Patient Advocate Foundation (PAF) Unveils National Underinsured Resource Directory to Assist Americans Struggling with Health Insurance Costs and Access to Care

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Mar 08, 2010, 01:24 ET

Online Tutorial Supported by a Publication to Assist Underinsured Consumers in Locating Important Resources for Financial Relief

NEWPORT NEWS, Va., March 8 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Patient Advocate Foundation (PAF) – a national non-profit organization that seeks to safeguard patients through effective mediation assuring access to care, maintenance of employment and preservation of their financial stability relative to their diagnosis of life threatening or debilitating diseases – with the Patient Action Council Delegates, unveiled The National Underinsured Resource Directory, which is intended to help underinsured individuals and families locate important resources and seek alternative coverage options or methods to cover their healthcare needs.

The Patient Action Council Delegates are nurses and healthcare thought leaders of national advocacy initiatives within five of our nation's leading Pharmaceutical and Biotechnology companies. Delegates include Kathryn West, RN, MSN, OCN, Amgen Oncology; Debbie Freire, MBA, Vice President, Oncology Affairs & Patient Advocacy, Novartis Oncology; Linda House, RN, BSN, MSM, Senior Director, US Advocacy & Professional Relations, Lilly USA, LLC; Kesslyn Smith, Director Patient Access & Advocacy, sanofi-aventis U.S.; and Patti Jewell, MPH, Senior Director Oncology Public Affairs, Pfizer. Each year, the PAF Patient Action Council addresses one major access issue. This year, the issue selected was the development of a national resource for underinsured Americans, who have health insurance benefits that do not adequately protect them from high out-of-pocket medical expenses. Due to changes in insurance benefits and limited caps, the number of underinsured American adults has risen dramatically to an estimated 25 million in 2007 as reported by The Commonwealth Fund. In the last year, PAF saw an increase of 23.17% in underinsured patient issues.

The National Underinsured Resource Directory is available through an online interactive tutorial program, and a written publication that supports this program. The comprehensive online tool will help underinsured Americans faced with high out-of-pocket costs locate valuable resources and action steps to provide financial relief. The information will also be provided through an easy to manage pocket envelope of resource cards offering suggestions for resolving specific issues as well as a list of national and state specific resources.

"We are pleased to provide this valuable tool to the millions of Americans facing problems securing critical medical care services due to their inadequate health insurance benefits," said Nancy Davenport-Ennis, President and CEO of PAF. "Patients across the country will be able to gather information from the Q&A and action steps we have put together, improving their access to the quality care they need and deserve."

To access The National Underinsured Resource Directory, visit: http://patientadvocate.org/help4u.php. Organizations that want to include this resource on their websites are invited to contact Erin Moaratty, Chief of External Affairs at PAF at (800) 532-5274 ext 1150 or [email protected].

Patient Advocate Foundation and its companion organization, the National Patient Advocate Foundation (NPAF), were founded on the principle that health care is a basic human need and shared social responsibility. Annually, PAF receives thousands of contacts requesting information and assistance via their toll-free hotline as well as online, with complete direct, sustained case management services provided to patients from all fifty states free of charge. For more information about PAF, visit www.patientadvocate.org or call toll free (800) 532-5274.

SOURCE Patient Advocate Foundation