Bank on KC – Conversation with John Yost

6/29/22 Banking on KC

John Yost of Pharmacy of Grace

Co-founder and Board Chair John Yost talks about what PoG will offer the community once open.

On this episode of Banking on KC, John Yost shared the powerful origin story of Pharmacy of Grace, a new nonprofit pharmacy in Kansas City committed to improving access to medication for the uninsured and underinsured.

With a pharmacy degree from KU and decades of experience in pharmacy and pharmaceutical sales, Yost witnessed firsthand how many vulnerable patients fall through the cracks—especially those living with chronic conditions like diabetes. But it wasn’t until he encountered the Charitable Pharmacy of Central Ohio during a mission trip that the vision for Pharmacy of Grace truly came into focus.

Opening July 11 at 721 N. 31st Street in Wyandotte County, Pharmacy of Grace offers far more than prescriptions. Its services include health screenings, counseling with a pharmacist, immunizations (with plans for mobile delivery), and mental health referrals. Importantly, the clinic is designed to feel welcoming—with private rooms that accommodate individuals or families for one-on-one medication guidance.

Why Wyandotte? The need is urgent. Nearly one in five residents are uninsured, and the county ranks last in the state for health access. Diabetic hospitalization rates are nearly double the state average. And across the U.S., 2 to 3 out of every 10 prescriptions are never filled—often because people simply can’t afford them.

Pharmacy of Grace is closing that gap.

With early support from foundations like REACH, Health Forward, Sunderland, and AdventHealth, Yost and his team have created a model rooted in both compassion and evidence-based care. They’re close to meeting their operational funding needs and welcome donations at pharmacyofgrace.org.

As Yost puts it, “If a doctor prescribes medication and the patient can’t fill it, all that work doesn’t change anything. We’re here to change that.”