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An official publication of the ACR and the ARP serving rheumatologists and rheumatology professionals

The Ins & Outs of Patient Assistance Programs

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Genentech Access to Care Foundation

mycophenolate mofetil (CellCept)

(888) 754-7651 Lilly Cares

ixekizumab (Taltz)

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baricitinib (Olumiant)

(800) 545-6962 GSK Benlysta Cares

belimumab (Benlysta)

(877) 423-6597 Takeda Help at Hand

colchicine (Colcrys)

(800) 830-9159 Sobi Kineret on Track

anakinra (Kineret)

(866) 547-0644 Horizon Patient Services

pegloticase (Krystexxa)

(877) 633-9521 UCB Cares

certolizumab pegol (Cimzia)

(877) 785-8906

Takeaways

PAPs can help uninsured patients obtain access to biologic medications. Calling PAP phone numbers is refreshingly easy, and the staff are helpful. Some patients, especially those who don’t speak English, will benefit from your team’s help to complete the application process. Although the PAP process is imperfect and requires extra work on the provider’s part, the benefit to uninsured patients with rheumatic disease is priceless. Literally.

Samantha C. Shapiro, MD, is an academic rheumatologist and an affiliate faculty member of the Dell Medical School at the University of Texas at Austin. She received her training in internal medicine and rheumatology at Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore. She is also a member of the ACR Insurance Subcommittee.

References

  1. Position statement on access to biologics. American College of Rheumatology. 2021 Aug.
  2. Keisler-Starkey K and Bunch LN. Health insurance coverage in the United States: 2020. United States Census Bureau. 2021 Sept 14.
  3. Addington WW. No health insurance? It’s enough to make you sick—Scientific research linking the lack of health coverage to poor health. American College of Physicians policy statement. 1999.
  4. Patel V, Patel R, Hackshaw K. Rheumatology care for the underserved in Central Texas [abstract]. Arthritis Rheumatol. 2021 Oct;73(suppl 10).
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