NeedyMeds
PatientAdvocateNews Helping you and your clients access medications and health care
|
JUNE 2012
Get the Most Out of NeedyMeds
FROM THE EDITOR This month we want to recognize caregivers, who are often the heroes of families undergoing significant emotional, physical and financial stress. In this issue of PAN, we are highlighting resources for caregivers that may offer financial assistance, respite care services, time away at a camp or retreat center. Caregivers may have medical or financial challenges themselves and often times need a break to care for their own health and families. There are several ways to look for caregiver resources:
Helping the elderly through choosing the right health care insurance plan is a challenge. Please consider using NeedyMeds’ listings of state-funded programs that do this at no cost. The State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) is a federally funded health advisory program that provides grants to all 50 states and some territories. The program provides free health insurance counseling to people age 65 and over or people of any age who are disabled.
✓ Look through the listings in your state in the
SHIP programs have different names in different states. Some examples are:
✓ Type in “respite” or “caregiver” in the search box
NC SHIIP Seniors Health Insurance Information Program ND SHIC State Health Insurance Counseling FL SHINE Serving Health Insurance Needs of Elders OR SHIBA Senior Health Ins. Benefits Assistance CA HICAP Health Ins. Counseling Advocacy Program
Disease-Based Assistance section of our website. You will see respite care listed in some programs as a provided service.
at the bottom of NeedyMeds homepage. This will bring up a wide variety of programs offering these services.
A sample of programs found through the search function include: • A weekend retreat for stroke survivors, caregivers, and family members of all ages • Three-day retreat for families who have a child with cancer • Many state programs offering respite care financial reimbursement programs Please let us know if you find this helpful. We’d love to hear from you. Wishing you good health, Jaye Jaye@needymeds.org
CHELMSFORD HOUSING AUTHORITY
2
Most SHIP counselors are volunteers who have received extensive training and are well versed with all facets of the Medicare program (including Part D), Medicaid, health insurance benefits, etc. To find the health insurance assistance program in your state, visit www.needymeds.org/indices/ship.htm.
INSIDETHISISSUE SPOTLIGHT ON
These state programs all do the same thing: they help resolve confusion about Medicare Parts A, B, C, D, Medicaid, Medigap Supplemental Insurance, Medicare Savings Programs etc. They can help you choose a Medicare plan, figure out claims and billing, file an appeal, and make health insurance decisions. In addition to free one-on-one telephone counseling and advice services, they also provide personal face-to-face counseling sessions, public education programs and media presentations.
NeedyMeds
NEWS & UPDATES
DRUG DISCOUNT CARD
MEET NEEDYMEDS’ MAUREEN DEA NEEDYMEDS IN THE NEWS
3-4
5
6-7
PATIENTADVOCATENEWS | JUNE 2012
PAPTracker PAP UPDATES
8-9
NEEDYMEDS SPOT LIGHT ON ...
CHELMSFORD HOUSING AUTHORITY INTERVIEW Loriann Gatta, Supportive Services/Family Self Sufficiency Manager NeedyMeds: Thank you for taking the time to share a little about what you do with our readers! You’re the Supportive Services/FSS Manager at the Housing Authority in Chelmsford, MA. The Housing Authority is dedicated to meeting the needs of the elderly, disabled and families in need of affordable housing. Tell us a little about what kind of work your job entails. Loriann: In my job I work with elders, over the age of 60 and a young disabled population, who reside in our Housing Authority apartments and families in the community receiving housing rental assistance. The families receive support as they search for employment, work towards achieving self-sufficiency and eventually the option for home ownership.
Loriann: Affordable health insurance continues to be an issue for all residents of Massachusetts, but often a heavy burden for those people whose finances are above the criteria for Mass Health. These individuals are in the greatest need for prescription assistance and affordable health care.
NeedyMeds: Working with an elderly population can present some challenges. What kinds of hurdles do you face in your work? Loriann: Communication of information can be very difficult with an elderly population that may have hearing or vision impairment. For others, computer technology can be very intimidating and residents will not try it. Also residents that are no longer driving are limited as to where they can receive their medical care and where they can have their prescriptions filled, thereby limiting their options.
“NeedyMeds offers
another resource to assist our elders and families to purchase their medications at a reduced price.” NeedyMeds: Even though your job primar-
NeedyMeds: Chelmsford is one of four communities NeedyMeds has partnered with on a city/ town-wide drug discount card; the others are Gloucester, MA, Lowell, MA and Dracut, MA. How do you think the card will help the population that your organization serves and Chelmsford residents generally? Loriann: As you know, medication prices continue to rise and many of our elders are on three or more prescriptions daily, which in turn makes it very difficult for them to afford their medications. NeedyMeds offers another resource to assist our elders and families to purchase their medications at a reduced price. NeedyMeds also offers a comprehensive site for information and applications for patient assistance programs.
NeedyMeds: Despite the fact that all MA residents are required to have health insurance, we’ve found here at NeedyMeds that many residents need assistance affording their medications. Do you encounter this with the population you serve? Is access to affordable health care a problem for many of them?
2
ily centers on making sure those in need have affordable housing, what other services do you try to provide to the residents? Loriann: We offer access to supportive services such as homecare assistance, nutrition programs, personal emergency response systems, adult day health and supportive day programs, educational, exercise and socialization programs. We provide these services in order for our residents to maintain their highest level of independence in a community environment and age in place.
NeedyMeds: Finally, do you find it helpful to collaborate with other local social service organizations in order to offer a comprehensive support network for the residents of your facilities? Loriann: Yes, in order to offer a comprehensive support network that addresses the individual needs of our residents we all need to collaborate and share resources.
PATIENTADVOCATENEWS | JUNE 2012
NeedyMeds
NEWS
&UPDATES
What we’ve been working on 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. Please let us know if there are other conferences you’d like us to know about. • Rhode Island Academy of Family Physicians, Providence, June 2012 • National Association of Local Boards of Health, Atlanta, August 2012 • National Association of Free and Charitable Clinics, San Antonio, October, 2012 Elizabeth Messenger, NeedyMeds’ Outreach and Education Manager, attended the Chelmsford Wellness Fair on May 5, 2012, where she represented NeedyMeds and distributed drug discount cards to local residents. Julie Kautz Mills, NeedyMeds’ Director of Outreach, attended the New England Hemophilia Association’s SpringFest on April 28, 2012 in Westborough. This daylong event for patients, family members, providers and advocates consisted of presentations on treatments, medications, stress management for caregivers and regional and national events. Julie participated in a facilitated panel discussion on patient assistance programs, presenting NeedyMeds’ resources to attendees.
Panelists for the New England Hemophilia Association’s SpringFest. NeedyMeds’ Julie Kautz Mills is seated second from the left.
Testimonials Don’t just take our word for it — see what our FACEBOOK friends are saying...
Thank You!
“This site helped me get my grandmother’s meds from 300 dollars a month to 25 dollars for a 90 day supply. They can help. Please LIKE them and share this page with others.” “Great resource for people with and without insurance!” “I stumbled on NeedyMeds’ web site while looking for assistance. I can’t tell you how happy I am to have found them. I am even helping friends, coworkers, and family find discounts! :)” Editor’s note: Our website and resources are for people with health insurance, too!
NeedyMeds
PATIENTADVOCATENEWS | JUNE 2012
3
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: Thursday, June 7, 2012 @ 3 p.m. ET Tuesday, June 19, 20112 @ 10 a.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 Social Security Disability Programs and Compassionate Allowances Thursday, June 14, 2012 @ 3 p.m. ET Peter Smith, Social Insurance Specialist at the Social Security Administration, will be our guest host for this webinar. You will be provided with an overview of Social Security’s disability programs and the Compassionate Allowances Initiative. NeedyMeds Webinar Presented in Spanish - Tema Especial del Seminario Web Wednesday, June 27, 2012 @ 2 p.m. ET Do you speak Spanish or help others who speak Spanish? In addition to our website and brochures being available in Spanish, we also offer webinars in Spanish. This webinar will provide similar information to the bi-monthly NeedyMeds webinars. Damaris Mercedes, NeedyMeds’ bilingual helpline representative, will give a presentation in Spanish about the resources available on the NeedyMeds website and how best to utilize them to help yourself or others. ¿Habla español o ayuda otros que hablan español? ¡Además de nuestro sitio web y folletos disponibles en español, ahora estamos ofreciendo nuestro primer seminario web en Español! Este seminario web proporcionará información similar a los seminarios web bimensual en Inglés de NeedyMeds.
4
PATIENTADVOCATENEWS | JUNE 2012
NeedyMeds
DRUG DISCOUNT CARD The NeedyMeds Drug Discount Card saved users nearly $1,000,000 in the month of April
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 62,000 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.
drug card tip Did you know that a household can save money using just one NeedyMeds drug discount card? Since it never expires and no personal information is taken when using the card, feel free to share it with your family and friends. Use the card to pick up an over-the-counter medication your daughter needs, help your father navigate the Medicare Part D donut hole, or save money on a pet prescription your dog needs! You can avoid paying full price for a medication, so remember to use the card for any medication you need help paying for. A valid prescription is required, as always. Call the toll-free drug discount card helpline number if you ever have questions at (888) 602-2978.
NeedyMeds
PATIENTADVOCATENEWS | JUNE 2012
5
Meet Our... Staff
maureen dea Vice Chair, NeedyMeds’ Board of Directors NeedyMeds: Thanks for talking with us Maureen. As well as serving as the Vice Chair on NeedyMeds board, you are the supervising attorney for the Medicare Part D Appeals Unit for Legal Services for the Elderly in Maine. Tell us more about what your organization does. Maureen: Legal Services for the Elderly (LSE) is a non-profit organization that provides legal help in civil matters (not criminal cases) for anyone 60 or older who is a Maine resident, at no cost. The Medicare Part D Appeals Unit is part of LSE. The Unit provides free help for anyone in Maine who has Medicare (regardless of age), is on a limited income and who is having trouble affording or getting their medications through their Medicare Part D Plan. The Unit consists of myself and four Appeals Specialists. We work closely with doctors and pharmacies around Maine to ensure that people are able to get their medications. Our work includes troubleshooting to determine why someone is not able to get their medication, appealing denials of coverage by Part D Plans, and helping people apply for benefits to lower their drug costs. We often deal with emergencies – people call us totally out of their medication without the money to buy it at full cost. As we work to resolve the problem long term, we also get these people emergency fills so they do not go without their medications. NeedyMeds: Do other states have this type of program? Maureen: Other states have non-profit legal services programs for the elderly. However, as far as we know, Maine is the only state that has a Unit dedicated solely to help low income people with Medicare Part D. NeedyMeds: How is your program funded? Maureen: The Medicare Part D Unit is funded through the state Office of Elder Services. NeedyMeds: Does your staff use any safety net resources such as NeedyMeds to assist their clients? Maureen: Most of the people who call us either have the federal Low Income Subsidy to help with their prescription drug costs, but are having trouble getting their medications for other reasons, or they are eligible for the Low Income Subsidy and we help them get that benefit. However, we occasionally have people who are over income for that help, yet they still cannot afford their medications. In those cases, our Unit will send them a NeedyMeds discount card and sometimes we’ll download a patient assistance program application for them from the NeedyMeds website. In many of these cases, we refer them to advocates in their local area who can help them fill out patient assistance applications, and many of those advocates use NeedyMeds. NeedyMeds: Any thoughts on how seniors can stay informed of the evolving health care landscape and changes that may impact them? Maureen: Medicare is so confusing even for those of us who work in it every day. There are non-profit agencies in every state to help seniors and educate them about Medicare and other programs. In Cont’d on next page
6
PATIENTADVOCATENEWS | JUNE 2012
NeedyMeds
Meet Our... Staff Maine, the area agencies on aging do a great job of informing seniors about Medicare. For example, they run many “Welcome to Medicare sessions” – informational workshops for people new to Medicare. They also will help with Medicare problems, and every fall they help people choose and enroll in a Medicare Part D Plan that covers their medications. People can check with the National Council on Aging (www.ncoa.org) or the National Association of Area Agencies on Aging (www.n4a.org) for similar programs in their states. For those who use computers, there is also very good information about Medicare and health care on line. The federal government has its own Medicare website, www.Medicare.gov. My agency, Legal Services for the Elderly, also has very good information about Medicare Part D and health care reform for people with Medicare. (www.mainelse.org). Another good site is the Medicare Rights Center, based in New York City (www.medicarerights.org). NeedyMeds: How did you make your way to NeedyMeds? Maureen: Roberta Downey, a NeedyMeds staff member, lives in Maine and is on the Board of Directors for Legal Services for the Elderly. She gave our Unit a training on the NeedyMeds website a few years ago and subsequently asked if I would be interested in being on the NeedyMeds board. I knew what a good organization NeedyMeds is, and that it serves a very great need, so I was honored to be asked. NeedyMeds: What do you for enjoyment when you are not working? Maureen: I have two dogs and two cats that keep me busy. I also have a small boat that I spend much of the summer in. I love to travel, recently discovered a wonderful local theater, and I have just started yoga.
NeedyMeds
NEEDYMEDS IN THE NEWS NeedyMeds continues to be in the news. To read all the news articles and view television clips about NeedyMeds, visit: NeedyMeds in the News Here are a few recent mentions: Curetoday.com May 2012 Newsletter Akron Beacon Journal Discount prescription card available DisabilityVoice.us Newsletter #30 WebMD Saving Money on Prescription Drug Costs MarketWatch — The Wall Street Journal Buying Asthma Medication Online Can be Safe and Affordable Phoenix Rising Webinar Neuroendocrineimmune Resources HemaBlog Gene Therapy: Lookin’ Good!
PATIENTADVOCATENEWS | JUNE 2012
7
PAPTracker
PAPTracker PAPTracker is HIPAA-compliant, web-based software that streamlines and simplifies the management of patient assistance programs. PAPTracker is ideal for clinics, community health centers, hospitals and other groups that serve clients/patients that need access to prescription medications but cannot afford them. PAPTracker eliminates handwritten applications and repetitive entry of client and doctor information. It populates manufacturers’ applications using stored patient and prescriber information and automatically creates refill
reminders. PAPTracker always uses the most current information contained in our NeedyMeds PAP database. PAPTracker also provides over 75 patient, activity and demographic reports. NeedyMeds has limited grant funds available to help qualified small clinics ready to move from paper applications to this software solution. More information is on the NeedyMeds website and here: http:// www.needymeds.org/indices/paptracker.htm or email paptracker@needymeds.org.
Tracker Tips & UpdateS — “how do I...?” If you work with PAP applications and are completing applications by hand, PAPTracker software will simplify your job. Q. Until recently, I could click on Name to sort from A to Z, but now I can’t... What happened? A. What’s happened is that you’ve upgraded to a newer version of Internet Explorer. That’s the good news. The bad news is that now you can’t sort data or enter patient ID numbers. Here’s the quick fix: enable IE’s Compatibility View feature. Depending on your version of IE, you’ll find the Compatibility View icon in your menu bar or in the drop-down “tools” menu. Click the “Compatibility View” icon. That’s it!
Tip: Clicking on column headers Name, Doctor or Date, for example, will sort columns in alpha or date order, Just make sure Compatibility View is active.
For more information email paptracker@needymeds.org.
8
PATIENTADVOCATENEWS | JUNE 2012
NeedyMeds
pap updates The following programs are new: Merck Co-Pay Assistance Program KALBITOR Access The following programs have updated or new applications: Novartis Patient Assistance Foundation Program Merck Co-Pay Assistance Program Commitment to Access — Co-Pay Assistance Commitment to Access — Patient Assistance Novo Nordisk Diabetes Patient Assistance Program
KALBITOR Access Bayer Patient Assistance Program IncyteCARES Co-Pay Assistance Program IncyteCARES Patient Assistance Program Vertex GPS (Guidance & Patient Support) Novo Nordisk Hormone Therapy Patient Assistance Program
Abbott Patient Assistance Foundation Celgene Patient Support
Health event Materials Are you planning to host a health fair or other health-related event? NeedyMeds can send drug discount cards and other related literature for distribution to help people save on their medications and health care costs. Just send your request to dianne@needymeds. org or use our online order form at http:// www.needymeds.org/order_form.taf. Also available: materials in Spanish, Portuguese, Russian and Khmer (Cambodian).
NeedyMeds
NEEDYMEDS STAFF RICHARD SAGALL, MD President richsagall@needymeds.org ALANNA FLANAGAN Call Center Supervisor alanna@needymeds.org
KAREN GRENHAM Call Center Representative karen@pap-apps.org
BILL KYROUZ Research Associate bkyrouz@needymeds.org
PEGGY PEPLAR Call Center Representative peggy@pap-apps.org
DAMARIS MERCEDES Bilingual Helpline/Research Associate damaris@needymeds.org
ROBERTA DOWNEY Software Sales Manager roberta@needymeds.org
DIANNE OFFICER Administrative Asst./ Research 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
JULIE KAUTZ-MILLS Director of Outreach julie@needymeds.org
TONYA WHITE PAP Associate tonya@needymeds.org
NeedyMeds EMAIL info@needymeds.org OFFICE 978.281.6666 FAX 206.260.8850 ADDRESS PO Box 219 Gloucester, MA 01931
PATIENTADVOCATENEWS | JUNE 2012
9