tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3500936220214961312.post4642094646575568118..comments2023-10-02T04:06:53.185-04:00Comments on Brass and Ivory: Life with MS and RA: PhRMA and PPArx: How much are they really helping patients in need?Lisa Emrichhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10862232056342347990noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3500936220214961312.post-26313760722168134132008-05-29T09:38:00.000-04:002008-05-29T09:38:00.000-04:00I work with a new company that works with the Pati...I work with a new company that works with the Patient Assistance programs. Our service is a little different in that we do all the paper work and communicate with the doctors to get the scripts and proper sign offs. We are a for profit company, but are fees are lower than most and our service more complete. <BR/><BR/>Russ Nicley<BR/>http://www.rxaid.usAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3500936220214961312.post-636210379044661982007-12-07T09:27:00.000-05:002007-12-07T09:27:00.000-05:00Thank you, Miss Kate, for your comment. I have be...Thank you, Miss Kate, for your comment. I have been through the process of application/denial a number of times in the past two years for various assistance programs. And the purposeful complexity is simply mind-boggling.<BR/><BR/>The Partnership for Prescription Assistance seems like a good idea....if they actually accomplished what they portray in the media. I did take the time to go through the process and found it useless. For a description of my experience with PPArx, read <A HREF="http://brassandivory.blogspot.com/2007/10/rx-outreach-rocks-great-assistance.html" REL="nofollow">Rx Outreach Rocks!</A> Rx Outreach does charge a fee for processing the meds but their service could not be more simple and I am a satisfied customer.<BR/><BR/>Also, just to clarify for the readers, PPArx did not charge for their 'service.' However, there are numberou other programs on the web who do charge fees for their 'free' medication services. Patient beware!Lisa Emrichhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10862232056342347990noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3500936220214961312.post-28828787728382046702007-12-07T04:50:00.000-05:002007-12-07T04:50:00.000-05:00I was a patient advocate for a nonprofit organizat...I was a patient advocate for a nonprofit organization and the bulk of my tasks was PAPs for un- or underinsured clients. The processes vary from relatively simple to mind boggling. Each manufacturer, and sometimes different drugs by the same manufacturers, has its own unique program, process, eligibility requirements, timetable, and documentation requirements. For most clients I was a very necessary advocate in organizing their cases and communicating with the various manufacturers. They couldn't have done it alone.<BR/><BR/>One of the most common requirements by these programs is documented proof of "no coverage" because the manufacturer is the "program of last resort." For most of my clients that meant a written denial from state Medicaid and sometimes even SSD (disablility), not to mention any local or county programs. This could take months, during which the client would have to scramble to obtain meds through us, Catholic Family Services, and the like.<BR/><BR/>I am not at all surprised that they're faking the numbers the way you describe. I also understand that this "free" outfit also charges a processing fee just for giving patients access to information that is already available with a little digging (contacting the manufacturer or using a site like needymeds). And a lot of them don't even help with the paperwork. It's up to the patient to figure out what docs to gather and organize and send in. Boy, if I was really unscrupulous I'd set up a website like that and charge for snail/emailing 800 numbers, too!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com