Thursday, April 27, 2017

Co-Pay Assistance on Medicare



Early Monday morning, May 1st, I am flying to Washington, D.C. with my son to attend a Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) conference. The main purpose for me is to talk to several Congressmen and Congresswomen about drug parity bills that are on the table. Once cancer patients go on Medicare (age 65), the out-of-pocket cost of oral cancer drugs becomes unaffordable for most people.

Cancer drugs are cancer drugs whether they are delivered intravenously or orally. The insurance laws were written before oral cancer drugs were invented. This needs to be changed.

In the meantime, Len K (lenkeck) gave me permission to repost his Health Unlocked response to help those Medicare patients struggling with co-pay payments and access to their cancer drugs. Please note that these non-profit organizations are usually funded by Pharma companies.

See the full list:
Programs that Assist with Medication
Co-pays
Some organizations offer to help insured patients that are having difficulty paying the co-pays for their medications or their insurance. These programs are for very specific diseases or medications. Some of these programs include:
Caring Voice Coalition was established early in 2003 to serve comprehensive needs of all individuals affected by serious and chronic disorders, through collaborative efforts and partnerships with organizations established to serve those patient populations. Current programs include: Insurance Reimbursement and Advocacy, Vital Relief (need based financial assistance limited to certain disorders or medical conditions), Compassionate Care (counseling and counseling referrals) and Public Advocacy. Visit:caringvoice.org/
The Chronic Disease Fund, a non-profit organization founded in 2003. Its focus is to provide assistance to those under-insured patients who are diagnosed with chronic or life altering diseases that require the use of expensive, specialty therapeutics. Visit: https://www.guidestar.org/profile/61-1462062/ 
The HealthWell Foundation, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization established in 2003 to address the needs of individuals who cannot afford their insurance copayments, premiums, coinsurance, or other out-of-pocket health care costs. Visit: healthwellfoundation.org
The National Marrow Patient Assistance Program and Financial Assistance Fund. The Marrow Foundation is the fund-raising partner of the National Marrow Donor Program (NMDP). Funds from this program help patients pay for searching the National Marrow Donor Program (NMDP) Registry and/or some post-transplant costs. Applications for Patient Assistance Program funds must be submitted by an NMDP transplant center. Eligible patients may ask their transplant center coordinator to apply for one or both programs. Call 1 (888)999-6743 or email patientinfo@nmdp.org.
Visit: bethematch.org
The Patient Access Network Foundation is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to supporting the needs of patients that cannot access the treatments they need due to out-of-pocket health care costs. Visit: patientaccessnetwork.org
The Patient Advocate Foundation, a national non-profit organization that seeks to safeguard patients through effective mediation assuring access to care, maintenance of employment and preservation of their financial stability. The Patient Advocate Foundation's Co-Pay Relief (CPR) Program provides direct co-payment assistance for pharmaceutical products to insured Americans who financially and medically qualify. The Program offers personal service to all patients through the use of CPR call counselors. Visit: copays.org
Patient Services Incorporated, developed in 1989, is a non-profit charitable organization primarily dedicated to subsidizing the high cost of health insurance premiums and pharmacy co-payments for persons with specific chronic illnesses and rare disorders. PSI is committed to assisting persons with chronic medical illnesses in accessing health insurance and pharmacy co-payment assistance. Families requiring assistance in maintaining the high cost of their health insurance premiums or co-payments are offered assistance based upon the severity of medical and financial need. PSI offers a "safety net" for persons who have expensive chronic illnesses and for those persons who "fall through the financial assistance cracks. 
Visit: https//www.patientservicesinc.org 

Love & Gratitude,
Dr. La Verne

5 comments:

  1. La Verne, I'm very interested in learning more about your lobbying activity in DC. What drug parity bills are currently being considered and who is organizing the effort this year? I posted a blog on PatientPower about lobbying for drug parity in Tennessee but have not connected with anyone at the national level. I think that there are others that are interested in learning more as well.

    Thanks, Beth Mullin
    bmullin@frontiernet.net

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    1. Dear Beth:
      I read your blog on Patient Power and thought it was very informative. The Arizona Chapter of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society supported local cancer patients who gave testimonies to our state legislature about their personal experiences with drug parity, and the bill was passed. The problem is now with Medicare patients having access to oral cancer drugs.

      The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society chapters at each state level are sending volunteers, board members, and LLS drug advocates to the conference in DC. I volunteer for the Arizona LLS and they invited me to join them this year. I went two years ago as well. A part of the conference is to become educated on the drug parity bills and then spend a day meeting with our Congressmen and Congresswomen to discuss drug parity. I also have letters from cancer patients I will be giving to the lawmakers. I will be discussing the bills in my blog when I return.

      I would suggest you contact your state LLS in Tennessee and see how you can work with them on drug parity. Then as an LLS volunteer you can join them at a future conference. It's good to have someone like you on board!

      LV

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  3. Another good source for helping paying for meds is http://www.needymeds.org. Stay strong, Brian Koffman, Founder and Medical Director, CLL Society http://cllsociety.org

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    1. Dear Dr. Brian:
      Thank you! I will add it to my list.

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