Category:Patient Assistance Programs

From Pharmacy Drug Guide

Many Americans cannot afford to purchase their prescription medications. Patient Assistance Programs (PAPs) are prescription support programs operated by pharmaceutical manufacturers, government agencies, and third-party organizations. These health discount plans are intended to provide qualified patients with prescription medications for free, or at a significantly reduced cost. Each has its own eligibility criteria and enrollment qualifications. For most, this includes an income requirement and lack of adequate prescription drug insurance.^[1]

Contents 1 About Patient Assistance Programs 2 Patience Assistance Program Eligibility 3 Major Patient Assistance Programs 4 References

About Patient Assistance Programs

Patience Assistance Program Eligibility

Patient assistance programs are designed to assist low-income individuals or families who are uninsured or under-insured. If the eligibility guidelines are met, assistance is provided by either significantly reducing the cost of the drug or providing medication free of charge. Covered medications vary by program, with different eligibility requirements; even for medications produced by the same manufacturer.^[2]

Patient Assistance Programs are not required by the government. They are offered as a free service by companies and non-profit organizations within the pharmaceutical industry. Most major pharmaceutical companies provide programs specifically designed for their highest selling medications.^[3]

Patients seeking aid from an assistance program can access a database of roughly 475 public and private programs through Partnership for Prescription Assistance. This service helps consumers find programs that will cover some or all of the cost of their prescriptions, and patients may find information online or by calling 1-888-4PPA-NOW.^{[4] [5]}

Major Patient Assistance Programs

• Pfizer- Pfizer Pfriends drug savings cards provide discounts for a number of Pfizer drugs at participating pharmacies. There are no income requirements; however, patients must not have prescription drug coverage, and they must live in the United States or U.S. territories.^[6] Pfizer also runs Pfizer Helpful Answers, which connects patients
• Lilly--Eli Lilly runs several patient assistance programs, including Lilly Cares. Lilly Cares gives away a year's worth of prescription medications by shipping them to doctors' offices in 120-day-supply increments for patients to pick up. In order to qualify, patients must meet income requirements, have no prescription coverage and live in the United States. Information on other Lilly health discount plans is available through Lilly TruAssist.^[7]

References

1. ↑ http://www.needymeds.org/indices/faq.htm#pap200
2. ↑ http://www.lillytruassist.com/pages/AssistancePrograms.aspx
3. ↑ http://www.rxassist.org/faqs/default.cfm#1
4. ↑ http://www.pparx.org/en/about_us/contact_us
5. ↑ http://www.pparx.org/en/about_us
6. ↑ http://www.pfizerhelpfulanswers.com/pages/Programs/programdetails.aspx?p=1&source=google&HBX_PK=s_Broad&HBX_OU=50&o=23060041|165867469|0&skwid=+pfizer%20friends
7. ↑ http://www.lillytruassist.com/Pages/AboutLillyCares.aspx