monthly payment.The simplest way that your health plan saves money is by covering the majority of your medication costs. They do this by working with PBMs to negotiate prices with drug manufacturers and pharmacies. Some plans may require you pay a small copay – a flat fee for your medications.The medications covered by your health insurance are listed in your plan's drug formulary. It’s a list of medications that your prescription drug benefit will cover. Most common medications are included in drug plan formularies, but if a specific medication isn’t covered, your doctor may be able to substitute a generic drug – another brand of drug designed to treat the same condition or check to see if using a discount such as IntelligentRx is ideal.In addition to pharmacy savings that come from a prescription drug plan, you may be eligible for additional savings if you use your health plan's preferred pharmacy. A preferred pharmacy has an agreement with your prescription drug plan provider to offer medications at the lowest out-of-pocket cost to you. Some plans may offer a preferred drug list that offers even more savings on generic drugs and certain brands of medications.

2. Use a generic drug instead of brand name

A generic drug is the same drug as an existing FDA-approved brand name drug. This includes safety, effectiveness, quality, performance characteristics, intended use, dosage form, and route of administration. Generic drugs do not need to contain the same inactive ingredients as the name-brand product, and they can only be sold after the brand-name drug’s patent expires.Brand-name drugs tend to be more expensive because the development process takes longer, and pharmaceutical companies charge more to recoup their research and development costs and also make a profit. When the patent expires, other manufacturers can make the drug, and competition drives the prices down. The lower development costs, easier FDA approval process, and clear market for generic drugs all lead to lower prices at the pharmacy. Generic drugs are on average 80-85% less expensive than brand name drugs. We recommend using generics if they can be tolerated.When your doctor writes a prescription for you, make sure they have selected that the pharmacy can substitute a generic equivalent for the medication. You can also ask your doctor for a medication that offers a generic version.

3. Use a Manufacturer Coupon in addition to your insurance for Brand name drugs

If you have commercial health insurance (not Medicare or Medicaid) with prescription coverage, you should use this option only if the drug you have been prescribed does not have a generic or biosimilar yet. Using a manufacturer coupon typically gets you a $0 to $25 co-pay on your prescription each month, making it much more affordable for you!To access the manufacturer coupon (also known as a copay card) visit the website of the pharmaceutical company that makes the brand name drug.

4. Use a Patient Assistance Program if you don’t have Insurance coverage

Patient Assistance Programs (PAPs) are usually sponsored by pharmaceutical companies and touted as a safety net for Americans who are uninsured or underinsured. The goal of these programs is to provide financial assistance to these patients so that they can obtain their medications at little or no cost. By providing financial assistance for hundreds of medications, PAPs provide a valuable resource to patients, helping them comply with recommended drug regimens and, in turn, obtain better health outcomes.In addition, IntelligentRx offers discounts and coupons that can save you up to 85% off your prescriptions. Note, however, that many coupons cannot be used in combination with prescription health insurance or PAPs.

5. Consider talking to your prescriber about using cheaper alternative medications

Your doctor does not always know how much the prescription medication will cost with your insurance at the pharmacy that you are using. In many cases, several different medications that are in the same class can effectively treat the same condition. Your pharmacist can be a great resource in finding a substitute that will provide the same therapeutic benefits for less money. Unless you have been prescribed a brand-name drug that is still under patent protection, chances are good there is a generic alternative. Ask your doctor or pharmacist if there’s a cheaper alternative, then get your doctor’s approval to make the switch.

6. Use a mail-order pharmacy preferred by your insurance

If you have health insurance with prescription coverage, you should check if they provide an option to get the medications mailed to your house. Some insurance companies have preferred contracts with some mail-order pharmacies.Once you find out this is the way forward, have your prescriber call in or fax your prescription to the mail-order pharmacy. You can also fill out a mail-order form with your insurance provider. It is important to note that this might take 5-7 days before the medications get delivered to your house.

7. Consider filling a 90-day supply with your insurance

Some insurance providers offer a better price if you fill a 90-day supply instead of a 30-day supply. To find out if this advice applies to you, ask your pharmacy staff to check how much a 90-day supply would cost and then pick the option that works best for you!

8. Compare prices between pharmacies

We all shop around and compare prices before we buy clothes or jewelry or flight tickets and just everything else. The same mindset needs to be applied to getting prescriptions. Prescription drug prices can vary wildly from pharmacy to pharmacy for the exact same medication. You can get the best price on your prescription drugs by shopping around. IntelligentRx is the #1 prescription savings company, and our goal is to make medications affordable for everyone in America. We have also created a way to compare prices with GoodRx and IntelligentRx provides lower prices more than 70% of the time on average.

9. Consider splitting pills

You should consider asking your doctor if your prescription comes in a higher dose that’s safe and is effective to split. You may be able to get a 2-month supply of your medication in double the dose that you need for the price of a 1-month supply, cutting your prescription cost in half. But tablet-splitting isn’t safe for all meds. Some formulations of drugs such as Enteric coated (EC), Delayed release (DR), Extended release (ER) and time-release drugs cannot be split and need to be swallowed whole. Always double check with your pharmacist if the medication you have been prescribed can be split.

10. Contribute and use a Health Savings Account (HSA) or a Flexible Spending Account (FSA)

An HSA or FSA is a tax-exempt medical savings account that can be used to pay for you and your dependents’ eligible medical expenses. They enable you to pay for current health expenses and save for future qualified health expenses on a tax-free basis. If you have access to a HSA or FSA program at work, you can put money into the account and pay for your medications with pre-tax dollars. As an example, if you are in the 25% tax bracket, this effectively gives you savings of 25% on your medical expenses and also your prescription drugs. It can be a valuable benefit for people who know how much they will spend each year on medication and other health purchases. This is important because if you don’t spend all the money in your FSA by year-end, you will forfeit the money. It is different with HSAs because the money on HSAs is yours for life and you cannot lose it. Our recommendation is to get and use an HSA if possible.This is a guest post written by Dr. Thomas Kosgei, Rph., B.S., PharmD. He is a clinical pharmacist with more than a decade of experience working in retail pharmacy and pharmacy benefit management. He is the founder and CEO of IntelligentRx which is a 5-year-old company that helps consumers save money on their prescriptions. Up to date they have helped more than 360,000 patients save more than $20 million on their prescriptions. IntelligentRx is a company on a mission to make prescription medications more affordable for all Americans.

Press & Media

The Top 12 Ways to Save Money on Prescription Medications

PRESS RELEASE Mach 19th, 2023

Did you know that more than three in four US adults think prescription drugs are unaffordable, and nearly one in three haven’t taken their medications as prescribed due to high costs? Americans spend a lot of money on prescription drugs - more than $1,500 a year in 2020 - and those costs are growing.There may not be a magic wand we can wave to fix high drug costs, but there are many ways patients can use to save money on prescription medications.

1. Use Your Insurance

It sounds obvious, but if you have health insurance you probably also have a prescription benefit. Everything the pharmacy needs to redeem your benefit is located on your health insurance card.The simplest way that your health plan saves money is by covering the majority of your medication costs. They do this by working with PBMs to negotiate prices with drug manufacturers and pharmacies. Some plans may require you to pay a copay, and the copay amount is often related to the formulary tier.Your plan’s drug formulary is a list of medications that your prescription drug benefit will cover. The formulary is divided into tiers, with lower tiers being less expensive drugs and higher tiers being more expensive. Most common medications are included in drug plan formularies, but if a specific medication isn’t covered, your doctor may be able to change your prescription to a drug which is covered and has a similar therapeutic effect. If that’s not possible, you can check if a prescription discount like IntelligentRx will work for you.In addition to pharmacy savings that come from a prescription drug plan, you may be eligible for additional savings if you use your health plan's preferred pharmacy. A preferred pharmacy has an agreement with your prescription drug plan provider to offer medications at the lowest out-of-pocket cost to you. Some plans may offer a preferred drug list that offers even more savings on generic drugs and certain brands of medications.

2. Use a Generic Drug Instead of the Brand Name

A generic drug has the same active ingredient as an existing FDA-approved brand name drug. Generic drugs are tested for safety, effectiveness, quality, performance characteristics, intended use, dosage form, and route of administration. Generic drugs do not need to contain the same inactive ingredients as the name-brand product, and they can only be sold after the brand-name drug’s patent expires.Brand-name drugs tend to be more expensive because the development process takes longer, and pharmaceutical companies charge more to recoup their research and development costs and also make a profit. When the patent expires other manufacturers can make the drug, and competition drives the prices down. The lower development costs, easier FDA approval process, and clear market for generic drugs all lead to lower prices at the pharmacy. Generic drugs are on average 80-85% less expensive than brand name drugs. We recommend using generics if they can be tolerated.When your doctor writes a prescription for you, make sure they have noted that the pharmacy can substitute a generic equivalent for the medication. You can also ask your doctor for a medication that offers a generic version.

3. Use a Manufacturer Coupon in Addition to your Insurance for Brand Name Drugs

If you have commercial health insurance (not Medicare or Medicaid) with prescription coverage, you should use this option only if the drug you have been prescribed does not have a generic or biosimilar yet. Using a manufacturer coupon typically gets you a $0 to $25 co-pay on your prescription each month, making it much more affordable for you!To access the manufacturer coupon (also known as a copay card) visit the website of the pharmaceutical company that makes the brand name drug.

4. If Your Insurance Does Not Cover A Drug, Then Use a Patient Assistance Program

Patient Assistance Programs (PAPs) are usually sponsored by pharmaceutical companies and touted as a safety net for Americans who are uninsured or underinsured. The goal of these programs is to provide financial assistance to patients so that they can obtain their medications at little or no cost. By providing financial assistance for hundreds of medications, PAPs provide a valuable resource to patients, helping them comply with recommended drug regimens and, in turn, obtain better health outcomes.In addition, IntelligentRx offers discounts and coupons that can save you 85% off your prescriptions. Note, however, that many coupons cannot be used in combination with prescription health insurance or PAPs.

5. Consider talking to your prescriber about using cheaper alternative medications

Your doctor does not always know how much the prescription medication will cost. In many cases, several different medications that are in the same therapeutic class can treat the same condition. If you are taking an expensive medication, try asking your pharmacist if there is an alternative medication that provides the same therapeutic benefits for less money. If there is such a medication, you can then get your doctor’s approval to make the switch.

6. Use a Mail-Order Pharmacy

If you have health insurance with prescription coverage, you should check if they provide an option to get your medications mailed to your house. Some insurance companies have preferred contracts with some mail-order pharmacies which provide significantly better prices.Once you find out this is the way forward, have your prescriber call in or fax your prescription to the mail-order pharmacy. You can also fill out a mail-order form with your insurance provider. It is important to note that this might take 5-7 days before the medications get delivered to your house.

7. Fill a 90-Day Supply

Some insurance providers offer a better price if you fill a 90-day supply instead of a 30-day supply. To find out if this advice applies to you, ask your pharmacy staff to check how much a 90-day supply would cost and then pick the option that works best for you!

8. Compare Prices Between Pharmacies

We all shop around and compare prices before we buy big ticket items like cars or airline tickets and almost everything else. The same mindset needs to be applied to getting prescriptions. Prescription drug prices can vary wildly from pharmacy to pharmacy for the exact same medication, so you can get a better price by shopping around. IntelligentRx is the #1 prescription savings company, and our goal is to make medications affordable for everyone in America. We have also created a way to compare prices with GoodRx and IntelligentRx provides lower prices more than 70% of the time on average.

9. Use IntelligentRx discounts to save money on generic medications

When you receive your generic drug prescription, always look it up with our drug pricing tool to see which pharmacy near you offers the best prices, which makes it easy to find better prices.

10. Consider Splitting Pills

You should consider asking your doctor if your prescription comes in a higher dose that’s safe and is effective to split. You may be able to get a 2-month supply of your medication in double the dose that you need for the price of a 1-month supply, cutting your prescription cost in half. But tablet-splitting isn’t safe for all meds. Some formulations of drugs such as Enteric coated (EC), Delayed release (DR), Extended release (ER) and time-release drugs cannot be split and need to be swallowed whole. Always double check with your pharmacist if the medication you have been prescribed can be split.

11. Contribute To and Use a Health Savings Account (HSA) or a Flexible Spending Account (FSA)

An HSA or FSA is a tax-exempt medical savings account that can be used to pay for you and your dependents’ eligible medical expenses. They enable you to pay for current health expenses and save for future qualified health expenses on a tax-free basis. If you have access to a HSA or FSA program at work, you can put money into the account and pay for your medications with pre-tax dollars. As an example, if you are in the 25% tax bracket, this effectively gives you savings of 25% on your medical expenses and also your prescription drugs. It can be a valuable benefit for people who know how much they will spend each year on medication and other health purchases. This is important because if you don’t spend all the money in your FSA by year-end, you will forfeit the money. It is different with HSAs because the money on HSAs is yours for life and you cannot lose it. Our recommendation is to get and use an HSA if possible.

12. Maintain a Healthy Lifestyle

The best way to save money is to not get sick! Regular exercise and a healthy diet minimizes your risk of getting chronic illnesses such as diabetes and requiring prescription medications. Maintaining a healthy weight is crucial because there are many chronic diseases which can be linked to obesity, including diabetes, cancer and high blood pressure. Once diagnosed, these diseases often require you to take prescription medications for the rest of your life.This is a guest post written by Dr. Thomas Kosgei, Rph., B.S., PharmD. He is a pharmacist with more than a decade of experience working in retail pharmacy and pharmacy benefit management. He is the founder and CEO of IntelligentRx which is a 5-year-old company that helps consumers save money on their prescriptions. Up to date they have helped more than 360,000 patients save more than $20 million on their prescriptions. IntelligentRx is a company on a mission to make prescription medications more affordable for all Americans.

Press & Media

ImpactPharm Launches Innovative Telehealth App to Connect Patients & Pharmacists in Minnesota

PRESS RELEASE July 14th, 2022

MINNEAPOLIS, July 14, 2022 (Newswire.com) - ImpactPharm, Inc., the new medication consulting service founded in Minnesota, officially launched its first mobile application, ImpactPharm, on July 14, 2022. The app mainly focuses on medication consultation, especially for patients with special medication needs, such as cancer patients, pregnant or breastfeeding women, as well as patients who live in rural areas of Minnesota. The application will put patients' minds at ease to connect, discuss, and consult with qualified pharmacists about their medication issues. The app provides functions that benefit all users from 1-on-1 messages, sharing past medical records, retrieving past conversations, and choosing pharmacists based on patient preferences. With ImpactPharm, patients can consult with a pharmacist anywhere, anytime they prefer.ImpactPharm is innovating how they connect patients with pharmacists. While it is comparatively easier to find a telehealth app for patients to talk with doctors, ImpactPharm found that patients also care about the dosage of a medication, side effects, and further questions relating to the pharmacist's expertise."We are bringing the pharmacists closer to cancer patients and pregnant/breastfeeding women by training pharmacists to become health coaches. In addition to answering medication-related questions, we help the patients improve their lifestyle habits, live a healthier life, and take fewer medications in the long run," CEO Sophie Phuong Le says.Notably, ImpactPharm's pharmacist team has deep experience in cancer medication therapies, so cancer care becomes its first specialized area. The CEO shared that "Many of our pharmacists are board-certified, and one of them led an oncology pharmacy residency program at her former institution. With their expertise and extensive network in oncology, our pharmacists are in it for the patients. Not only that, all ImpactPharm pharmacists are health coaches, so we see you as a person, not just a set of medications you take."The mission of ImpactPharm, in the long run, will focus on the benefits of both pharmacists and patients. A supportive working environment will help to create and sustain the quality of its services and provide patients with a human connection that advanced technology such as AI robots or search engines cannot take over. Each patient is going to be consulted directly by an experienced pharmacist, not an algorithm. The company is looking to build a community where patients can voice their questions and concerns and where pharmacists can dedicate their expertise to the benefit of others.

About ImpactPharm Inc.

ImpactPharm aims to improve the medication experience between patients and pharmacists. Founded by Sophie Phuong Le, a growth-oriented pharmacist, and a team of nationally accomplished pharmacists and physicians, ImpactPharm strives to deliver positive outcomes based on human connections. Additionally, the app is HIPAA-compliant, which means patient healthcare and personal information are kept private. The knowledgeable pharmacists together with the user-friendly technology provide a high-quality, yet simple and easy-to-use healthcare service for every patient in Minnesota.

Press & Media

Sharing the vision of ImpactPharm at 1MillionCup on August 3

August 1st, 2022

This week, we are excited to pitch at One Million Cups MSP!
Get a quick intro about what ImpactPharm, Inc does here, and then join the discussion at #1MC this Wednesday, August 3, at 9 am Central Time. A special invite to any app developers out there!

See our product introduction video here

Press & Media

Your Opinions and the Elevation of the Next Health Journey

July 14th, 2022

Our ImpactPharm app launched on Bastille Day, July 14, 2022!We aspire to bring more human connections into our healthcare consultations by bringing patients and pharmacists closer, as we learn from one another and improve our healthcare experience.Since we are still at the inception of our journey, we would appreciate any constructive feedback from the community as we improve our product and service.Please give us a try, and let us know whether:

  • The information provided by your pharmacist is clear, helpful, and well researched.

  • The app is readable and runs smoothly.

  • You plan to continue using ImpactPharm.

  • Using ImpactPharm improved your overall health and well-being.

  • The care you received from ImpactPharm is worth more than what you paid to use this service.

And please tell us: Why will or will you not use this app again?Thank you in advance for your feedback.
We are looking to learning from you!
Press Release: https://lnkd.in/gwdSH9uyWith many thanks from the founding team and advisors for their contributions:

  • Phuong "Sophie" Le, PharmD, RPh, CAHIMS, CPPS, PACS

  • Han Bao

  • Sarah Anderson, PharmD, NBC-HWC

  • Jenna Carmichael

  • Teresa Kao

  • Hamideh Nasseh

  • Christina Yau

  • Haniya Zafar

  • Saikat (Sai) Basu Majumder

  • Sani Hanh Pham, PharmD, MBA, FMNM, APh

  • Tom Ellingson

  • Stan Collesano

  • Karen Brown

  • Dr. Jamie Wilkey

  • Thuy (Peter) Le

  • Founder Institute

  • Women Founders Project

and so many more contributors to this project!

Press & Media

How to Get from My Home Office to Bloomberg

July 4th, 2022
Phuong "Sophie" Le, PharmD

We graduated from the Founder Institute!The past four months with the Founder Institute startup accelerator program as I work to build my start-up company has been both challenging and eye opening. The Founder Institute is an American business incubator, entrepreneur training and startup launch program that was founded in Palo Alto, California in 2009. Although based in Silicon Valley, The Founder Institute maintains chapters in over 180 cities and more than 65 nations. For those who didn’t read my last blog, we are creating a mobile application that connects patients with licensed pharmacists to 1) bridge the care gap and 2) thoughtfully address medication-related questions and concerns from our patients. Our sky-high goal is to prevent the 6 million drug-related ER visits and save the patients and the healthcare system a minimum of 3 billion U.S. dollars every year.We were tasked within the accelerator program to develop our company vision, customer development, revenue, and branding and design. Within each assignment, there is a list of over 10 elaborate questions that we need to answer each week. Although we already secured a provisional patent and developed a prototype before joining the program, the workload that we need to complete each week is still substantial, and I am so glad I was able to collaborate with my co-founder, Han Bao, to tackle our weekly challenge. Teamwork makes the dream works!

Successes and challenges

I’ve also overcame some of my own fears and anxieties as I prepare for the company’s first fundraising process and product launch.Over the past month, as someone who is terrified of public speaking, I overcame my fear of public speaking by practicing my pitch every day and improving it over time. It took me 10 takes to get to this three-minute pitch. As a non-native English speaker, I have learned to minimize my accents and correct my pronunciations with the help of my husband, friends, and a speech therapist. There is so much effort that I need to pour into crafting and delivering a pitch to achieve a similar level of articulation as a native speaker could achieve in one take. My husband, who is a native English speaker and an attorney by training, disagreed with my impression. Having more hurdles to overcome doesn’t make the journey less fun. In fact, it makes my story more interesting.Creating a start-up business is not all seamless and rosy. One such aspect that is challenging during this initial conceptualization phase is raising funds to ensure a successful introduction to the market. We rely on personal funds, investors, and donations to support the work and get it off the ground for launch.

As funds from personal savings and contributions from family and friends are running out, I decided to apply for a few Small Business Administration (SBA) loans to cover the costs of operations as well as research and development until we launch in July 2022. It’s stressful, but I still think we have a good case to take out a loan that we can pay back in less than a year. I also started the Test the Waters (TTW) phase for ImpactPharm’s crowdfunding campaign. The goal of the TTW campaign is to see how many people are willing to chip in before we launch an official campaign in the fall of 2022.Two weeks before writing this article, I was considering selling my patent along with the company because we were running out of money. However, after talking with more mentors and potential investors, I see a light at the end of the tunnel. Personally, the successes and challenges have trained me to become a more grounded person. A success doesn’t make me too ecstatic and forget to do my due diligence, while I am now aware that a challenge doesn’t have to set me back a mile without showing me a glimpse of the optimal path to grow my company and grow as a person.

A moment for reflection

I’m thankful for the friends and family members who have supported me along the way. Without them, it’s difficult to imagine that I would go this far and grow this much within 4 months of starting a company.
What I’m thankful for:
● My co-founder Han Bao contributes a strategic mindset in everything we do to plan for the upcoming launch for the company.● My coaches at Own Your PharmD, Karen and Jamie, were there for me when I had some roadblocks and cheered me on when I got some good news!● My mentors (Paria is one of them) who support me in my entrepreneurial pursuits and as I prepare for business school applications.● Mark Cuban recently liked my tweet! That made my day.

Next steps and looking ahead

A product launch, a podcast series, and a segment on Bloomberg are both on the horizon for my company in the coming months.
In April, we launched our podcast series and were invited to participate in Advancements with Ted Danson on Bloomberg! Our Happy Patients Happy Pharmacists podcast features non-traditional pathways for pharmacists and also patients with complex medication regimens who would like to share their healthcare experiences. Here are the previous episodes. I am excited to see how this will turn out and share back with the community here.
We are getting ready to launch in July 14, and we are finalizing our game plan with everyone in the company participating in the launch. Stay tuned!Throughout this journey, I was so fortunate to make a lot of friends, colleagues, mentors, and role models along the way. I’ve grown both personally and professionally. By the time that I write the next post, I will be tackling the security and user-friendliness aspects of the app as we test them among a select group of patients and pharmacists.∎

See our product introduction video here


Happy Patients, Happy Pharmacists podcast launched in April!


Maxwell the Accountable Bunny!

Press & Media

Finding My Calling: Beginning My Entrepreneurial Journey

June 19th, 2022
Phuong "Sophie" Le, PharmD

It was last Thanksgiving on November 25, 2021. While having a feast with my husband, I shared with him the challenges that I faced working at a chain pharmacy and how it required a different skill set compared to my other jobs. I always felt like what I was doing was never enough to keep the line moving quickly while making sure that I cover all bases when answering questions from the patients. Although I enjoy recommending over-the-counter products, answering a side effect question, or finding a coupon that lowers the cost of medications, the barriers to providing optimal patient care stressed me out. I asked myself, “What can I do to make the pharmacy less busy so patients can receive the time and attention that they deserve?”In addition to my education and training in pharmacy, I have taken a couple of computer science courses and developed an Android mobile app in high school. With the previous training and the stories of barriers that I see repeated in the community pharmacy setting, I had an inchoate (“just a beginning”) idea.I conceptualized a technology platform to connect pharmacists and patients to quickly answer their medication questions, starting with a selected disease state, such as diabetes, oncology, or dermatology. We would perform market research to determine which disease state has the most out-of-pocket cost and the highest need for our service.

Next step

Register my fledgling company. It took me only $400 of my savings to register for a limited liability company (LLC) where I am the sole owner. There are many other options such as S-corp and C-corp, each with a set of pros and cons. An LLC is generally the best way to have a company with a simple ownership and tax structure. For example, as this is the first time that I’ve ever needed a tax accountant since I’ve always done my own taxes before, my tax accountant can do both my personal income taxes, as I only need to fill out an additional form for my LLC ownership. If I have a company that is an S-corp or C-corp, I will most certainly need a separate tax accountant for my ownership and stock options in a corporation. The main upside of S-corp and C-corp is that I can raise funding from external stakeholders, such as angel investors and venture capitalists—Silicon Valley style!

This is how I started my first company on my own, becoming the founder and CEO of Inchoate, LLC: by having an idea and doing the paperwork.The following step is to gather a team. I realized right away that I needed an information technology (IT) team and a marketing team. I quickly thought about people in my network who might know the right people for these roles. I found my network extremely helpful in recommending the most qualified candidates who I might now be able to swiftly recruit via the traditional recruiting process with job postings. The marketing team now consists of a friend from middle school and two more people who have been working with him for years. For the IT team, I interviewed three to four contract companies overseas to lower costs and still maintain quality. Ultimately, I decided to go with a company based in Hanoi, Vietnam.

So, what are we currently working on?

The short answer is that we are preparing to launch our first product! Below is a pitch that we sent to the Founder Institute Seattle Virtual 2022 program, which we got accepted into:“Pharmacists are the most accessible members of the healthcare team. However, with the pandemic, pharmacies are at or above capacities, and the interactions of the patients and the pharmacists are very brief in a busy pharmacy. If the patients call in, they often need to wait 30 minutes to an hour, and that’s not acceptable for a quick, simple question.That’s why we are creating this app. To close the gap between patients, pharmacists, and the rest of the healthcare team. With our verification system, you are guaranteed to speak with a real person. We are here to help you get better and lower your healthcare costs. Come join us!”The Founder Institute Core Program, known for launching big companies, is a competitive 14-week program that supports budding companies with its signature launch track and growth tracks. In both tracks, you work on perfecting your pitch, finding the right customers and investors, working with your legal and intellectual property team as well as branding, design, and technical teams, building your advisory board, and preparing for fundraising. The primary difference between the two tracks is that to participate in the growth track, you have already launched your first product and are looking for ways to gain traction.Over the next few months, my team will finish the prototype, send out our first tax forms, and wait for our trademark application to be approved by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).I am excited to share the next steps and take you all on my inchoate journey. Stay tuned for updates, and follow along on the adventure! ∎

Press & Media

The revolutionary shift from IV infusion chemotherapy in hospitals to oral anti-cancer medications at home has changed cancer therapy dramatically by giving patients more autonomy with their treatment course.Patients’ perception of their therapeutic plan plays a critical role in the success of the treatment. Adherence to any therapeutic intervention requires patients to have a full understanding of the risks, benefits, and costs of their treatment options. Studies show that many long-term drug therapies have low rates of adherence (40-50%).Non-adherence to treatment in cancer patients has a negative impact on patient outcomes and clinical care quality measurements. There are various reasons for drug non-adherence like forgetting to take the medication, affordability issues, adverse effects, or false feeling of being fine and no need to continue taking the medications, etc. Many of these reasons are quite preventable by a pharmacist intervention during monitoring and follow-up visits.When patients face adverse effects from their treatment, many are unsure if it is bad enough to warrant contacting their doctor. When they do try to get in touch, many cancer centers and doctors’ offices have so many incoming calls that it can take some time for them to receive advice urgently.

In a study at the Geisinger Cancer Institute focused on patients taking oral chemotherapy, the patients were instructed to contact the pharmacist with their medication or side effects related questions. During the scope of that study, over 46,000 interactions were recorded in 16 months. That’s over 46,000 fewer interactions that the oncology clinic staff had to manage and fewer incoming calls to the nurse line...

In our full article “IMPROVING CANCER CARE: AN ANALYSIS OF THE NECESSITY FOR PHARMACIST INTERVENTIONS AMONG THE PATIENT POPULATION”, we address further details and perspectives on the current drug-related problem and the effort of pharmacists to bridge the gap between patients and the healthcare system in the US.

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Why ImpactPharm?

We are a company built by pharmacists for patients.

  • Our education and training as a pharmacist centers on how to explain complex systems - like the human body - to our patients so they understand why it’s important to focus on our health.

  • We are the medication experts. We are the only healthcare provider that has multiple years of training focused on medications and how they interact with and in our bodies.

  • Pharmacists are recognized as the most accessible healthcare provider because they are in the community. Unfortunately, many community pharmacies are being forced out of business, leaving their communities without access to this important member of the health care team.

  • We put the patient in the driver's seat. We support them in being their own best advocate and empower them to enhance their engagement with their providers so that they can feel equipped to ask the important and meaningful questions.

  • As pharmacist coaches, we help you improve and achieve health levels by minimizing medication use and providing support for diet and lifestyle adjustments.

We aim to combine convenience and technology to serve our patients located in Minnesota.
More locations to come!

Our Pharmacist Coaches are knowledgeable about a variety of topics:

  • Cancer medications, treatments and side effects

  • Medications, supplements or over the counter drugs that can be used in pregnancy and breastfeeding

  • Chronic conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes, and high cholesterol

  • Foods that help promote health or help manage side effects

  • Wellness activities to implement into your routine

  • And more

Talk with your personal pharmacist today!

Partnership

Solution for your patients.

Those of us that work in healthcare know the system isn’t perfect.
The unfortunate truth is that patients get lost in the gaps in our system and can stay there for a bit.
What if there was a way to help your patients understand their medications better? To get access to medication-based advice when you are not available? To support them just like you would?

Welcome to ImpactPharm

The app that connects pharmacists and patients.


How it works

1. Access from anywhere

This platform allows your patients to contact a licensed medical professional from their couch, while waiting for their children at various activities or just about anywhere.


2. Easy to track

Our Pharmacist Coaches can help your patients get back on track with their health, give them personalized recommendations and you’ll get a summary of the interaction, right in the app.


How ImpactPharm coaches can help


1. Side effect management


Does your patient have a side effect from treatment, but they need to stay on it? What if taking medication at a different time would help? What if one treatment is making another disease state worse? We see these happen a lot in our cancer patients. Many times, a simple trick will help immensely. Allow our pharmacists to help your patients navigate through the system during this time. Many patients have found great relief from our recommendations.

2. Medication review


Polypharmacy can be a big problem in our elderly and complex medical patients. This also can add to financial burden with each new copay. Our pharmacists review the medication list with each visit to make sure that there are not any duplicates or drug interactions, and to see where we can combine therapy, if appropriate. You’ll get a complete summary of recommendations.

3. Medication tapering and escalating


It can take many tries to find a mental health medication that will work for a patient’s specific makeup. This can be exacerbated if a patient is detoxing off one medication while starting a new one - which side effects will go away and which will stay? The duration of a taper depends on each specific drug. Our pharmacists will be happy to draw up a tapering schedule for your patient to safely get off of one therapy, and, if needed, an escalation schedule for the new therapy for you to review and prescribe in the future.

4. Diet and lifestyle coaching


Diet and lifestyle can have a huge impact on our patients’ health but it is a very time costly approach. Our pharmacists are knowledgeable on the evidence for dietary recommendations for cancer, cardiovascular disease and diabetes. We take a whole person approach and partner with patients on the various dimensions of well-being (sleep, stress, nutrition, physical activity, mental/emotional health, etc).


Investors

Invest in your loved ones.

Welcome

Hi I’m Sophie, Founder and CEO of ImpactPharm. We are creating an app that connects patients with licensed pharmacists to (1) bridge the care gap and (2) thoughtfully address medication-related questions and concerns from our patients.Learn more about our campaign below and ask us any questions you have about our business!

Problem

1. Consequences from
the lack of access

Unaddressed questions and concerns related to medications can lead to misuse of medications, overdoses, hospitalizations, and deaths.


2. Awareness

Patients don’t know who to reach out to when seeking quick advice about medications.


3. Wait time & costs

Patients are waiting too long or spending too much money when seeking help from pharmacists.

I am doing this because as a front-line pharmacist at a big chain pharmacy, I have seen a lot of frustration from my own patients when they could not ask pharmacists without waiting in line or being put on hold for 45 minutes on the phone. After seeing this problem repeatedly without any attempt to resolve it from upper management, I decided to solve this problem full-time.

Opportunity

Our competitors are Teladoc, Aspen RxHealth, and LemonAid. They have existed for years, but they still struggle to gain tractions among pharmacists and customers. The startups that struggle to gain traction among patients only allow the patients to play a passive role, but push pharmacists to make as many random calls as possible to find patients to be counseled. The initiation roles will be reversed in our app.


The global telepharmacy market is expected to reach $71.43 billion by 2027 with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 32.48%. We aim to have a solid starting phase only in Minnesota, and the expected annual revenue is about 4 million dollars.We are working with Savvy Coop as well as local and national patient and caregiver support groups. Sophie also has a lot of pharmacist connections in Minnesota since she graduated from the only pharmacy school in Minnesota that has been consistently ranked in the top 3 pharmacy schools in the nation. Based on our large pool of pharmacists and patients who are willing to join us in this journey, we aim to become a top 5 telehealth player in Minnesota within the first 2 years of launching.

Solution

We aim to create value for patients by reducing wait times, unnecessary urgent care visits and saving healthcare costs; and for pharmacists by providing an infrastructure like real-time consultation to boost effectiveness and efficiency and thus help them earn more money at their own time.Our pricing model starts from single charge per consultation (e.g., $25/20-min-session) to a monthly subscription.50% of the revenue will go towards pharmacists.20% of the revenue will go towards operations, recruiting patients, and ensured privacy and technical compliance aspects.30% is profits.

Assumption

For regular customers, we will charge them $25 per a 20-minute session
50% of our revenue is returned to the pharmacists
20% operational costs for the first year

y-axis is in $1,000 USD

Traction

  • Provisional patent filed February 2022.

  • Two surveys of 300+ patients and 500+ pharmacists show that over 80% of them would be interested in using an app like ours.

  • A segment on Advancements with Ted Danson on Bloomberg, which will reach 80 million households, is scheduled to air in Q3 2022.


Our ImpactPharm app launched on Bastille Day, July 14, 2022!

We aspire to bring more human connections into our healthcare consultations by bringing patients and pharmacists closer, as we learn from one another and improve our healthcare experience.Since we are still at the inception of our journey, we would appreciate any constructive feedback from thecommunity as we improve our product and service.Please spread the words and/or give us a try, and let us know whether:

  • The information provided by your pharmacist is clear, helpful, and well researched.

  • The app is readable and runs smoothly.

  • You plan to continue using ImpactPharm.

  • Using ImpactPharm improved your overall health and well-being.

  • The care you received from ImpactPharm is worth more than what you paid to use this service.

And please tell us: Why will or will you not use this app again?Thank you in advance for your feedback.
We are looking to learning from you!


The ImpactPharm app is now available on both Android and Apple App Stores for you to download

Our Founders

Sophie Le
CEO / Co-founder
/ Pharmacist

Han Bao
Co-founder
/ Chief Strategy Officer

Our advantages

  • Founder Phuong "Sophie" Le has more than a decade of pharmacy experience.

  • Co-Founder Han Bao has both technical skills as well as a strategic mindset as an incoming associate at McKinsey.

  • Our startup has gone through the intensive training provided by the Founder Institute 2022.

  • We have a strong network of advisors, pharmacists, and patients from all walks of life.

  • We have raised $50,000 from family and friends. After Thanksgiving 2021, Sophie quit her main job at Walgreens to work on the startup full-time.

Viable pathways

  • Acquisition by larger company: Teladoc, CVS, Walgreens, Aspen RxHealth, or even by a large insurance company such as United Healthcare and HealthPartners.

  • Become profitable and distribute returns

  • Go public

Disclosure

Currently, no funds or other consideration are being solicited, and if money is sent, it will not be accepted by the company. No sales will be performed, or commitments to purchase accepted, until the offering statement is qualified. A proposed purchaser’s indication of interest is non-binding.Please click on the button below to go to the Testing The Waters website and share your investment expectations.

Any other questions? Contact us.

Contact us

Want to get in touch? Let's start a conversation. We would love to hear from you and we will get back to you promptly.

Careers

Join Our Family

We will soon be recruiting pharmacists and patients who can test and provide feedback for our beta product. We will also be looking for part-time pharmacists and medical doctors who can work with us long-term to serve our patients.

Opportunities

Careers

Part-time Pharmacist

We are looking for pharmacists who are passionate about patient care and excited to help patients answer questions about their medications, vaccines, and over-the-counter products. Start a part-time job as an IMPACTPHARMTM Consultant Pharmacist with flexible and remote opportunities and the option to start immediately! Expand your practice, get paid directly, and gain more freedom and flexibility in your career.

Why work with ImpactPharm?

  • Work whenever you want, wherever you want. You can decide to work anytime during 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

  • Everything is done in an easy-to-use mobile application. From any iOS or Android device, or laptop, you can connect with and manage a panel of patients from the ImpactPharmTM app (100% HIPAA-compliant).

  • 100% remote. Deliver clinical care and expertise from the comfort of your home.

  • Full-time support from the ImpactPharmTM team. Whether you have questions about credentialing, patient interaction, the app, clinical inquiries, or just need some helpful tips, we're always here for you.

  • We provide continuous training, education opportunities, and mentorship programs to the community to help pharmacists succeed.

Requirements

  • Must be a licensed pharmacist in the state of Minnesota

  • Willing to purchase malpractice insurance (ie. through Pharmacist’s Mutual)

  • Possess strong verbal and written communication skills

  • Is timely and professional

  • Must be able to work at least 8 hours a week

Responsibilities

  • Provide pharmacist services using ImpactPharm application and complete surveys after each patient encounter

  • Provide education and information regarding medications, vaccines, and over-the-counter products

  • Provide appropriate recommendations and interventions for patients with cancer in the context of current covid-19 situations

  • Maintain up-to-date knowledge regarding covid-19 and oncology medications

  • Connect patients to appropriate resources

  • Empower patients to to have meaningful engagements and interactions with their provider(s)

  • Communicate with patients in a kind, patient, and professional manner

Although ImpactPharmTM is not the first platform of its kind, we aim to be the most effective platform by giving pharmacists autonomy to provide care directly to patients when and where you choose.The ImpactPharmTM platform was built by pharmacists for pharmacists. The best part is, we skip the middleman and you get paid directly for your clinical expertise! With no limits on patient call volume or earning potential, you can work as little or as much as you want, wherever and whenever you want. With our flexible model, pharmacists can successfully create their own personal work/life balance.

We will be opening up applications soon. Please stay tuned!

Careers

Consultant Medical Doctor

We provide patients with pharmacist services to bridge the gap in care and empower patients to advocate for their health. We are looking to partner with medical doctors (preferably with an oncology and/or infectious disease background) who are passionate about patient care and excited to help mitigate medication safety issues by overseeing pharmacist work.
Start an ad hoc consultative contract position as an IMPACTPHARMTM Consultant Physician with flexible and remote opportunities, and the option to start immediately! Expand your practice, get paid directly, and gain more freedom and flexibility in your career.

Job description

The MD Contractor/Consultant will provide clinical oversight to the team of pharmacists in the case of complex and/or urgent situations that may arise between pharmacist and user. The MD will be the primary clinical advisor to major safety concerns that arise which need immediate attention and advisement. This role will act as a support role to the pharmacists in specific events, situations, and cases as outlined in the contract.

Requirements

  • A Doctor of Medicine (MD) or Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) degree is required

  • Must have an active medical license in the State of MN and in be good standing to practice medicine

  • Background in oncology and/or infectious disease is preferred

  • Available at least 4 hours a week

Responsibilities

  • Consult on complex and/or urgent situations that arise (as needed, ad hoc).

  • Attend monthly Grand Rounds meetings with pharmacists

  • Collaborates with team and has strong interpersonal skills

  • Learns quickly and has strong problem-solving and critical thinking skills

  • Able to communicate via multi-modalities (email, phone, Slack)

We will be opening up applications soon. Please stay tuned!