Pharmacist-integrated Patient Assistance Programs (PAPs)
AI-translated from the Chinese original · editorially reviewed
A new study presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO 2024) annual meeting shows that patient support programs run in collaboration with pharmacist teams can dramatically improve uninsured and underserved cancer patients' chances of obtaining manufacturer-funded drug assistance.
The study looked at Parkland Health, a safety-net health system in Dallas County, Texas, where a Medication Access Technicians (MATs) team of licensed pharmacy staff helped uninsured patients apply for manufacturer assistance. It found that patients assisted by MATs obtained funding at a significantly higher rate than those who applied on their own.
Rising cancer drug costs and the challenges facing patient assistance programs
Healthcare costs keep climbing, driven largely by expensive cancer drugs — seriously undermining patients' access to care and deepening inequities in healthcare resources. In response, many pharmaceutical companies operate Patient Assistance Programs (PAPs) to help patients who cannot afford their medications. Yet underserved populations, facing complex application procedures and inconsistent eligibility requirements, often end up with delayed approvals, rejected applications, or interrupted treatment.
How the study improved the efficiency and success rate of securing cancer treatment funding for uninsured patients
The study was conducted at Parkland Health (PH), a safety-net health system in Dallas County, Texas. PH provides free care in one of the regions with the highest uninsured rates in the US, serving uninsured patients with household incomes below 250% of the federal poverty line.
The program was run by a Medication Access Technicians (MATs) team composed of licensed pharmacy staff. MATs identified patients in the electronic health record who had been prescribed drugs covered by manufacturer support programs, and helped eligible patients apply for assistance.
The study period ran from October 1, 2022 to September 30, 2023. During that time, MATs helped 548 uninsured patients apply for manufacturer assistance covering 38 intravenous drugs, with a total estimated value of about US$45.2 million — roughly US$79,000 per patient. For oral medications, MATs helped 77 uninsured patients apply for assistance covering 20 different oral drugs, worth about US$8.8 million in total, or roughly US$115,000 per patient.
The pivotal role of MATs: markedly higher efficiency and success rates for uninsured cancer patients seeking manufacturer assistance
The results showed that patients assisted by MATs obtained manufacturer funding at significantly higher rates than those who applied on their own. For intravenous drugs, 82% of MAT-assisted patients received funding versus just 38% of self-applicants. For oral drugs, 75% of MAT-assisted patients received funding versus just 29% of self-applicants.
MAT assistance also got patients their funding faster. For intravenous drugs, MAT-assisted patients were approved within 2 weeks on average, while self-applicants waited more than 4 weeks. For oral drugs, MAT-assisted patients were approved within 3 weeks on average, compared with more than 5 weeks for self-applicants.
Pharmacist-led patient assistance: a new model for improving drug access for uninsured and underserved cancer patients
The study confirms that patient assistance programs with pharmacist teams on board can dramatically improve uninsured and underserved cancer patients' chances of obtaining manufacturer funding. The expertise and support of MATs help patients navigate complex application procedures and receive needed drug treatment sooner. The researchers therefore call on professional organizations and patient groups to advocate actively for manufacturers to broaden eligibility and ease overly strict restrictions, so that more underserved patients can access potentially life-saving treatment.
Pharmacist-integrated Patient Assistance Programs (PAPs) can meaningfully improve access to and equity in cancer care. With pharmacy teams' support, more uninsured and underserved patients can obtain the drug treatment they need, improving both quality of life and survival.Patientsforce currently partners with nearly two hundred PAP-contracted pharmacies across Taiwan, providing integrated out-of-hospital dispensing services!