Counseling Points - December 2008 - (Page 11)

websites. They also have access to lists of independent notfor-profit organizations that can provide individualized funding. Drug manufacturers can also offer help with claims denial. Most companies have dedicated specialists who will assist in navigating the reimbursement issues that may arise during treatment. A list of the companies that market biologic DMARDs for RA and their PAP contact information appears in Table 3.23 Two other reputable websites that provide information on payment assistance for medications are RX Assist and The Partnership for Prescription Access (PPA).25,26 Rx Assist (www.rxassist.org/) was created and is maintained by Volunteers in Health Care, a group that is funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. It is the largest philanthropic organization in the United States devoted exclusively to improving the health and health care of all Americans. The website provides information for patients and health care professionals on how to access free and low-cost medication programs. It also includes a list of frequently asked questions and other resources that outline important related information, such as Medicare Part D facts, Veterans Affairs Health Care eligibility requirements, discount drug cards, and federal poverty standards.25 The PPA website (www.pparx.org/Intro.php) is similar to the Rx Assist site.26 It is a single point of access for over 475 public and private assistance programs and is worthwhile for any patient, caregiver, or health care professional to visit. The organization is funded by American pharmaceutical research companies and helps low-income, uninsured, and underinsured patients access prescription medications. It also allows users to easily find public and private medication assistance programs for which they may be eligible.26 The PPA has a second website focused exclusively on medication assistance for children at http:// kids.pparx.org.27 On both sites, PAP applications can be accessed, downloaded, and printed. and practice guidelines, research and funding opportunities, and online continuing education (CE) programs. It also provides advice on coding, fee schedules, and practice support. There are archived abstracts and other scientific materials from past ACR meetings available to members. Additionally, the ACR devotes a portion of its website to arthritis patient education.28 This section focuses on helping users find rheumatologists in their area and lists links to information on arthritis-related legislation, research, and financial assistance for DMARDs not covered in Table 3. The ACR offers patient fact sheets on rheumatic diseases as well as describing the roles of various health care professionals with whom RA patients may come into contact throughout the course of their disease. A section entitled “Additional Topics to Note” includes fact sheets on miscellaneous information, such as herbal remedies, exercise, back pain, joint surgery, clinical trials, and arthritis and pregnancy.28 Save the Dates! INS 2009 Annual Meeting and Industrial Exhibition May 16-21, 2009 Gaylord Opryland® Resort and Convention Center Nashville, Tennessee www.eshow2000.com/ins/2009/ INS 2009 Fall National Academy November 13-15, 2009 Hyatt Regency Jacksonville Riverfront Jacksonville, Florida www.eshow2000.com/ins/2009/Fall Nursing Societies The Rheumatology Nurses Society (RNS) is dedicated to education and empowerment of nurses through professional development.29 This new society’s inaugural meeting in August 2008 launched the organization and its website and provided a number of educational sessions about rheumatic disorders. Their goal is to work with the ACR and the Association of Rheumatology Health Professionals to assure those providing care for RA patients have access to the most reliable, consistent, and up-to-date information. The society will be working on many initiatives in the near future, including developing practice guidelines for rheumatology nurses and a journal specifically dedicated to rheumatology nursing. For more information about becoming a member of the RNS, review highlights of the 2008 meeting, or learn more about the 2009 annual conference, visit the website at: www.rns-network.org/. 11 DECEMBER 2008 Health Care Professional Resources Like patients, health care professionals who treat individuals with RA need up-to-date educational materials on new medications. It is important to be current in other areas as well, such as IV medication management, issues relating to recurrent vascular access problems, therapy targets, practice support, fee schedules, and coding concerns. A number of websites for health care professionals are listed in Table 2. The ACR website is a comprehensive resource for both patients and health care professionals.28 The “Members and Professional” section offers a vast amount of information on membership benefits, online rheumatology publications http://www.rxassist.org/ http://www.pparx.org/Intro.php http://www.eshow2000.com/ins/2009/ http://www.eshow2000.com/ins/2009/Fall http://kids.pparx.org http://kids.pparx.org http://www.rns-network.org/

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