Cactus Village Community

New Web Site Tracks Prescription Drug — Aid Programs

Jul 08, 2003

By Susan Coburn Stanford Advocate

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, about 14 percent of our population was without health insurance coverage during 2000. While this estimate represents a slight decline over the previous year, the fact remains that nearly 39 million Americans have inadequate insurance coverage.

But here?’s a little-known fact: Many drug manufacturers have ?‘Patient Assistance Programs?’ offering no ?— or low cost prescription drugs to people unable to afford their medications. Unfortunately, many patients, physicians, nurses and social workers either don?’t know about these programs or are unclear how to locate and use them.

One way is through the non-profit Needy-Meds, www.needymeds.com. Although not a drug-assistance program, this site offers information and tools to help consumers and health care professionals learn more about programs operated by each participating drug manufacture.

On this site, you?’ll find a list of 178 payment programs offered by U.S. Pharmaceutical manufactures. . .☺