Patient Assistance Programs

From Pharmacy Drug Guide

Patient assistance programs, also known as PAPs, prescription assistance, or support programs, can make prescription drugs more affordable for consumers. Patient assistance programs are funded by pharmaceutical companies and government agencies to help qualified patients get prescription medicines for free or at a significantly reduced cost. Most patient assistance programs require that an individual be uninsured or under-insured and have a low income in order to qualify for free or discount medications. However, some programs have no such requirements.

Contents 1 About Patient Assistance Programs 2 Patient Assistance Program Overview 3 Where to Find Patient Assistance Programs 4 Medicare and Patient Assistance Programs 5 References

About Patient Assistance Programs

Pharmaceutical companies provide patient assistance programs voluntarily--they are not required by law to offer them. Every company that offers a PAP will have their own eligibility criteria and qualifications for enrollment. In general, these savings programs are for patients who are unable to pay for their medications and do not have any prescription drug insurance coverage. Most programs have income requirements, and patients may need to provide proof of income along with other documentation that verifies their eligibility.^[1]

Patient Assistance Program Overview

Where to Find Patient Assistance Programs

• One way to find information is on the pharmaceutical companies' websites for specific drugs. Manufacturers that offer assistance will usually provide program links on the drug websites.
• The Assistance Fund, a non-profit group based in Orlando Florida, has an app for the iPod, iPhone, iPad and Android markets that allows the user to input a drug name and find available patient assistance resources. The AssistFund app includes manufacturer-sponsored prescription support programs as well as resources from non-profit patient assistance programs, as well as the Assistance Fund's own available prescription assistance funds.^[2]
• NeedyMeds provides comprehensive information on patient assistance programs, and allows users to search their drug database by brand name or generic drug name. The organization also offers a drug discount card.^[3]
• Walgreens has a prescription savings plan with open eligibility--that is, all residents of the U.S. are allowed to participate regardless of prescription drug insurance coverage or income.

Medicare and Patient Assistance Programs

While some patient assistance programs exclude patients who have Medicare Part D coverage from eligibility, some plans are available to medicare recipients. Medicare.gov has several tools available to help patients find plans that may be available to them.

• Medicare provides PAP information by drug name, and includes information for patients who are enrolled in Medicare Part D, and also for those who are not.^[4]
• Medicare also provides information about patient assistance programs run by individual states.^[5]
• Medicare has information available on its "Help with Medical and Drug Costs" page. It includes a link to a PDF file on "Bridging the Coverage Gap".^[6][7]

The National Council on Aging offers a BenefitsCheckUp website which includes information and an application for the Medicare Rx Extra Help program. This program is available to patients who are enrolled in Medicare, who have income which is less than $16,335 if single or $22,065 if married, in addition to resource limits. Patients who qualify will have lower deductibles, lower premiums, no coverage gap, and will pay less for prescriptions.^[8]

Also See: Drug Side Effects, Prescription Drugs, Drug Coupons, Free Drug Samples, Abbott Patient Assistance Programs, Bristol-Myers Squibb Patient Assistance Programs, Eli Lilly Patient Assistance Programs, Merck Patient Assistance Programs, Novartis Patient Assistance Programs, Pfizer Patient Assistance Programs, Sanofi Aventis Patient Assistance Programs, FDA

References

1. ↑ http://www.pparx.org/en/patient_faqs
2. ↑ http://theassistancefund.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/TAF-Moblie-App-Release_v3_09-09-2011.pdf
3. ↑ http://www.needymeds.org/
4. ↑ http://www.medicare.gov/pap/index.asp
5. ↑ http://www.medicare.gov/pharmaceutical-assistance-program/state-programs.aspx
6. ↑ http://www.medicare.gov/navigation/medicare-basics/medical-and-drug-costs.aspx
7. ↑ http://www.medicare.gov/Publications/Pubs/pdf/11213.pdf
8. ↑ http://www.benefitscheckup.org/cf/extrahelp.cfm?partner_id=0