Patient Access Network Foundation uses the following criteria to
determine eligibility for assistance:
1. You have to be insured and your insurance has to cover the
medication for which you are seeking assistance.
2. The medication you take must fight the disease directly.
3. You have to be a US resident.
4. Your income must fall below 400% of the Federal Poverty
Level.
Click
here
for the Federal Poverty Guidelines
applications for new and renewal patients are accepted and
grants are immediately allocated.
September 1, 2005 - The Patient Access Network (PAN) is excited
to announce the launch of another fund and the expansion of its
operations to meet the needs of patients diagnosed with Ankylosing
Spondylitis (AS). This will be the first disease fund to launch with
our electronic claims processing card. After approval into the AS
fund, patients will receive a PAN card to utilize at their providers
office for direct claims submission of approved treatments.
Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS) is a chronic, progressive
immune-mediated inflammatory disorder that primarily affects the
spine and sacroiliac joints. The chronic inflammation in these areas
causes stiffness and pain. Over time, the chronic spinal
inflammation (spondylitis) can lead to complete fusion of the
vertebrae, a process also called ankylosis. Eventually, ankylosis
causes the total loss in mobility of the spine. As the disease
progresses, curvature of the upper torso can occur which limits
breathing capacity.
The treatment of AS involves the use of medications to reduce
inflammation or suppress immunity. Products such as non-steroidal
anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), corticosteroids, and immune
suppressants are used to treat the symptoms of AS. Biological
response modifiers have been shown effective for the treatment of AS
by blocking a messenger protein of inflammation called tumor
necrosis factor (TNF). These agents are usually prescribed for
people with AS who fail to respond to conventional treatment.
Private insurance and Medicare are the most common types of
health coverage for patients with AS. Both can lead to access issues
for many patients. As a result, low-to-moderate income beneficiaries
are often unable to afford the out-of-pocket costs associated with
their prescriptions.
