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Releases & Statements
Public Advocate Betsy Gotbaum , in a report released today that examines the efficiency of Patient Assistance Programs (PAPs), called on pharmaceutical companies to do more to fulfill their promise to provide poor patients with life-saving medications. PAPs attempt to meet the needs of individuals who do not qualify for Medicaid, but earn too little to afford private prescription drug coverage. In 2000, New York City had approximately 1.6 million uninsured residents, many of whom did not have prescription drug coverage.
“In most cases, PAPs are treated like top secret plans, preventing most low income eligible New Yorkers from applying for their free drug benefits. Drug companies continue to rake in millions and billions of dollars, so in this time of rising health care costs, drug companies should promote these programs and make it less difficult for people who cannot afford medications, to access them,” said Gotbaum. Forty-one percent of people who lack prescription drug coverage forgo prescription medication because of costs.
Gotbaum examined the PAPs of seven Fortune 500 drug manufacturers that offer the ten most widely prescribed drugs in New York State . Pfizer and Merck were the only two companies surveyed that publicize their PAP’s income eligibility guidelines.
The study also found that: because of burdensome documentation requirements and process it takes between three and six weeks to receive medications, and 57 percent of companies surveyed do not send medications directly to a patients home.
“By the time seriously-ill patients are able to receive the drugs available through PAPs, it may be too late,” said Gotbaum.
“Outrageous drug prices force low-income residents to choose between medication and other necessities. Too often, they are forced to skip their medications,” said Gotbaum.
In her analysis, Gotbaum recommended that drug companies bridge the gap between what they could be doing and what they actually are doing for New Yorkers in need of medication. Gotbaum wants pharmaceutical companies to:
• Increase public awareness of Patient Assistance Programs
• Publicize eligibility requirements
• Forego additional documentation requests
• Facilitate speedy access to medication
• Ship medication directly to patients
"Patient Assistance Programs look great on paper, but I want to see them become reality,” said Gotbaum. “These programs could be a critical source of assistance for New York ’s poor and it is unjust to let them suffer while drug manufacturers are raking in higher profits than ever.”
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