PATIENT ADVOCATE NEWS EDITOR’S NOTE
JAN FEB 2011
N e w s a n d i n fo r m at i o n a b o u t p at i e nt a s s i s t a n c e p ro g r a m s a n d ot h e r h e a l t h c a r e a s s i s t a n c e Dear Patient Advocates, Happy 2011! We’ve been hearing so many wonderful things about the NeedyMeds drug discount card; folks have been saving money right and left. Susan Macdonald left a nice note on our Facebook Page saying that she saved $35 back in December, and she wasn’t even going to “bother trying” to use the card! The card has also saved entire towns money; our partnership with the city of Gloucester, MA has saved residents $100,000 in prescription drug costs. Since we introduced the card in April 2009, we have saved people more than $4.8 million. We are proud of what we do, and we are always working to make patients’ and advocates’ experiences better. Please take our website survey and let us know how we can improve your experience with our website. Take care,
Vikki Sloviter
Earlier this year, Leslie Bachurski contacted us to ask if we could interview her for an issue of PAN. We were happy to ask her about Consumer Health Coalition, a nonprofit that helps folks access public health programs. Vikki: Thanks so much for contacting us. Consumer Health Coalition (CHC) provides such a wealth of information and resources to the public, especially those in Southwestern Pennsylvania where CHC is headquartered. Please tell us about the history and vision of CHC. Leslie: The image of CHC grew from the September 1995 conference, “Building a Coalition: Giving Consumers a Voice in Shaping Health Services.” Together, the participants recognized that other health care stakeholders were well organized, but there was no organization that voiced the needs of the consumer, especially those at greatest risk for experiencing barriers to the health system. With generous funding from the Jewish Healthcare Foundation, and technical support provided by Community Catalyst, CHC was formed! Fourteen years later, CHC has established itself as a leading consumer health advocacy organization in Southwestern
Pennsylvania. Our Board of Directors, staff, network of volunteers, and community partners work hard to advance our mission “to inspire a consumer movement to advance health and enhance access to quality, affordable health care.” Vikki: CHC’s primary mission is to reduce barriers to health care. In your experience with CHC, what are the three largest barriers for Pennsylvanians, and how has CHC helped knock them down? Leslie: The health care system can be incredibly complex and difficult for consumers to navigate, especially those with lower literacy levels and/or those that speak limited English. CHC not only helps consumers complete applications, but also we work with county assistance offices on their behalf to rectify any problems to ensure that health coverage is obtained for those who are eligible. (Continued on next page)