A new study published at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO 2024) Annual Meeting shows that patient support programs that work together as a team of pharmacists can dramatically improve access to pharmaceutical company funding for uninsured and vulnerable cancer patients.
In this study, using Parkland Health, a safety-net health care system in Dallas County, Texas, as an example, “Medication Access Technicians” (MATs) of licensed pharmacists assisted uninsured patients in applying for pharmaceutical company funding, and found that MATs-assisted patients received funding significantly more than self-applicants.
Rising Cancer Drug Costs and Patient Support Program Challenges
The cost of medical care continues to rise, with expensive cancer drugs being the main cause, which seriously affects patients’ access to health care and exacerbates the inequality of medical resources. To this end, many pharmaceutical companies have Patient Assistance Programs (PAPs) to assist patients who cannot afford medications. However, disadvantaged groups often face delays, rejections or interruptions of treatment due to complex application procedures and uneven eligibility requirements.
Research how to improve the efficiency and success of uninsured patients in accessing cancer treatment funding
The study was conducted at Parkland Health, PH, a safety-net health care system in Dallas County, Texas. PH provides free health care to one of the highest uninsured rates in the U.S., and supports uninsured patients whose annual household income is 250% below the federal poverty level.
The research team consists of Medication Access Technicians (MATs) of licensed pharmacists. MATs identify patients in the eHealth system who are prescribed drugs for the Pharmaceutical Support Program and assist eligible patients in applying for funding.
The study period is from October 1, 2022 to September 30, 2023. During this period, MATs assisted 548 uninsured patients in applying for pharmaceutical subsidies for 38 intravenous drugs, with an estimated total value of approximately US$45.2 million, or an average of approximately US$79,000 per person. For oral medicines, MATs assisted 77 uninsured patients in applying for pharmaceutical subsidies for 20 different oral drugs, with a total value of about US$8.8 million, or an average of about US$115,000 per person.
The key role of MAT is to dramatically improve the efficiency and success of pharmaceutical company funding for uninsured cancer patients
The results of the study showed that the proportion of patients assisted by MATs who received pharmaceutical funding was significantly higher than that of patients who applied on their own. In the case of intravenous medication, 82 percent of patients assisted by MATs received funding, compared to 38 percent of patients who applied on their own. In terms of oral medications, 75% of patients assisted by MATs received funding, compared to only 29% of patients who applied on their own.
In addition, MATs also allow patients to access pharmaceutical company funding more quickly. For intravenous medications, patients assisted with MATs were approved within an average of 2 weeks, while patients who applied for it on their own had to wait more than 4 weeks. For oral medications, patients assisted with MATs were approved within an average of 3 weeks, while patients who applied on their own had to wait more than 5 weeks.
Pharmacy team-led patient funding schemes: a new model for improving access to medicines for uninsured and vulnerable cancer patients
This study confirms that the Patient Funding Scheme (PMS) joined by a team of pharmacists can significantly increase the chances of uninsured and vulnerable cancer patients receiving pharmaceutical company funding. MATs has the expertise and assistance to help patients overcome the complexities of the application process and get the medication they need faster. Therefore, the researchers called on relevant professional organizations and patient groups to actively advocate for pharmaceutical companies to expand their funding eligibility and reduce overly restrictive restrictions, so that more vulnerable patients can access potentially life-saving treatments.
Pharmacist-integrated Pharmaceutical Patient Support Programs (PAPs) can effectively improve the accessibility and equity of cancer care. With the help of the pharmacy team, more uninsured and vulnerable patients can get the medication they need, thereby improving their quality of life and survival rate. At present, Patientsforce has nearly 200 cooperative PAPs special pharmacies in Taiwan, which can provide integrated services for out-of-hospital drug distribution!
