NEEDYMEDS
PATIENTADVOCATENEWS HELPING YOU AND YOUR CLIENTS ACCESS MEDICATIONS AND HEALTH CARE
FROM THE EDITOR
JULY 2012
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GET THE MOST OUT OF NEEDYMEDS
Cancer resources are our focus in this issue of PAN. You will hear firsthand how an oncology patient navigator helps her patients, and we have oriented our content to feature our cancer financial assistance resources.
The NeedyMeds website has many resources listed for those, or loved ones, diagnosed with cancer.
There are several ways to look for cancer resources on the NeedyMeds website:
The easiest way to find available financial assistance is to visit our Disease Resource Page section. These pages are designed to be a “one-stop shop” for a particular diagnosis, since it’s a place where we’ve put all the information we know about a particular condition in one place. Each page has information about available PAPs, programs that help folks based on a diagnosis, and links to further resources. Below are the current pages we have for different types of cancer. Go to http://www. needymeds.org/indices/disease_resource_pages.htm and click on the appropriate link.
✓ Many medications used in cancer treatment have
patient assistance programs. Be sure to look under brand and generic names to find programs.
✓ Looking in the Disease-Based Assistance
Programs under the cancer heading will bring up a listing of 137 programs across the country that provide anything from free lodging for families of a patient receiving treatment far from home, to air transportation, to wigs and prosthesis assistance.
✓ Various Disease Resource Pages also bring
together all our resources in one place. See the article in this issue on all the specific types of cancer resource pages we offer —eight resource pages in all.
Cancer
Breast Cancer
Cervical Cancer
Leukemia
Liver Cancer
Lymphoma
Wishing you good health,
Melanoma
Prostate Cancer
Jaye Jaye@needymeds.org
Lung Cancer
✓ Our camps database offers over 100 different
programs and some retreats for caregivers and people with cancer. Please let us know if you find these resources helpful. We’d love to hear from you.
INSIDETHISISSUE
NeedyMeds
SPOTLIGHT ON
NEWS & UPDATES
ONCOLOGY PATIENT NAVIGATION
OUTREACH
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WEBINARS
3-4 3-4
DRUG DISCOUNT CARD
PAP UPDATES
ADVANCING PATIENT ADVOCACY
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NEEDYMEDS SPOT LIGHT ON ...
NORTH SHORE MEDICAL CENTER Yovanny Fana, Oncology Patient Navigator In 2009, North Shore Medical Center in Salem, obtaining financial assistance such as Social Security Massachusetts, created, with grant funding from the or food stamps; I check their eligibility and help them Department of Public Health, three full-time patient with the application forms and process. Some of my navigator positions — one for substance abuse, one patients are homeless and I go to the shelter to work for mental health and one for oncology. The objective with them. Home visits are also part of what I do. was to ensure that vulnerable patients were conNeedyMeds: How many patients are in your case nected to someone in the health care system who load typically? understood their issues and concerns, and who could assist them in obtaining access to the services they Yovanny: I have around 60 active patients at any one needed. This model is proving to be cost effective, as time. They currently range in age from 16- 92; they well as patient centered, because these patients are are from the U.S., Nepal, the Dominican Republic, less likely to be repeat users at Puerto Rico and El Salvador. the emergency departments if NeedyMeds resources, NeedyMeds: Research shows that their needs are being met on a regular basis. bilingual, bicultural health care workespecially the drug ers can greatly reduce the risks assoWe recently had the opportunidiscount card, can ciated with language barriers and health ty to speak with Yovanny Fana, help them [patients] literacy. Your patients must be grateful patient navigator oncology at you can speak their language! NSMC for the past three years. significantly. Yovanny: Being able to communicate easily NeedyMeds: Good Morning, Yovanand understand their culture definitely helps in formny. Thank you so much for taking the time to tell our ing strong relationships and close bonds. This, in turn, PAN readers about the important work you do. To beleads to better patient compliance and better health gin with, what is a Patient Navigator Oncology (PNO)? outcomes on the whole.
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Yovanny: A PNO is trained to assist newly diagnosed cancer patients to navigate the health care and social services systems, to be part of the patient’s overall support system.
NeedyMeds: What are your responsibilities? Yovanny: Different patients need different levels of support. Some of my patients are alone in the world. Many do not have any family nearby, come from a different country and do not speak English. Most of my patients have low levels of health literacy and do not understand what is happening to them. My job is to make their appointments with their providers — primary care physicians, specialists, alternative practitioners, chemotherapy or radiation, psychotherapy — arrange transportation to and from their appointments, assist them in obtaining their medications, and ensure they understand the instructions. I also help them with
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NeedyMeds: Is your role changing as a result of health care reform? Yovanny: I think we will see a rise in the use of patient navigators because of the proven cost savings this model provides, and therefore, an increase in training programs at colleges and universities. The training is similar in some ways to that of community health workers but there is a stronger emphasis on medical knowledge.
NeedyMeds: Finally, how do you utilize the NeedyMeds resources in your work? Yovanny: Many of my patients have MassHealth or Health SafetyNet. They tend to be low income. So NeedyMeds resources, especially the drug discount card, can help them significantly.
PATIENTADVOCATENEWS | JULY 2012
NeedyMeds
NEWS
OUTREACH
&UPDATES
NeedyMeds’ Projects in Progress We are currently exploring grant funding in order to expand and reach more patient and advocate populations about our services. We will keep you posted about our ideas and progress. As part of NeedyMeds’ National Outreach strategy, we will be attending these conferences: • National Association of Local Boards of Health, Atlanta, August 2012 • National Association of Free and Charitable Clinics, San Antonio, October 2012 NeedyMeds attended two important conferences in June in order to exhibit, present our materials to new audiences and spread our message to patients, providers and advocates about obtaining assistance with the costs of medications and health care. Dr. Rich Sagall, Elizabeth Messenger and Julie Kautz Mills attended the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Conference and participated in the patient advocacy exhibitions. The ASCO Conference brought together more than 25,000 oncology professionals from a broad range of specialties. Robin Hoffman attended and exhibited at the Rhode Island Academy of Family Physicians in Providence (RIAFP), an over 185-member Rhode Island affiliate of the American Academy of Family Physicians.
Partnership for Patients: A Common Commitment The Partnership for Patients: Better Care, Lower Costs is a new public-private partnership that will help improve the quality, safety and affordability of health care for all Americans. There are two core goals of this partnership – keep patients from getting injured or sicker in the health care system and help patients heal without complication by improving transitions from acute-care hospitals to other care settings, like home or a skilled nursing facility. NeedyMeds recently joined The Partnership for Patients that brings together leaders of major hospitals, employers, physicians, nurses, and patient advocates along with state and federal governments in a shared effort to make hospital care safer, more reliable, and less costly. NeedyMeds will help by continuing to assist patient advocates and patients in obtaining their medications leading to better medication adherence and good health outcomes.
NeedyMeds
Testimonials
THANK YOU!
Don’t just take our word for it — see what our Facebook Friends are saying...
“What a great help this site has provided for me and my family. Thanks to NeedyMeds and the Patient Assistance Programs we have been able to receive the medicines our doctor has prescribed in order to improve our health. One day maybe I’ll be able to repay their kindness.“ “I am a SHINE volunteer in Florida…. I spend time trying to convince clients that NeedyMeds is really a true help. It is so difficult for them to believe that they can get meds so easily. Especially when they are already out of the medicine or they have talked to many organizations that have turned them down with some reason or another. When I tell them about your organization and how simple it is to obtain their meds I can hear the relief in their voice. Thank you many times over.”
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NEWS
&UPDATES
DID YOU KNOW WE OFFER FREE WEBINARS? During a NeedyMeds webinar, you will learn how to navigate the NeedyMeds website more efficiently. Attendees will be presented with an overview of the many different resources available. Some of this information may be overlooked by visitors to our site, so we will review each section of the website to teach you when it makes most sense to use each one. The next NeedyMeds webinars are: Friday, August 10, 2012 @ 12 p.m. ET Thursday, August 23, 2012 @ 2 p.m. ET Click on the date you’d like to register online or visit www.needymeds.org. Can’t attend either of these dates? We can tailor a webinar for your organization at your convenience. Email Elizabeth@needymeds.org for more information.
SPECIAL-TOPIC WEBINARS
The Evolving Field of Patient Advocacy and the Center for Patient Partnership’s Certificate Program University of Wisconsin - Madison Wednesday, August 1, 2012 @ 1 p.m. ET Sarah Davis, Associate Director, Center for Patient Partnerships, will be our guest host for this webinar. Please join us for an overview of the current state of the evolving and diverse field of patient advocacy, including an exploration of the educational landscape, including certification, credentialing, licensure; professional associations and networks; employment landscape; and patient advocacy in health care reform. We will close with a short overview of the Center for Patient Partnership’s Consumer Health Advocacy Certificate Program. Visit the NeedyMeds Advocate Page for more information about this program: Advocates Page. Clinical Trials: What to Know Before You Enroll Wednesday, August 8, 2012 @ 2 p.m. ET Toni Kay Mangskau, Clinical Trials Referral Coordinator at the Mayo Clinic, will be our guest host for this webinar. Would you like to learn more about clinical research? If so, you may benefit from attending this session. Every year, millions of people enroll in thousands of clinical trials. The Mayo Clinic alone currently has about 8,000 active research studies and many of these studies are conducted in partnership with other groups around the world. Medical breakthroughs would not have been possible without research and conducting clinical trials. Maybe you have heard the results of various clinical trials in the news and wondered how people are recruited for these studies, or even how you can enroll in one yourself. Please join us to learn about the different types of clinical research and what to consider before becoming involved in a trial.
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NeedyMeds
DRUG DISCOUNT CARD The NeedyMeds Drug Discount Card saved users nearly $1,100,000 in the month of June
Clip, Print and Save NeedyMeds Drug Discount Card
BIN: 600428 RX PCN: 05080000 RX GRP: 05360001 ID: NM0903150000
NeedyMeds Drug Discount Card www.needymeds.org Patient: Simply present this card to a participating pharmacy to receive a discount on your prescription. Patients who have Medicare, including Part D, Medicaid or any state or federal prescription insurance can only use this card if they choose not to use their government-sponsored drug plan for their purchase. The card is not valid in combination with those programs. For questions concerning the card, call 1-888-602-2978 or visit www.drugdiscountcardinfo.com.
This is a drug discount program, not an insurance plan.
Pharmacist: Card must be presented to receive program benefits. Clear system of prior cardholder information associated with this universal cardholder ID. For processing questions, call Argus Health Systems at 1-866-921-7284.
THE NEEDYMEDS DRUG DISCOUNT CARD With the free NeedyMeds Drug Discount Card you can save up to 80% off the price of your prescription medications. The card may be used by those without insurance and by those who decide not to use their insurance — for example if the drug is not covered under their plan, the copay or deductible is high, the cap has been reached, or if they are in the donut hole. Our NeedyMeds Drug Discount Card is accepted at more than 70,000 pharmacies, including major chains such as Walmart, CVS, Walgreens, and Rite Aid, and at regional chains and local stores. There are no income, insurance or residency requirements, and no fees or registration process needed to use the card. One card can be shared with friends and family members, or they can print their own. The card can also be used for over-the-counter medications and medical supplies if written on a prescription blank, and pet prescription medicines bought at a pharmacy. The card is active immediately and never expires. Every time the card is used, NeedyMeds receives a small amount to keep our website up to date and growing.
NeedyMeds Collaborating with University of Wisconsin - Madison's Center for Patient Partnerships on Advancing Patient Advocacy NeedyMeds is collaborating with the University of Wisconsin - Madison’s Center for Patient Partnerships on advancing the field of patient advocacy. Working together, we hope to promote the importance of connecting those in need to the available health care resources that can assist them. We’re excited to share with our readers the Center’s newest initiative, their online Certificate in Consumer Health Advocacy program. To find out more or to apply, visit: www.patientpartnerships.org/certificate/.
NeedyMeds
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PAP UPDATES
NEEDYMEDS STAFF
The following programs are new: Ozurdex Patient Assistance Program Allos Support for Assisting Patients (ASAP) Nuedexta Patient Assistance Program Korlym Patient Assistance Program Galderma Laboratories Patient Assistance Program Genentech Access to Care Foundation (Perjeta) CancerCare Co-Payment Assistance Foundation Krystexxa Connexxions Patient Assistance Program
ALANNA FLANAGAN Call Center Supervisor alanna@needymeds.org
JULIE KAUTZ-MILLS Director of Outreach julie@needymeds.org
BILL KYROUZ Research Associate bkyrouz@needymeds.org
KAREN GRENHAM Call Center Representative karen@pap-apps.org
The following programs have updated or new applications: Ozurdex Patient Assistance Program ENcourage Foundation
DAISY FELICIANO Bilingual Helpline/ Research Associate daisy@needymeds.org
DAMARIS MERCEDES Bilingual Helpline/ Research Associate damaris@needymeds.org
ROBERTA DOWNEY Software Sales Manager roberta@needymeds.org
PEGGY PEPLAR Call Center Representative peggy@pap-apps.org
DIANNE OFFICER PAP Associate dianne@needymeds.org
ROBIN HOFFMAN Database & Research Mgr. robin@needymeds.org
ELIZABETH MESSENGER Outreach & Education Mgr. elizabeth@needymeds.org
RUTH ROWE Call Center Representative ruth@pap-apps.org
JAYE VAN DUSSEN Vice President jaye@needymeds.org
SAMUEL RULON-MILLER Technical Specialist samuel@needymeds.org
Auxilium Patient Assistance Program Nuedexta Patient Assistance Program Korlym Patient Assistance Program Lilly Cares Patient Assistance Program Lilly Medicare Answers Program Forteo Patient Assistance Program Galderma Laboratories Patient Assistance Program Genentech Access to Care Foundation (Perjeta) Tev-Tropin Patient Assistance Program CephalonCares Foundation Patient Assistance Program for Fentora, Gabitril, and Nuvigil Rx Outreach Medications (Fragmin) SeaGen Secure Patient Assistance Program SeaGen Secure Co-Insurance Assistance Program Shire Cares Safety Net Foundation
RICHARD SAGALL, MD President richsagall@needymeds.org
Tev-Tropin Patient Assistance Program Xenazine Patient Assistance Program TEVA Assistance Program Sculptra Patient Access Program CephalonCares Foundation Patient Assistance Program for Treanda and Trisenox Silsoft Pediatric Patient Assistance Program Qutenza PatientAssistance Program Venofer Reimbursement Hotline and Patient Assistance Program
Cubicin Patient Assistance Program
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NeedyMeds EMAIL info@needymeds.org OFFICE 978.281.6666 FAX 206.260.8850 ADDRESS PO Box 219 Gloucester, MA 01931
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