Vim & Vigor - Spring 2011 - Community Healthcare - (Page 6)

Helping the Medicine Go Down F By AngelA Moore There is help available for many people who can’t afford their medicines. These programs, frequently called patient assistance programs (PAPs), are designed to help those in need obtain their medicines at no cost or very low cost. Since 2005, PAPs have helped more than 7 million people and have filled over 36 million prescriptions with a total wholesale value of over $5 billion. All PAPs are designed to help those in need obtain their medicines. Because each pharmaceutical company establishes its own rules and guidelines, all are different. All have income guidelines, but they vary considerably. Each company selects which drugs are available on their programs and how long a person can receive assistance. Providing access to more affordable pharmaceuticals aced with the difficult choice of paying your heating bill and staying warm or spending the money on lifesaving medications prescribed by your doctor, which would you choose? Community Healthcare System doesn’t want patients to be faced with such a challenging decision and is taking steps to help provide greater access to low-cost and discounted medications. Elizabeth Yee, vice president of Clinical Ancillary Services; Koula Tsahas, R.Ph., director of pharmacy, When Medications Are Unaffordable Although no two programs are exactly the same, most require that the applicant complete an application form. The amount of information required varies, but all require a doctor’s signature. There are a variety of websites with access to free information about PAPs, including NeedyMeds (www.needymeds.org), RxAssist (www.rxassist.org) and Partnership for Prescription Assistance (www.helpingpatients.org). These sites don’t have a program of their own, nor do they help people get their medicines. Also, many pharmaceutical companies have information about their PAPs on their websites. 6 Vim & Vigor • SP R I N G 2 011 http://www.needymeds.org http://www.rxassist.org http://www.helpingpatients.org

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Vim & Vigor - Spring 2011 - Community Healthcare

Vim & Vigor - Spring 2011 - Community Healthcare
Contents
Community Message
Community Briefs
Solutions for Relief
Helping the Medicine Go Down
Beating Breast Cancer
A Workout for Every Mood
Don’t Fail Your Heart
If Your Bones Could Talk
Healthy Travels
Over 40 and Fabulous
Do-It-Yourself Health?
Fighting Words
Balancing Act
Giving & Getting
The Heart of Rehab
Spotlight on St. Mary Medical Center
Spotlight on Community Hospital
Spotlight on St. Catherine Hospital
Prescription for Safety

Vim & Vigor - Spring 2011 - Community Healthcare