The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

Abstract #67697

Jarone Lee, MPH, Robert Sigmond, MA, and Dennis M. Gallagher. School of Public Health, Drexel University, 245 N 15th Street, Mail Stop 660, Philadelphia, PA 19102

OBJECTIVE: Access to prescription drugs is a major health care policy issue facing the United States. With few long-term solutions on the horizon for the uninsured and the non-Medicare under-insured, many Americans must look increasingly to state and community-level solutions for prescription drug access. This paper outlines an initiative that addresses this problem by systematically assisting Philadelphia’s safety-net providers to take better advantage of the pharmaceutical industry’s programs that offer disadvantaged individuals free prescription medications – Patient Assistance Programs (PAPs). The project was developed for HealthRight, Inc., a federally funded community agency, comprised of North Philadelphia’s safety-net providers. METHODS: This project involved three steps: (1) Determination of potential obstacles and solutions by examining current literature, promising initiatives in other communities, and what is currently being done by Philadelphia’s safety-net providers; (2) Based on this information, a program was designed for a multi-provider environment, in which qualified patients can be systematically enrolled in PAPs; and (3) planned and implemented a pilot in close collaboration with the staff of one site. RESULTS: Through negotiations between HealthRight and health care providers, a process for enrolling patients in the PAPs was created and will be tested at one pilot site. The process was built to be as patient and provider friendly as possible. CONCLUSIONS: The success of the pilot project demonstrates that even during a period of limited resources, there are real opportunities for collaboration between community-based organizations and committed health care providers to provide for disadvantaged populations.

Learning Objectives:

At the conclusion of the session, the participants will be able to:
• Describe what are Patient Assistance Programs (PAPs).
• Describe the risks and benefits that safety-net providers will gain from for using PAPs.

Keywords: Access and Services,

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.