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Social Security and Working (updated February 2, 2001)
On December 29, 2000 the Social Security Administration published the final rules and regulations implementing automatic adjustments each year to the substantial gainful activity level for individuals with impairments other than total blindness. These rules became effective January 29, 2001.
For more information: Social Security Administration
New Website to Help Families with Medications (updated December 2000)
Providing information on how to receive help with paying for the high cost of medications associated with Cystic Fibrosis. This site has a large directory of brand name drugs, along with the drug manufacturer's patient assistance program.
Patients and parents should remember that, in many cases, only a physician's office can request and receive medication directly from the manufacturer.
Needing Medications? (updated November 2000) -
By: Claire Lenker, MSW, LCSW, CCM
Patients with Cystic Fibrosis often take multiple medications (for example, Enzymes, TOBI, Pulmozyme, antibiotics, etc). While many patients are covered by private insurance or by Medicaid, not everyone has coverage for his or her medications. For instance, Medicare does not cover all prescription drugs, some insurance company do not cover all medications, and some patients have no health care coverage at all.
While it is true that pharmaceutical manufacturers are for-profit companies (this means they are in business to make money), many manufacturers have “Patient Assistance Programs” (PAPs) to try to get medications to those who do not have health coverage to pay for them. The Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America maintains a directory of PAPs. Each drug company decides their eligibility criteria (some look at income, some only cover drugs for patients who have no health coverage at all, etc.), so who is eligible may be different from company to company. Also, manufacturers can choose which drugs they offer on their PAP, so not all drugs are covered.
Your CF Center doctor and his or her staff will have an important role to play if you are eligible to get your medication from a PAP. Your doctor’s office has to be the one to send your prescriptions to the drug manufacturer, and the medications are mailed only to your doctor’s office, not to your house. And since you are not getting your medications at a pharmacy, where a pharmacist would be looking at ALL your medications for potential drug interactions, you will need to make sure to tell your CF doctor about everything you are taking.
Recently you may have seen some services that advertise that they can get free medication for under funded patients for a per-prescription charge of $5.00. Such services are simply checking the PHRMA directory and contacting your doctor’s office, things you may be able to do for yourself. The medication itself is free, whether one of these services handles the paperwork or you do it yourself.
For more information on PAPs, contact your CF Center Social Worker.
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