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Pharmaceutical Manufacturer Assistance Programs
Marie A. Chisholm, PharmD;
Joseph T. DiPiro, PharmD
Arch Intern Med. 2002;162:780-784.
Background and Objective While there have been many public discussions concerning Medicare covering
outpatient prescription medications, currently, Medicare does not pay for
most outpatient prescriptions. Meanwhile, costs associated with prescription
medications as well as the number of underinsured patients are rapidly increasing.
Many pharmaceutical companies offer assistance programs for patients who require
medications but have inadequate financial resources to obtain them. Because
patient access to required prescriptions is critical and clinician involvement
is necessary for patient enrollment, the purpose of this article is to facilitate
awareness of pharmaceutical companies' assistance programs, the availability
of such programs, and their enrollment process.
Methods English-language articles from MEDLINE (1963-2000) and Internet Web
pages describing medication assistance programs were reviewed. Data obtained
from pharmaceutical companies' medication assistance programs were also included.
In addition to general information concerning medication assistance programs,
all studies found in the literature search describing the clinical and financial
impact of using these programs and data obtained from contacting several medication
assistance programs were selected. To determine if an assistance program was
available for a medication listed as one of the top 200 medications prescribed
in the United States, we contacted the pharmaceutical company that manufactures
each medication.
Results Approximately 53% of the top 200 prescribed medications in 1999 were
offered through assistance programs to indigent patients. Physician office
personnel can obtain medications for eligible patients by completing the enrollment
process.
Conclusion Pharmaceutical companies' medication assistance programs can be used
to reduce individual patient drug expenditures and improve patient outcomes
by increasing medication access to those in need.
From the Department of Clinical and Administrative Sciences, University
of Georgia College of Pharmacy, Athens, and the School of Medicine, Medical
College of Georgia, Augusta.
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