Free medicines are available through the pharmaceutical companies’ Patient Assistance Programs (PAPs), which may be accessed for individual prescriptions using The Pharmacy Connection (TPC) software or through a bulk replacement / Institutional PAP. Learn about Rx Partnership, Virginia’s innovative bulk replacement program.

1. Vital Medication for the Eligible Uninsured
.
Why not just submit individual applications?
Most free clinic patients require 4-6
medications from an average of 4 different
companies
Frequently changing eligibility criteria and
the drugs available in the program
Typically there is a 2 to 6 week wait to
receive medication
Receiving medication through a bulk
program does not eradicate the need to
submit individual applications to other
companies – it simply allows clinics to help
more people with the same resources
1

2. The costs of individual applications
According to a 2005 study that surveyed clinics
in several states – “clinic staff spent an average
of 111 hours per month (12 hours for
pharmacists, 20 hours for physicians, and 79
hours for other staff) in processing
applications. In fact, two-thirds of clinics that
did not use the manufacturer PAPs cited the fact
that they are “too time-consuming and
complex.”
-The American Journal of Health-System Pharmacy
The costs of individual applications
According to a 2007 study – the average total
cost per individual application is $25.18
which includes personnel, supply and
submission costs. This is a conservative
estimate as the study was conducted during
non-working hours when there were no
distractions / interruptions and included only
the most experienced staff who were able to
complete applications most quickly (no
volunteers). The estimated annual cost of
providing PAP service at the clinic studied
was $81,835.
-The Journal of Managed Care Pharmacy
2

3. Institutional Patient Assistance Program
IPAP
Definition
A type of patient assistance program (PAP) in
which a manufacturer donates free drugs to a
hospital, clinic, or other health care institution,
rather than to a patient. IPAP agreements
usually establish inventory control procedures
and give manufacturer sponsors audit rights. –
Safety Net Hospitals for Pharmaceutical Access
(SNHPA)
Types of IPAPs
Individual Relationships, Warehouse Model,
Broker Model, Other
Benefits of IPAP?
Patient
Medication is immediately available
Required eligibility paperwork is
completed just once a year
“Without Staleva, my early onset Parkinsons would be
completely out of control. My quality of living would
be seriously hampered. This enables me to prepare
for the future by considering employment for the first
time in two years. This program changes people’s
lives.” - Pamela Moore, Patient at the Free Clinic of the New
River Valley
3

4. Benefits of IPAP?
Clinic
Separate/different eligibility paperwork is not
required – same form used for all
Consistent standards for proof of income and
income thresholds
Saves time & resources currently dedicated to
completing individual applications for
medication assistance
Reduces pharmacy costs for purchased
medications
Allows for better patient compliance & health
outcomes (versus uncertainty of $4 Rx being
filled or refills ordered on-time)
Unique Broker Model
Rx Partnership serves as a broker, facilitating the
distribution of free prescription medication from
participating pharmaceutical companies directly to
Affiliate free clinics and community health centers
which it credentials and monitors.
Result:
A streamlined, efficient and cost-effective process
cost-
which delivers more drugs to a greater number of
patients in need
4

5. What does RxP do?
RxP functions …
As an IPAP (Institutional Patient Assistance
Program)
Replacement drugs are tied to specific
patient/dispensing data
Solicits free medications from pharmaceutical
companies
Rx Partnership coordinates the distribution of
medications directly to nonprofit, licensed
Affiliate pharmacies (FCs, CHCs & central fills)
Credentials, monitors, and audits Affiliates
5

6. Rx Partnership Success
20 Affiliate free clinics, health
centers and central fills
Over $32 million in retail value of
prescriptions distributed to date
More than 150,000 free
prescriptions for over 25,000
unduplicated patients have been
filled to date
A Resource Network
Clinics connect with each other to share
information – RxP Roundtable
RxP e-newsletter, annual report, website,
Affiliates only area of website
Common issues – eligibility questions, legal
residency, how to get supplies, what to do
when a medication is no longer available on
PAP, etc.
6

7. Are you interested in
learning more about
Rx Partnership and how
our approach might work
for you?
Amy Yarcich, Executive Director
804-377-1057 x1557
AYarcich@RxPartnership.org
2924 Emerywood Pkwy, #300
Richmond, VA 23294
www.RxPartnership.org
Abbott Patient Assistance Foundation’s Diabetes
Care Patient Assistance Program
Free glucose test strips & glucometers
www.abbottpatientassistancefoundation.org/diabetes
_care.asp for qualification requirements and
application form
For Patients Unable to Participate in the Foundation
Program
The FreeStyle Promise™ Program
Savings Up to $600 per year on test strips ($15 co-
pay per month) & free FreeStyle Lite meter
Access to Certified Diabetes Educators, Registered
Nurses and Nutritionists
www.myfreestyle.com
7

8. GSK Access Applications – Program for Part D
Patients
It is available after patient spends $600 out of pocket
on any TrOOP eligible costs (not just GSK meds), do
not have to be in the donut hole
More information at www.GSK-Access.com
Bridges to Access – new enrollment options will be
coming in early fall that will allow self enrollment by
mail
In March 2008 Merck Patient Assistance Program
raised it’s eligibility limit from 200% to 400% of
FPL
While RxP maintains a 200% threshold for
consistency, we realize this may mean some of your
patients ineligible for RxP may apply for Merck’s
individual PAP
Hopefully this signals an industry change that will
allow RxP to raise the threshold in the future
8

9. Patient Assistance Now resource for PAP and links
to outside programs patients may qualify for –
www.PatientAssistanceNow.com
New PAP website launched -
www.patientassistanceprogram.sanofi-aventis.us
Reminder that sanofi PAP eligibility is based on
CURRENT income – very critical for recently
unemployed and uninsured
9

10. Additional Resources
2009 Medicaid Denial Memo from DSS
Tax Transcript Fact Sheet
Roche Diagnostic’s ACCU-CHECK PAP
ACCU-CHECK test strips for eligible patients
www.accu-chek.com/us/customer-care/patient-
assistance-program.html
BD offers monthly shipments of needles, syringes
and educational materials (quantity maximums on a
monthly basis apply)
Use the BD Order Form
Other Resources to Share?
10