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By Dennis Miller, BHC Senior Writer

Today, medications are available to treat and manage the symptoms of many mental health disorders that were considered hopeless not so long ago, with institutionalization often the only available course of action. And patients also have a vast number of medications available to treat physical medical conditions and diseases.

But all of these modern medicines are of little use to the many uninsured or underinsured who can’t afford the price. However, what many patients and even treatment professionals may not be aware of is that many drugmakers and pharmaceutical industry organizations offer generous assistance programs to help ensure that cost is not a barrier to patients who need medication. One such company that has been doing so for over 30 years is Astrazeneca.

“At AstraZeneca, we recognize that our medicines won’t do people any good if they can’t afford to pay for them,” says Jennifer McGovern, AstraZeneca’s Director of Patient Assistance Programs. “So we work closely with healthcare providers, insurers and individual patients to ensure that our medicines are affordable to those who need them.”

AstraZeneca’s assistance programs serve three distinct market segments: the uninsured, those covered by Medicare who still require additional financial assistance, and non-profit healthcare facilities. The details of the three-part AZ&Me^TM program can be found at www.azandme.com.

For those who may not meet the specific requirements of the AZ&Me^TM program or who need assistance paying for medications from other drugmakers, there are numerous other programs available. “Prescription savings programs are available to patients regardless of which medications their physicians may prescribe,” says McGovern. “And there is access to more than 475 savings programs covering 2,500 medications through PPARx (Partnership for Prescription Assistance). Individuals can find out about that by visiting www.pparx.org, or they can call 1-888-4PPA-NOW (1-888-477-2669).”

Behavioral Health Central recently spoke with McGovern about AstraZeneca’s AZ&Me^TM program and others that are available to help patients pay for medications. To listen to our conversation, click the audio icon above. The following is a written transcript:

BHC: Tell us a bit about AstraZeneca’s Patient Assistance Program — what it is, and how it works.

JM: Sure. AstraZeneca has been providing patient assistance for over 30 years to patients. And we have actually three distinct programs to provide assistance. The first program we have is one that is called the AZ&Me^TM Prescription Savings Program for People Without Insurance. With this program, we provide AstraZeneca medicines to patients who qualify at no cost. These patients generally do not have prescription drug coverage, and for income, they can make up to $30,000 per year per individual. Families of four can be making up to $60,000 per year.

The second program we have is the AZ&Me^TM Prescription Savings Program for People with Medicare Part D. With that program, we provide low-cost AstraZeneca medicine for qualifying Medicare Part D patients who make up to $30,000 per year, or couples who make up to $40,000 per year. With this program, patients generally can receive their medications from AstraZeneca for $25 or less.

The third program that we have is the AZ&Me^TM Prescription Savings Program for People in Healthcare Facilities. With this program, we provide AstraZeneca medications at no cost to qualifying non-profit healthcare facilities, such as disproportionate-share hospitals, community health centers, and community free clinics. This program is really exciting for us because it connects patients to the AstraZeneca medicines they need at the same time and place that they receive their treatment.

BHC: How many patients and in which therapeutic categories has AstraZeneca’s Assistance Program helped?

JM: In 2008, we helped more than 440,000 people fill 2.7 million prescriptions that resulted in $612 million in savings to those patients. Our Patient Assistance Programs support patients across areas like cardiovascular, oncology, mental health, GERD and asthma. People can view a list of available medicines in our programs on our website http://www.azandme.com/.

BHC: Why is it important to AstraZeneca to provide a Patient Assistance Program?

JM: Well, at AstraZeneca we recognize that our medicines won’t do people any good if they can’t afford to pay for them. So we work closely with healthcare providers, insurers and individual patients to ensure that our medicines are affordable to those who need them.

BHC: Are you planning any expansions to the programs?

JM: Well, recently we expanded our program to allow for what we refer to as a “change of circumstances.” And what that really does is it enables people who may have recently lost their job, [or] maybe they’ve had a change in their family size or marital status, or maybe they’ve had their income reduced. What is allowing for that is they can now apply to the program, provide some documentation to reflect that change of status, and they may be eligible then, based on that new information, to enroll in the program.

BHC: Are any drugs that treat mental conditions covered under the program?

JM: We do have medications that help individuals who have mental health illnesses and with those, again, if you visit www.azandme.com, individuals can see what the medications are, and they can see if that medication is one that they may be currently utilizing.

BHC: Have you heard any stories from any of your clients or customers about how this program has helped them?

JM: Well, we receive letters on a fairly regular basis from patients who have indicated that these types of programs, and the AZ&Me^TM program in particular, have really helped them tremendously. Many times, these are people who could not afford to pay for their medication. They were not financially able to do so and it was causing them a lot of concern, a lot of worry. And what we find is there’s a tremendous sense of relief, and just kind of a very happy surprise that these types of programs are available. And so we know that we really are impacting the lives of patients and enabling them to live healthier lives by making these medications available.

BHC: You mentioned the three parts of the program a little while ago and mentioned some of the income requirements. Any other important qualifications or requirements that patients need to meet to qualify for assistance?

JM: Well, one of the things that I would just point out is that in our Medicare Part D Patient Assistance Program, individuals have to show that they’ve had a three-percent, out-of-pocket spend on prescription medications, and that three percent is three percent of their qualifying income. Once they are able to demonstrate that that has occurred, then they can become eligible for the program and can begin taking advantage of it.

BHC: If a clinician has a patient that he or she feels may qualify for assistance for an AstraZeneca medication that is therapeutically necessary but the patient cannot afford, what should that provider do to inform the patient and get them in touch with this program?

JM: Physicians and providers can direct patients to learn more about the AZ&Me^TM Prescription Savings Programs by visiting www.azandme.com. They can instruct them to call 1-800-AZANDME (292-6363). We also list additional resources to help patients gain access to the medicines or services that they need at www.azandme.com.

And finally, prescription savings programs really are available to patients regardless of which medications their physicians may prescribe. And there are access to more than 475 savings programs covering 2,500 medications through PPARx (Partnership for Prescription Assistance) and individuals can find out about that by visiting www.pparx.org, or they can call 1-888-4PPA-NOW (which is really 1-888-477-2669).

BHC: So the starting point is really those websites or those 800 numbers. Are those for the patients to call or for the treating provider to call?

JM: Really they are for either/or. For AZ&Me^TM, patients can call themselves, office staff or the provider can call, and they can receive information on the programs, also they can request applications as well.

BHC: Well, great! Anything else important that we haven’t covered so far about the program that providers or patients need to know?

JM: I think the only thing I would just leave you with is, again, the fact that at AstraZeneca we are very pleased to offer Patient Assistance Programs to help patients obtain access to these medicines that they need. And we’re really pleased to have the opportunity today to speak with you and be able to share this valuable information.
 

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