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Disclaimer
The Patient Assistance and Services Information list is a broad directory of external resources we direct people to in response to many frequently-asked questions or requests for assistance we receive in the national office.
Please note that MGFA is not in any way associated with the companies or organizations referenced below, and we do not endorse their services. The organizations/services are provided strictly for informational purposes and are presented only as possible resources for patients. Further, the information below is not intended to be a comprehensive listing of all available programs.
Resource Categories
Patient and prescription assistance
BenefitsCheckUp - NCOA's Online Screening Service
http://www.benefitscheckup.org
BenefitsCheckUp helps thousands of people every day to connect to government programs that can help them pay for prescription drugs, health care, utilities and other needs. It quickly gives a personal report, 20-30 minutes, of public programs and benefits that a patient may qualify for after filling out a questionnaire.
Partnership for Prescription Assistance
1-888-477-2669, https://www.pparx.org/Intro.php
The Partnership for Prescription Assistance brings together America's pharmaceutical companies, doctors, other health care providers, patient advocacy organizations and community groups to help qualifying patients who lack prescription coverage get the medicines they need through the public or private program that's right for them. Many will get medications free or nearly free.
- Valeant Patient Assistance Program (administered through Rx Hope)
1-800-511-2120, www.rxhope.com
Patients can receive certain medications manufactured by Valeant Pharmaceuticals, International, including Mestinon® Timespan (time release pyridostigmine), Mestinon® Syrup (pyridostigmine syrup) and Prostigmin® (neostigmine) if they do not qualify for Medicaid or other programs. 60mg Mestinon is not included as part of this program.
- Novartis Patient Assistant Program
1-800-277-2254
Novartis offers medications to people who meet certain income requirements. Novartis manufactures Sandimmune® (cyclosporine) and Neoral® (cyclosporine). A medical professional must call this program to request the application. The patient and the patient's doctor must sign the application form.
- Roche Pharmaceuticals
1-800-772-5790 or 1-800-285-4484
Roche Pharmaceuticals operates the CellCept® Medical Needs Program. A doctor must request and complete the application on behalf of the patient.
- Sanofi-Synthelabo
1-800-446-6267
The Needy Patient Program offered by this company provides Mytelase® (ambenonium chloride) to patients who meet certain income requirements. A doctor's office or other professional must request the application and complete the forms on behalf of the patient.
RxAssist - Accessing Pharmaceutical Patient Assistance Programs
http://www.rxassist.org/default.cfm
RxAssist provides physicians and other healthcare providers with the information needed to access the pharmaceutical companies' patient assistance programs. Links listed under the headline Other Resources contain information pertaining to medical assistance cards and prescription assistance programs available in individual states.
UneedPSI
1-800-366-7741, http://www.uneedpsi.org
PSI specializes in health insurance premium, pharmacy co-payment and co-payment waiver assistance. They offer three patient assistance programs: premium assistance, co-payment assistance and financial hardship waiver.
Indigent Prescription Programs
http://www.geocities.com/HotSprings/8374/Indigent.html
The research-based pharmaceutical industry has had a long-standing tradition of providing prescription medications free of charge to physicians whose patients might not otherwise have access to necessary medications. The site has a list of companies and the assistance programs they offer. **This site is an individual's personal Web site, and is not actively monitored or updated. Therefore, some resources may not be up to date.**
Needy Meds
http://www.needymeds.com
This site is designed to provide information about patient assistance programs which provide no-cost prescription medications to eligible participants. If you click on the program list link on the left-hand side, it will display about 318 programs. This list can be broken down by state, local, fee-for-service, or drug discount cards.
Cost Containment Research Institute
http://www.institute-dc.org
This site advertises the revised 7th edition Free and Low Cost Prescription Drugs, which includes over 100 programs and 1,100 drug listings. Download a free copy of this document on the Web site.
Prescription discount cards
Accessing Free Medication - The Patient's Advocate
http://www.themedicineprogram.com
This site offers a free prescription card that can be used at over 35,000 pharmacies nationwide. This card is available to anyone and offers the patient discounts on prescription drugs. The card can be printed off the Web site.
Together Rx Access
1-800-444-4106, http://www.togetherrxaccess.com
With the free Together Rx Access Card, most cardholders save 25%-40% on over 275 brand-name prescription drugs and other prescription products, as well as save on a wide range of generic drugs. Enrollment can be completed online or through the mail.
Free clinics
Free Clinic Foundation of America
www.uniteforsight.org/freeclinics.php
Free clinics provide free and low-cost health services to the medically underserved and uninsured. Unite For Sight compiles information about free clinics located throughout the United States. Included are the locations of free clinics in addition to phone numbers and a list of free services provided.
Connection to local resources
Eldercare locator - Connecting you to community resources
1-800-677-1116, http://www.eldercare.gov/Eldercare/Public/Home.asp
Eldercare is a public service of the U.S. Administration on Aging, and the Eldercare Locator connects older Americans and their caregivers with sources of information on senior services. The service links those who need assistance with state and local area agencies on aging and community-based organizations that serve older adults and their caregivers.
State and Regional Free Clinic Associations
http://www.volunteersinhealthcare.org/pdfs/FCcontactlist.pdf
Provides a comprehensive list of state organizations that work with free clinics; some links include a list of free clinics.
Job assistance
Ticket to Work
1-866-968-7842, http://www.yourtickettowork.com/program_info
The Ticket to Work and Self-Sufficiency Program is an employment program for people with disabilities who are interested in going to work. The Ticket Program is part of the Ticket to Work and Work Incentives Improvement Act of 1999-legislation designed to remove many of the barriers that previously influenced people's decisions about going to work because of concerns over losing health care coverage.
Job Accommodation Network
http://www.jan.wvu.edu/media/MG.html
Job Accommodation Network (JAN): Accommodating people with myasthenia gravis. JAN's mission is to facilitate the employment and retention of workers with disabilities by providing employers, employment providers, people with disabilities, their family members and other interested parties with information on job accommodations, self-employment and small business opportunities.
Education
Advocating Change Together
http://www.selfadvocacy.com/index.htm
A grassroots organization run for and by people with developmental and other disabilities. ACT works in two ways: providing information, skill building and leadership opportunities to individuals with disabilities; and challenging institutional barriers by organizing people with disabilities around issues of common concern.
Americans with Disabilities Act, ADA
http://www.libsci.sc.edu/bob/class/clis734/webguides/ADA.html
The ADA prohibits the discrimination on the basis of disability in employment, services offered by state and local governments, services and supplies offered by private companies, and in commercial facilities. This site provides links on how to file a complaint, an etiquette handbook, the Council for Disability Rights, etc.
Drug Information by RxList
http://www.rxlist.com
The Internet drug index; gives information on over 300 prescription drugs, including description, brand, clinical pharmacology, indications and dosage, side effects/drug interactions, warnings/precautions, overdosage/contraindictions, and patient information.
Privacy Rights Clearinghouse
http://www.privacyrights.org/fs/index.htm
Privacy rights clearinghouse: Nonprofit consumer information and advocacy center. Over 24 links containing information on how to protect oneself from telemarketers, how to keep a social security number private, possible employer concerns, etc.
How Private Is My Medical Information
http://www.privacyrights.org/fs/fs8-med.htm
Answers the question, "How private is my medical information?" Gives tips on how to protect your medical records, when HIPAA does not apply, how to access your own records, etc.
Health Insurance Consumer Guides
http://www.healthinsuranceinfo.net
The Georgetown University Health Policy Institute has written a consumer guide for getting and keeping health insurance for each state and the District of Columbia. The consumer guides are available on the Web site and are updated periodically as changes in the federal and state policy warrant. The guides summarize protections but should not be used as a substitute for legal, accounting, or professional advice.
Low vision simulators
http://www.lowvisionsimulators.com
The goal of Fork in the Road Vision Rehabilitation Services, LLC is to help educate people about low vision. Fork in the Road has simulators that provide a reasonably accurate picture of some of the functional limitations and abilities of different types of visual impairments.
Medicare
Medicare
http://www.medicare.gov
The Official U.S. Government Site for people with Medicare.
- Medicare Prescription drugs and other Medicare assistance programs
http://www.medicare.gov/prescription/home.asp
Prescription drugs and other Medicare assistance programs. The drug card search tab provides information about Medicare-approved drug discount cards available by state; also includes information on eligibility and FAQs. **There is also a Medicare drug discount card program brochure.
- Medicare Prescription Drug Coverage
http://www.medicare.gov/pdphome.asp
Everyone with Medicare, regardless of income, health status, or prescription drug usage, will have access to prescription drug coverage beginning on January 1, 2006. This Web site is the primary governmental source for information on this program. Several tools are available to help participants determine costs, plan options, etc.
Medicare Rights Center
http://www.medicarerights.org
Medicare Rights Center (MRC) is the largest independent source of health care information and assistance in the United States for people with Medicare. MRC helps older adults and people with disabilities get good, affordable health care. They provide a telephone hotline for those with Medicare questions.
Social Security
Social Security Online
1-800-772-1213, http://www.ssa.gov
The official Web site of the U.S. Social Security Administration; contains general Social Security information as well as links to programs/information the department has.
- Social Security Disability Benefits brochure
http://www.socialsecurity.gov-pubs-10029.pdf
The brochure addresses the following questions: what are disability benefits, who can get SS disability benefits, how and when a person should apply, when a person can get Medicare, etc.
- Social Security Benefit Publications
http://www.ssa.gov/pubs/englist.html#Disability
Social Security's electronic publications; offers an introduction to the Social Security program, disability benefits, retirement benefits, survivor benefits, supplemental security income programs, etc.
- Social Security Online - Disability & SSI
http://www.ssa.gov/d&s2.htm
Social Security information for those already receiving disability benefits or SSI.
- Social Security Online - Disability Programs
http://www.ssa.gov/disability
Social Security information relating to benefits for people with disabilities. Includes how to apply for benefits, what to do if you're already receiving benefits, etc.
Navigating state and federal programs
Accredo Therapeutics: The A.C.C.E.S.S. Program
1-888-700-7010
Advocating for Chronic Conditions, Entitlements and Social Services (A.C.C.E.S.S.) is dedicated to helping find solutions to many of the social and economic problems that confront families facing chronic conditions. A.C.C.E.S.S. can assist you in navigating the often-complex maze of state and federal entitlement programs. They can also help you explore eligibility for continuation of health insurance under federal law (COBRA and HIPAA), as well as alternative sources of coverage, such as state high-risk insurance pools.
Medical ID Jewelry and Devices
MedicAlert Foundation
888-633-4298, https://www.medicalert.org
A nonprofit healthcare informatics organization dedicated to providing services to its members. Site offers several different types of medical alert bracelets, jewelry and dog tags as well as the E-HealthKey, advanced directives and TravelPlus (medical assistance for traveling). **MedicAlert brochure is also available
Medical Jewelry, Medical Alert Jewelry and Medical ID Jewelry from Medic Assist.com
1-877-902-8969, http://www.medicassist.com
Medic Assist offers medical identification cards and fully custom-engraved medical identification bracelets, watches, necklaces and pendants (medallions). You can tell Medic Assist what you would like engraved on your piece of jewelry.
Emergency medical transport (national organizations)
MMA Mercy Medical Airlift Charitable Air Transportation
1-888-675-1405, http://www.mercymedical.org/index.asp
Mercy Medical Airlift (MMA) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to serving people in situations of compelling human need through the provision of charitable air transportation. MMA is totally supported through charitable giving and the services of volunteer pilots and office assistants.
PatientTravel.org Charitable medical air transportation resources
1-800-296-1217, http://www.patient-travel.org
The National Patient Travel Helpline provides information about all forms of charitable, long-distance medical air transportation and provides referrals to all appropriate sources of help available in the national charitable medical air transportation network. The travel helpline is available 24 hours/day.
Patient support links - listserv/e-mail list
These lists are not monitored by the MGFA and the MGFA assumes no responsibility for their content.
Myathenia Mailing List (MML)
http://lists.asu.edu/archives/ocular.html
MML is a listserv (i.e. e-mail list) for people with myasthenia gravis. It has an emphasis on ocular myasthenia but includes all types (i.e. generalized, ocular, congenital).
Myasthenic Meeting Place (MMP)
http://listserv2.dakotacom.net/mailman/listinfo/mmp
A listserv (i.e. email list) for the myasthenic, with an emphasis on providing a meeting place to discuss
subjects of interest.
Free Web site setup
CarePages.com
http://www.carepages.com/home.jsp
Free, personal, private Web pages that help family and friends communicate when someone is receiving care.
CaringBridge - Be There ~ Helping friends and family stay in touch and informed
http://www.caringbridge.org
CaringBridge offers free, personalized Web sites to those wishing to stay in touch with family and friends during significant life events. CaringBridge authors quickly and easily create personalized Web sites that display journal entries and photographs.
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