Patient Advocate Foundation Receives Significant Support to Aid Non-Squamous Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Patients through the Co-Pay Relief Program

The Co-Pay Relief Program Provides Support for Pharmaceutical Co-Payments to Insured Patients in Need

HAMPTON, Va., Aug. 20, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Patient Advocate Foundation (PAF) is pleased to announce the receipt of a generous contribution that will have direct and immediate impact by allowing PAF to continue support to patients suffering with non-squamous non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) within its Co-Pay Relief Program (CPR). PAF's Co-Pay Relief Program provides direct financial support for pharmaceutical co-payments to insured patients, including Medicare Part D beneficiaries, who financially and medically qualify, significantly reducing the financial burden associated with high medication costs. 

PAF is a national non-profit organization that provides sustained case management services to patients who are facing healthcare access issues as a result of their diagnosis of a chronic, life threatening or debilitating illnesses.  Since PAF's creation of the Co-Pay Relief division in April 2004, CPR has distributed more than $180 million in assistance to more than 86,000 patients who were unable to afford their pharmaceutical co-payments, thus ensuring better access to prescribed medications. Last year, the inaugural year for this disease fund within CPR, nearly 3,000 lung cancer patients suffering from this disease received funds to directly pay for their pharmaceutical co-payments.

"A debilitating or life-threatening diagnosis can be the most overwhelming experience a person may ever face in his or her lifetime. Coupled with high-cost pharmaceutical co-pay expenses, the journey can become significantly more challenging to manage," said Nancy Davenport-Ennis, founder and CEO of PAF. "Patient Advocate Foundation created the Co-Pay Relief Program in 2004 after receiving an increased number of patients seeking co-pay assistance for pharmaceutical drugs, so we are particularly pleased to be able to continue this assistance to lung cancer patients."

Globally, lung cancer is the most common form of cancer and the biggest killer, causing 1.3 million cancer deaths annually.  About 85 – 90 percent of all lung cancers are NSCLC. The liver, bones and brain are potential targets if the cancerous cells enter the bloodstream.

In FY 22011/2012, PAF's Co-Pay Relief Program assisted 36,993 patients, a dramatic 168.4 percent increase from FY 2010/2011, and provided approximately $39 million in co-payment support to patients across 19 diseases categories to help alleviate the financial burden associated with out-of-pocket pharmaceutical co-payments. 

About the Patient Advocate Foundation (PAF) Co-Pay Relief Program (CPR) 
The Co-Pay Relief Program provides direct financial support for pharmaceutical co-payments to insured patients who financially and medically qualify.  The program offers innovative technology tools for patients, providers and pharmacy representatives including 24 hour web based application portals, electronic signature, document upload and bar code fax routing capabilities, increasing the speed with which an approval can be granted and expenditure can be paid.  Keeping with Patient Advocate Foundation's emphasis on excellent patient service, the program also offers individualized service to all patients through the use of call counselors; personally guiding them through the enrollment process.  For more information or to contact the Co-Pay Relief program visit http://www.copays.org.

About Patient Advocate Foundation 
PAF is a national non-profit organization that seeks to safeguard patients through effective mediation assuring access to care, maintenance of employment and preservation of financial stability relative to their diagnosis of chronic, life threatening or debilitating disease.  Patient Advocate Foundation has been consistently rated as a 4-star "exceptional" charity by Charity Navigator, the foremost independent evaluator of charities in the United States.   For more information about Patient Advocate Foundation, please visit www.patientadvocate.org/.

SOURCE Patient Advocate Foundation