Last week’s Consumer Forum column about helping needy people get the medicines they need laid the groundwork for this week’s column submitted by Dr. Richard J. Sagall, a former Bangor physician.

There are several Web sites with information on patient assistance programs – some free and some that charge.

Three sites that list information on free patient assistance programs are:

NeedyMeds (www.needymeds.com), RxAssist (www.rxassist.org), and HelpingPatients.org (www.helpingpatients.org).

These free sites don’t have a program of their own nor do they help people get their medicines.

NeedyMeds is self-funded by sales of manuals and other items. The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation supports RxAssist. The Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America, or PhRMA, an association and lobbying group whose members include many of the larger pharmaceutical manufacturers, runs HelpingPatients.org. It only has information on PhRMA members’ programs.

Then there are a number of Web sites that charge to help people learn about patient assistance programs and help complete the application forms. The charges vary, as does the quality of their services. Some offer a money-back guarantee if they can’t get your medicines.

How to use NeedyMeds

I will describe how to use the NeedyMeds site – the one I know most about. RxAssist and Helping Patients contain similar information.

There are two ways you can check to see if your medicines are available on a patient assistance program. One is to click on the drug list. This brings up an alphabetical list of all the drugs currently on patient assistance programs, or PAPs. Find the medicine you take and click on its name. This will bring up the program page.

On the program page you will learn about the specifics of the PAP – the qualification guidelines, the application process, the information you need to supply, what forms your doctor must complete and other information.

In addition, you will learn if there’s a downloadable application on the Web site or if you must get an application from the company. (Some companies accept copies of their application form while others require you to complete an original.)

If you know the medicine’s manufacturer, you can click on the program list. From there, you can click on the program you want to learn more about. That should bring up the information you need.

Once you get the information you need, it’s up to you to complete the applications, get the necessary signatures, and send the form to the program.

A Few Tips

The most common problem patients encounter when completing the application forms is lack of physician cooperation. Over and over I hear from people whose physicians just won’t complete the forms – or charge to do it. I am asked what they should do.

Here are a couple of suggestions:

1. Make sure you have completed everything you can on the form. Not only should you complete the applicant’s section but also anything else you can do. This may include physician information including name, address and phone number.

2. Bring all the information your doctor may need. For example, some programs require proof of income. If so, attach whatever documents are required.

3. Bring an addressed envelope with the appropriate postage.

4. Don’t expect your doctor to complete the form immediately. A busy doctor may not have time to read the form while you are in the office.

5. If you encounter resistance, tell your doctor that without a physician’s help, you won’t be able to obtain the prescribed medicines. Be blunt.

6. If all else fails, you may need to find a physician more sympathetic to your plight and willing to help you.

But I don’t own a computer

Many people without a computer can still use the information available on these Web sites. Nearly everyone knows someone with a computer – a family member, a neighbor, or a friend. Most public libraries have computers for public use and people who can help those not familiar with their use.

Patient assistance programs are not the best solution to the problem of inability to pay for medication.

However, it is the best solution for some people. Millions of people use PAPs to get the medicines they need but can’t afford. If you can’t afford your medicines, a patient assistance program may be able to help you.

Dr. Richard J. Sagall is a board certified family physician. He co-founded NeedyMeds and continues to run the site. He can be reached via the Web site, www.needymeds.com. He now practices occupational medicine in the Philadelphia area.

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