Patient Assistance Programs
Patient Assistance Programs, or PAPs, can assist patients by covering some or all of a co-pay or co-insurance fee, or by providing free drugs. Sometimes, the PAP is run by the drug company itself. For example, Vertex has a PAP set up for its new hepatitis C drug, telaprevir, which was just approved by the FDA (along with another new hep C drug by Merck, boceprevir).
But more commonly, PAPs are run by outside companies, either for-profit or non-profit. Among the for-profits, Lash, AccessMed, Covance, and PremierSource are among the largest. For the nonprofits, Healthwell Foundation and the Patient Advocacy Foundation are the most popular.
Source
Comprehensive database of PAPs-Patient Assistance Programs
RX Assist offers a comprehensive database of PAPs. It was established in 1997 with support from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation by Volunteers in Health Care, a national resource center for safety-net organizations
RX Assist Provider Center- Use the Database Search to find patient assistance programs.
The Victrelis regimen involves taking four tablets three times a day for either 24 or 48 weeks, depending on a person’s response. The treatment begins with pegylated interferon and ribavirin for the first four weeks, then Victrelis is added. The weekly cost of Victrelis is $1,100, according to Specialty Pharmacy News, meaning a 24-week treatment would cost approximately $22,000; a 48-week treatment would cost $48,400.
The Incivek regimen involves taking two tablets three times a day for 12 weeks at a cost of $49,200. After 12 weeks, patients stop taking Incivek and continue the regimen with pegylated interferon and ribavirin. Depending on the response to the drug, the treatment regimen is either 24 or 48 weeks. The high cost of interferon and ribavirin treatment—approximately $30,000 for 48 weeks—would need to be added to either treatment. (Ribavirin is a pill available under various brand names. Pegylated interferon is sold under several brand names and is injected, typically by the patient.)
Future hepatitis C drugs are expected to be even more expensive.
Insurance plans will typically require preauthorization for coverage of any of the four drugs as part of an overall treatment plan. They may also have monitoring and adherence requirements.
Medicaid
Under Medicaid, hepatitis C drugs and factor products are typically covered as a drug benefit. Some individuals may be subject to a small copayment.
Medicare Hepatitis C drugs are covered under Medicare Part D, along with other drugs. Part D out-of-pocket costs for 2011 include a $310 deductible; 25% of the next $2,530 of drug costs ($633); the next $3,610; and approximately 5% of drug costs. This means out-of-pocket costs for hepatitis C drugs could be expensive, exceeding $8,500.
Source
New health care law - Doughnut hole
In 2010 a $250 rebate program was the first benefit of the new health care law to take effect. It’s an early effort by the Obama administration to convince consumers, especially Medicare beneficiaries, that help is on the way, though the main provisions of the law won’t begin until 2014.
The amount is small compared with most people’s actual expenses in the gap, when they must currently pay full price after the total cost of their drugs since the beginning of the year reaches $2,830. But the rebate was intended to signal that the doughnut hole—the most unpopular aspect of the Part D drug benefit—will eventually be closed.
In 2011, people in the gap will see a 50 percent discount on brand-name and biologic drugs and a 7 percent discount on generics. After 2011 the discounts will grow larger until, by 2020, nobody will pay more than 25 percent of the cost of any drugs in what is now the doughnut hole—that is, between reaching the initial coverage limit and qualifying for low-cost catastrophic coverage.
Source
But more commonly, PAPs are run by outside companies, either for-profit or non-profit. Among the for-profits, Lash, AccessMed, Covance, and PremierSource are among the largest. For the nonprofits, Healthwell Foundation and the Patient Advocacy Foundation are the most popular.
Source
Comprehensive database of PAPs-Patient Assistance Programs
RX Assist offers a comprehensive database of PAPs. It was established in 1997 with support from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation by Volunteers in Health Care, a national resource center for safety-net organizations
RX Assist Provider Center- Use the Database Search to find patient assistance programs.
The Victrelis regimen involves taking four tablets three times a day for either 24 or 48 weeks, depending on a person’s response. The treatment begins with pegylated interferon and ribavirin for the first four weeks, then Victrelis is added. The weekly cost of Victrelis is $1,100, according to Specialty Pharmacy News, meaning a 24-week treatment would cost approximately $22,000; a 48-week treatment would cost $48,400.
The Incivek regimen involves taking two tablets three times a day for 12 weeks at a cost of $49,200. After 12 weeks, patients stop taking Incivek and continue the regimen with pegylated interferon and ribavirin. Depending on the response to the drug, the treatment regimen is either 24 or 48 weeks. The high cost of interferon and ribavirin treatment—approximately $30,000 for 48 weeks—would need to be added to either treatment. (Ribavirin is a pill available under various brand names. Pegylated interferon is sold under several brand names and is injected, typically by the patient.)
Future hepatitis C drugs are expected to be even more expensive.
Insurance plans will typically require preauthorization for coverage of any of the four drugs as part of an overall treatment plan. They may also have monitoring and adherence requirements.
Medicaid
Under Medicaid, hepatitis C drugs and factor products are typically covered as a drug benefit. Some individuals may be subject to a small copayment.
Medicare Hepatitis C drugs are covered under Medicare Part D, along with other drugs. Part D out-of-pocket costs for 2011 include a $310 deductible; 25% of the next $2,530 of drug costs ($633); the next $3,610; and approximately 5% of drug costs. This means out-of-pocket costs for hepatitis C drugs could be expensive, exceeding $8,500.
Source
New health care law - Doughnut hole
In 2010 a $250 rebate program was the first benefit of the new health care law to take effect. It’s an early effort by the Obama administration to convince consumers, especially Medicare beneficiaries, that help is on the way, though the main provisions of the law won’t begin until 2014.
The amount is small compared with most people’s actual expenses in the gap, when they must currently pay full price after the total cost of their drugs since the beginning of the year reaches $2,830. But the rebate was intended to signal that the doughnut hole—the most unpopular aspect of the Part D drug benefit—will eventually be closed.
In 2011, people in the gap will see a 50 percent discount on brand-name and biologic drugs and a 7 percent discount on generics. After 2011 the discounts will grow larger until, by 2020, nobody will pay more than 25 percent of the cost of any drugs in what is now the doughnut hole—that is, between reaching the initial coverage limit and qualifying for low-cost catastrophic coverage.
Source
New Pegasys Patient Assistance Program http://www.pegasysaccesssolutions.com Merck/Pegintron If you believe you may be in need of financial assistance to pay for your PEGINTRON® treatment, help could be just a phone call away. 1-800-521-7157 Merck Patient Assistance Program See All Drugs Covered In The Patient Assistance Program Website Merck/Help Program All Merck Helps programs are confidential and patients may qualify for the Merck Patient Assistance Program and the Merck Vaccine Who May Qualify If you have been prescribed a Merck medicine, you may be eligible for the program if all 3 of the following conditions apply:
With the Merck Helps programs, there are no application fees, no co-payments and a simple enrollment process. Many medicines can be delivered to a patient's home or doctor's office at no charge. Patients in need of information should visit www.MerckHelps.com Victrelis/Boceprevir Merck has included Victrelis/Boceprevir to its patient assistance program Many Merck medicines are included in this program. Please call The ACT Program at 1-866-363-6379 for the full list of covered products. Click here for ; What You Need To Do Patients/Consumers: Patients can call 1-800-727-5400 toll free 8:00 AM–8:00 PM ET to obtain a brochure outlining the program and an enrollment application. The enrollment application must be completed by the patient and his or her physician. OR Patients/consumers may request a brochure and application online. People can print out a card at www.victrelis.com, which entitles them to receive up to $200 savings on their copayment for each Victrelis prescription, on up to 12 prescriptions (which would be a full 44 weeks of treatment for those who need it for that duration). INCIVEK-Telaprevir Vertex provides a comprehensive financial assistance and patient support program to help people get INCIVEK who might not otherwise be able to afford it. The program helps people learn about insurance benefits for their medicines, provides INCIVEK for free to eligible patients who do not have insurance and provides coverage for co-pay or co-insurance costs associated with INCIVEK for people who meet certain program criteria. Additionally, nurses are available through a 24-7 hotline by which patients can receive support, guidance and educational materials. For eligible patients, the program includes the following:
Epogen * Contact Information: 800-272-9376 Amgen Program Details: The PAP is for people who do not qualify for other assistance or health insurance programs and is limited by income. Most programs have limits based on the total household income compared to established federal poverty levels. Generally, programs will accept appeals for special circumstances if a person does not initially qualify and is turned down.. *Epogen is not a treatment for HCV, but it is a treatment for anemia, which is a side effect commonly caused by HCV treatment. PROCRIT® † Johnson & Johnson Patient Assistance Foundation (Epoetin alfa) FOR INJECTION | Participating Patient Assistance Programs Many state and corporate prescription assistance programs help patients obtain free or low-cost medications. Website Pfizer Program At Pfizer, we believe that patients in need who are prescribed a Pfizer medicine should have access to that Pfizer medicine. That's why we created Pfizer Helpful Answers. Pfizer Helpful Answers is a family of programs offering eligible patients over 100 Pfizer medicines for free or at a savings. These programs can provide: Free Pfizer medicines to lower-income patients without prescription coverage Savings on Pfizer medicines, regardless of age or income A Hardship Exception for eligible patients with prescription coverage facing a significant financial hardship Online training tool This interactive presentation explains how you can help patients in need get access to their medicines. View presentation Connection to Care® This program provides free Pfizer medicines to lower-income patients through their physician's office. Pfizer MAINTAIN™ Program MAINTAIN™ is a program that helps eligible people in financial need continue to get their Pfizer medicines if they become unemployed on or after 1/1/09 and do not have prescription coverage. Participating patients will receive their Pfizer medicines for free for up to one year, or until they become insured again, whichever comes first. Sharing The Care™ This program provides free Pfizer medicines to lower-income patients through federally qualified community health centers across the United States. Pfizer Hospital Partnership Program This program provides free Pfizer medicines to low-income outpatients through Disproportionate Share Hospitals across the United States. Pharmaceutical Assistance Many companies offer patient assistance programs which give medications free of charge to physicians whose patients might not otherwise have access to necessary medicines. Below are a few telephone numbers you can call to ask the questions: Which medications are available? Who is eligible? How do I apply? Who contacts the companies? Physicians. If you are in need of assistance, give these numbers to your doctor: Vertex 1-855-837-8394 Merck 1-866-363-6379 Abbott Laboratories 800-222-6885 x568 Pfizer Inc. 800-646-4455 Bristol-Myers-Squibb 800-332-2056 Pharmacia & Upjohn 800-242-7014 Glaxo Wellcome Inc. 800-722-9294 SmithKline Beecham 800-546-0420 Janssen Pharmaceutical 800-544-2987 Solvay Pharmaceuticals 800-788-9277 Eli Lilly and Company 800-545-6962 Wyeth-Ayers Pharmaceutical 800-568-9938 Parke-Davis 908-725-1247 Prescription Hope On the website it listed :PEG-Intron, peginterferon alfa-2b and ribavirin With this disclaimer : * This medication list is subject to change at any time. Each medication is subject to pharmaceutical company approval. If the medication you are looking for does not appear on this list, please call Prescription Hope to check availability. You may qualify for Prescription Hope if: •If you earn $30,000 or less per year as a single person or $50,000 or less as a couple. These are average figures; some pharmacutical company's guidelines may be higher. •You may have a discount prescription drug card and still qualify. •Do not participate in Medicaid. •You are experiencing financial hardship. How the Program Works •Perspective patients can pre-enroll by calling Prescription Hope toll free 1-877-296-Hope (4673) to receive an application packet, or download an application at www.prescriptionhope.com . The Fair Pricing Coalition is an ad hoc group of activists who advocate with the pharmaceutical industry regarding the price and patient access to HIV and viral hepatitis drugs. For more information, please visit www.fairpricingcoalition.org. Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America 2001-2002 Directory of Prescription Drug Patient Assistance Programs http://www.phrma.org/ Partnership for Prescription Assistance. 1-888-477-2669 NeedyMeds.com http://needymeds.com/ Northeastern Pennsylvania Transplant Support Group Inc. (NEPATSG) list of Pharmaceutical Manufacturer Financial Assistance Programs http://www.nepatsg.org/finance.htm To receive a copy of Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America's Directory of Prescription Drug Patient Assistance Programs, contact 1-800-835-3410 Medicare Medicare - Prescription Drug Assistance Programs How Medicare Can Help With Prescriptions Medicare now offers prescription drug coverage to eligible Americans. If you qualify for Medicare, it will help you pay for both brand-name and generic medicines -- whatever your income, medical history or current coverage. This page directs patients to the resources they need to determine if they are eligible for the benefits and how to locate a Medicare insurance plan, among other things. |
Clinical Trials
To learn more about Hepatitis C virus clinical trials or to find out if a study is enrolling patients in your area,
please click here.
Pharmaceutical Companies
Abbott
Abbott / Enanta
Achillion
Anadys Pharmaceuticals
AstraZeneca
Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma
Biotron
Bristol-Myers Squibb
iTherX
Eiger BioPharmaceuticals
Gilead
Idenix
InterMune / Genentech
Merck
Pfizer
Presidio
Pharmasset
Pharmasset / Genentech
Medivir / Tibotec
Vertex