Patient Advocate Foundation Partners with Breakaway from Cancer for Third Consecutive Year; Raising Awareness, Providing Resources for Cancer Patients

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May 12, 2011, 09:47 ET

PAF Selected as Charitable Partner for National Initiative as Part of 2011 Amgen Tour of California Cycling Competition

HAMPTON, Va., May 12, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Patient Advocate Foundation (PAF) – a national non-profit organization that provides professional case management services to tens of thousands of patients every year who are unable to obtain access to care because of financial or insurance denials - is pleased to partner with Breakaway from Cancer, a national fundraising and educational initiative founded by Amgen in 2005 as a complementary component to the company's sponsorship of the Amgen Tour of California, a world-class professional cycling competition, to raise awareness of the important resources available to cancer patients including prevention, education, patient care, advocacy, financial support and survivorship. The Breakaway from Cancer partners, Prevent Cancer Foundation, The Cancer Support Community, the National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship and PAF, collectively offer people affected by cancer a broad range of support services complementing those provided by a patient's team of healthcare professionals. These four partners will travel to fifteen cities, will walk with cancer survivors and caregivers at each Breakaway Mile, and will host a Breakaway from Cancer information booth at the Lifestyle Festival held in each of the finish cities along the route, distributing information and helpful resources.

"Patient Advocate Foundation is honored to partner, for the third consecutive year, with Breakaway from Cancer as Amgen raises awareness of the many important and valuable resources available to cancer patients, their family members and caregivers," said Nancy Davenport-Ennis, Founder and CEO of Patient Advocate Foundation. "Seventy-one percent of the patients contacting PAF in 2010 were diagnosed with cancer, so we know first-hand the importance of educating cancer patients about their options, fully supporting and empowering patients as they work to fight their disease and ultimately improving their quality of life."

On Sunday, May 15^th, the world's top professional teams will begin their competition in the Amgen Tour of California in Lake Tahoe. After an eight-day, 765-mile race, they will approach the final stop on May 22^nd in Thousand Oaks.

"Receiving a cancer diagnosis can be the most overwhelming experience a person may ever face in his or her lifetime, so it is critical for patients to know they are not alone in this fight. Numerous supporters and resources are available to help them through this challenging time," said Davenport-Ennis. "Breakaway from Cancer brings together patients, family members, researches, advocates and many others, demonstrating Amgen's commitment and dedication to helping people affected by cancer, and we at PAF are inspired by and proud to be part of this supportive program."

Patient Advocate Foundation is 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. PAF's professional case managers received and resolved 82,963 cases in 2010, an increase from 55,384 in 2009. Additionally, PAF received and provided information through online contacts to more than 4 million patients, family members and care professionals requesting access to care information and assistance. PAF services are available to all patients, patient families, and medical professionals, offering nineteen programs and services ranging from case management to co-pay relief, as well as specialized clinical support through the MedCare Line. PAF handles insurance claims intervention, job retention services and medical debt crisis management. For more information about Patient Advocate Foundation, please visit www.patientadvocate.org or call toll-free (800) 532-5274

SOURCE Patient Advocate Foundation