NEEDYMEDS
PATIENTADVOCATENEWS
HELPING YOU AND YOUR CLIENTS ACCESS MEDICATIONS AND HEALTH CARE | SEPTEMBER 2012
FROM THE EDITOR Summer sped by didn’t it? Here we are with Labor Day and back to school right in front of us. This month’s PAN offers information on resources for children — coupons for OTC and prescription medications for colds, flu, vitamins, and head lice; low- or nocost pediatric health care services; programs specific to childhood diseases; and vaccination and special needs assistance programs. Please check out:
✓ Disease-based assistance pages for childhood
diseases and issues — cancer, dental needs, disabilities, chronic diseases, liver disease, terminal illnesses, special needs
✓ Vaccination assistance programs — Merck, GSK, Sanofi and Novartis
✓ Search for free or low-cost pediatric health care services located all across the country in our database of more than 10,800 clinics ✓ Coupons for almost 1,000 different medications, OTC and prescriptions
✓ Various programs for special needs of children ✓ State-sponsored programs, including WIC, for a myriad of children’s needs
✓ Feeding and formula programs — use the Google search function on the NeedyMeds home page
NeedyMeds is here to support you in helping your clients. Please contact us with any questions or concerns. Wishing you good health,
GET THE MOST OUT OF NEEDYMEDS The NeedyMeds Coupon Database (http://www.needymeds. org/coupons.taf?_ function=list&letter=A) has over 1,000 coupons that can help you afford medications. These coupons can help with the cost of both prescription medications and over-thecounter medications. Kids are going back to school and that means that they might need that extra boost to stay healthy. You can find many coupons for vitamins that can help your children stay active, including five different varieties of Flintstones Vitamins! If your son or daughter is a little bit older, a coupon for a One-a-Day Teen Multivitamin might be of help. Unfortunately lice can also be a problem for children around this time of year. For these issues, we have coupons for some over-thecounter treatments like Pronto Plus®, and RID® and prescription shampoos like Ovide. If you ever find a coupon that is not listed on our website, please email us at coupons@ needymeds.org.
Jaye Jaye@needymeds.org
INSIDETHISISSUE NEWS & UPDATES - OUTREACH - WEBINARS
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DRUG DISCOUNT CARD
PAP UPDATES
CARD TIP
NEEDYMEDS STAFF
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PATIENTADVOCATENEWS | SEPTEMBER 2012
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 webinar is: Thursday, September 20, 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 Health & Social Networking Wednesday, Sept. 12 at 1 p.m. ET Amy Ohm, President & CEO of Treatment Diaries, will be our guest host for this webinar. Patients, caregivers and loved ones often turn to social media outlets as a way to connect on healthrelated topics. What’s missing is the privacy most desire to be totally open with their experience, concerns and needs in navigating illness. Treatment Diaries answers this need with a unique social network that privately connects individuals affected by illness through online health-related conversations captured in personal diaries. Join us and learn more about this “different” kind of social... social networking with purpose.
Introduction to IPAP - Best Practices for Success Wednesday, October 3, 2012 @ 2 p.m. ET Amy Yarcich, Executive Director of Rx Partnership, will be our guest host for this webinar. Whether you access free medications through an Institutional Patient Assistance Program (IPAP) in bulk or currently complete individual applications, this session will outline how IPAPs work and provide you with some of the best practices for success. Careful and complete eligibility screening and thorough financial documentation are essential in all patient assistance programs. This presentation will detail some of the common mistakes to avoid and teach you how to self-audit and train your staff/volunteers.
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PATIENTADVOCATENEWS | SEPTEMBER 2012
NeedyMeds
DRUG DISCOUNT CARD The NeedyMeds Drug Discount Card saved users nearly $1,100,000 in the month of July
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.
DRUG CARD TIP Is your son or daughter starting college this year? Unfortunately, sometimes the student health plans offered by their school may not cover all of their medications. This is where the NeedyMeds drug discount card can help. While you’re packing her up for this exciting next step, make sure you give her a card in case she ever has a medication she can’t afford. 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 | SEPTEMBER 2012
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PAP UPDATES
The following programs are new: Genentech Access to Care Foundation (Erivedge) Genentech Access to Care Foundation (Tarceva) Genentech Access to Care Foundation (Xeloda) Genentech Access to Care Foundation (Zelboraf) Genentech Access to Care Foundation (Pegasys) Genentech Access to Care Foundation (Avastin, Herceptin, Rituxan) Genentech Access to Care Foundation (Actemra, Rituxan) Genentech Access to Care Foundation (Xolair) Genentech Access to Care Foundation (Lucentis) Genentech Access to Care Foundation (Pulmozyme) BMS Access Support The following programs have updated or new applications: Pfizer Pfriends Pfizer Connection to Care Pfizer Maintain Program Pfizer RSVP Program Betaseron Patient Assistance Program Apligraf Patient Assistance Program Leo Pharma Patient Assistance Program Aptalis Patient Assistance Program Novo Nordisk Diabetes Patient Assistance Program Akrimax Patient Assistance Program Amylin Reimbursement Hotline Bristol-Myers Squibb Patient Assistance Foundation Takeda Patient Assistance Program Zevalin Results Co-Pay Assistance Program Zevalin Results Clostridium Difficile Associated Diarrhea (CDAD) Copay Assistance Program
TOP-RATED NONPROFIT We need your assistance! Help others discover and support the work of NeedyMeds. GreatNonprofits is conducting a campaign to identify top-rated nonprofits in the country that promote health and fighting disease. Go to http://greatnonprofits.org/organizations/ browse/search:NeedyMeds and post a review of your experience with NeedyMeds. With your assistance, we can gain greater visibility for NeedyMeds both locally and nationally. Thank you for your support!
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NEEDYMEDS STAFF RICHARD SAGALL, MD President richsagall@needymeds.org 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
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
NeedyMeds EMAIL info@needymeds.org OFFICE 978.281.6666 FAX 206.260.8850 ADDRESS PO Box 219 Gloucester, MA 01931
PATIENTADVOCATENEWS | SEPTEMBER 2012
NeedyMeds