Guide to
Prescription Assistance Drug Programs
Patient
Assistance Programs Listed by Psychotropic Medication
Drug
Discount Card Programs
State and Local Patient Assistance
Programs
Patient
Assistance Program Application Links
Healthcare
Plans
Patient Assistance Programs
Don't let these forms and programs make you feel
overwhelmed. I am in the process myself of obtaining patient assistance
for my medications as my prescription program was completely cut out of
my Medicaid. There are places you can go to either local or The Medicine
Program online. My advice is to do it yourself if you are able to. My
local program took two months just for me to receive the applications
for the drug companies and my medications had changed and they did not
ever return my calls due to being overwhelmed.
I received the packet I paid for from the Medicine
Program and I was already in the midst of doing it myself and found that
they had wrong information. For instance they didn't think there was a
program for Tofranil when there is.
My advice is to go to each drug manufacturer for your
medications online. Chances are likely you will find their patient
assistance program at their site and more often then not you can print
off the application sheet right off of their site.
Read carefully what it is you need to do in addition, if
anything to filling out the form and sending it in. Each drug
manufacturer patient assistance program is different. If you have
questions they normally provide a toll-free number for you to call.
For forms your Dr. has to sign, I recommend you bring
them into the Dr's office yourself and request they be signed and come
back the following day or bring them into your appointment.
The turn-around time for your medications to
arrive either at your home or at your Dr's office can sometimes
be 2 months in some cases. Ask your Dr. for samples to get you
by until you can get on these drug programs.
If you have medications there are no samples for, ask
your pharmacist if you can keep a tab there and pay when you can.
Explain the situation to them.
If you are taking a medication that you are not advised
to go off of "cold turkey" and you run out and are unable to
get a refill, GO TO YOUR LOCAL EMERGENCY ROOM. Some medications can
cause very difficult withdrawals
I also used needymeds.com, rxassist.org for assistance
and it was helpful but again they were not updated on all the medication
I needed. My one particular drug was not listed and it turned out from
my investigation that there is a program for it. Let them know any new
information so that it will help them keep their information accurate.
Know that you are not alone in the position you find
yourself in with the cuts that are going on.
Don't forget to also apply for the Drug Discount Card
Programs. These cards may save you money on any future prescriptions
your Dr. writes out and if you need the medication immediately.
Patty E. Fleener M.S.W.
Visit
Mental Health Matters for information
and articles. Get
help to find
a therapist or list
your practice; and Psych
Forums for message boards on a variety of MH topics.
Copyright © Patty Fleener, M.S.W. All
rights reserved.
