Frequently Asked Questions
Q:
What is the Partnership for Prescription Assistance?
A: The Partnership for Prescription Assistance brings together
America’s pharmaceutical companies, health care providers,
patient advocacy organizations and community groups to help
patients in need who lack prescription drug coverage get free
or nearly free medicines. Its mission is to increase awareness
of patient assistance programs and boost enrollment for those
who may be eligible.
The Partnership for Prescription Assistance offers a single
point of access to more than 275 public and private patient
assistance programs, including more than 150 programs offered
by pharmaceutical companies. Patients can call a toll-free
number or visit the user-friendly Web site.
Q: Who are
the partners in the Partnership for Prescription Assistance?
A: America’s pharmaceutical companies have partnered
with health care providers, patient advocacy organizations
and community groups to launch the Partnership for Prescription
Assistance. The list of partners is growing and already includes
well-known national organizations and a fast-growing list
of state-based partners.
Q: Why was
the Partnership for Prescription Assistance created?
A: A growing number of Americans do not have insurance coverage
for prescription medicines and other health care services.
In order to boost awareness of and enrollment in existing
patient assistance programs, America’s pharmaceutical
companies and the health care providers, patient advocacy
organizations and community groups who help eligible patients
enroll in patient assistance programs came to the conclusion
that much more needed to be done.
Q: Why do
patients need the Partnership for Prescription Assistance?
A: Many people lack health insurance coverage and have trouble
affording the prescription medicines and health care services
they need. In the United States, more than 27 million people
make less than 200 percent of the federal poverty level and
do not have prescription coverage. The Partnership for Prescription
Assistance is dedicated to helping these patients receive
the prescription medicines they need.
Q: Who qualifies
for assistance?
A: Millions of people are already benefiting from patient
assistant programs – and there are millions more who
could be helped. Each patient assistance program available
through the Partnership for Prescription Assistance has its
own eligibility criteria.
After April 5th, patients who do not have prescription drug
coverage and are having trouble affording their medicines
should call the Partnership for Prescription Assistance at
1-888-4PPA-NOW (1-888-477-2669) or visit www.pparx.org to
see if they may be eligible for one or more programs. Patients
with questions about the eligibility criteria of a specific
program may be transferred directly to the company sponsoring
that program.
Q: How can patients
enroll in a program accessible through the Partnership for
Prescription Assistance?
A: Enrollment is easy. Patients can call the toll-free number
– 1-888-4PPA-NOW (1-888-477-2669) – or visit the
user-friendly Web site. For those who call, a trained specialist
will ask a short series of questions, provide initial feedback
and help patients identify the specific programs for which
they may qualify. The specialists also make the application
process easy by helping patients fill out the application
forms.
Q: What information
do patients need when they contact the Partnership for Prescription
Assistance?
A: Patients should be ready to provide: age, state of residence
and ZIP code, estimated gross annual household income, number
of people living in their household, name of the prescription
medicines they are currently taking or have been prescribed,
and, if applicable, any type of health insurance and/or prescription
coverage for which they are eligible. All responses to these
questions are completely confidential.
Q: Can patients
access the Partnership for Prescription Assistance online?
A: Yes. Patients can visit www.pparx.org, the program’s
user-friendly Web site. Online users will be prompted to answer
a short series of questions and will get feedback on their
potential to qualify for a program. They will also get information
about application processes, and can begin to fill out many
applications online.
Q: What happens
next if a patient appears to qualify for one or more assistance
programs?
A: A patient who may qualify will receive information about
application processes and appropriate applications by mail.
The applications will show the information the patient provided
on the phone. The patient must provide any remaining required
information and bring the forms to his or her health care
provider’s office. The prescriber must sign the form
and provide specific prescription information (or simply attach
the prescription themselves). Depending on the program, either
the patient or the health care provider should mail the forms
to the company sponsoring the specific program.
Q: How long does
it take for qualified patients to receive their medicines?
A: Although each patient assistance program has its own timeline,
the program sponsors are committed to getting free or nearly
free prescription medicines to eligible patients as quickly
as possible. Patients may contact the organization sponsoring
a specific patient assistance program to ask when they will
receive their medicines.
Q: How should
patients expect to receive their medicines?
A: Depending on the program, the prescription medicines are
either sent to the health care provider’s office or
sent to the patient’s home. Some patient assistance
programs mail a pharmacy card to patients. Patients can use
these cards to get their free or nearly free medicines at
local pharmacies.
Q: How long can
patients expect to get free or nearly free medication from
programs available through the Partnership for Prescription
Assistance?
A: Each specific patient assistance program accessed through
the Partnership for Prescription Assistance has its own enrollment
renewal requirements. The specifics of each program will be
included in the information packet sent to the patient in
the mail. Many programs require patients to reapply periodically.
Q: Can Medicare
and Medicaid beneficiaries qualify?
A: Each patient assistance program has its own eligibility
criteria. Some programs provide prescription assistance for
Medicare beneficiaries who do not have full prescription drug
benefits. People who are enrolled in other publicly and privately
sponsored programs that include prescription coverage may
not be eligible for assistance. There are some instances in
which Medicaid beneficiaries may be eligible for certain patient
assistance programs.
Q: Are non-citizens
eligible?
A: Each patient assistance program has its own eligibility
criteria. In addition to prescription benefits status, household
income, and household size, some programs may ask for citizenship
status. All responses to these questions are completely confidential.
Q: What role do
health care providers play in the Partnership for Prescription
Assistance?
A: Doctors, nurses, pharmacists and other health care professionals
play a crucial role in spreading the word that patients in
need can get free or nearly free prescription medications.
Health care providers may also be responsible
for signing patient application forms, adding prescription
information or an actual prescription, and, depending on the
program, potentially mailing or faxing the application to
the sponsoring company on the patient’s behalf.
Q: How does the
Partnership for Prescription Assistance spread the word about
the program?
A: The Partnership for Prescription Assistance is sponsoring
an unprecedented nationwide campaign to get the message out
to patients who may be eligible. This effort includes local
events in states across the country; television, radio and
print advertising; and brochures and posters that educate
patients about the program.
Q: How long will
this program last?
A: The Partnership for Prescription Assistance is an ongoing
initiative that is committed to helping patients who lack
prescription drug coverage get the medicines they need for
free or nearly free.
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