Developing a Statewide Prescription Assistance Program

1. Developing a Statewide Prescription Assistance Program Establishing and Maximizing the Use of PAP’s

2. Model for Presentation Prescription Connection for North Dakota (PC4ND)

3. I. Partners • Clinics • Storage of medication • Considered the intermediary- “hand-off” • “Come aboard” approach vs. “Take charge” approach • Negatives of clinic programs • May charge a fee for providing services • Some may limit the number of prescriptions they help with

4. Partners cont. • Pharmacies • May see it as taking business away • Supporting people who could not afford medication • May possibly advertise for indigent clientele • Post-it example on bags

5. Partners cont. • Physicians, PA’s, nurses, etc. • Introduce program • Encourage professionals to talk to patients about medication affordability during visits • Make their job simple by providing easily understood marketing materials • With PAP applications; highlight areas that need to be completed by physician

6. Partners cont. • PhRMA: Acronym stands for Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America • Established and funded from pharmaceutical companies • Offer PAP collaboration (www.phrma.org or pparx.org) • PhRMA does not offer volunteer application assistance

7. Positives of PhRMA No start up costs for program website Limited free marketing and visibility Negatives of PhRMA PhRMA has ultimate control over the website design, update and content No generics; not all medications are listed Discount cards are not emphasized Partners cont.

8. Partners cont. • Service organizations • Human Service Centers (regional) • Dakota Medical Foundation • CRC’s (Community Resource Coordinators) • Healthcare Organizations or non-profit healthcare entities • SHIP

9. II. Financial Resources • Program initiated via legislation • Proposed by Representative Bill Devlin • House Bill No. 1399 • Proposed and adopted in 2003 • $150,000 annual budget • For future programs: • Suggest promoting the program to state that it is an Economic Development Program • Suggest encouragement of donations

10. III. Promotion of the Program • Leverage credibility of Insurance Commissioner • Public presentations to interested parties • Radio talk shows • Television • Newspaper Articles • Emails • Telephone calls (utilize volunteers) • Daycare centers • Schools • Parish Nurses • Clinics • Pharmaceutical representatives

11. IV. Leaders and Employees • SHIC employees • Prescription Connection Employees • 2 FT • Research • Beneficiary call-backs • Commissioner and staff • Characteristics of employees: • Caring • Investigative • Creative

12. V. Employee Expertise • Employees and volunteers of SHIP make wonderful volunteers • Knowledgeable about Part D issues/Medicare • Comfortable completing applications • Awareness of prescription medications • Other professionals who make great volunteers • CRC’s • Hospital and clinic staff • Outreach workers at senior centers • Parish workers • Centers for Independent Living staff

13. VI. Startup Equipment Requirements • Computers with Internet access • Telephone (headsets are wonderful!) • Photocopier • Fax • Printers • Applications for PAP’s • Specific instructions for each PAP

14. VII. Travel and Outreach • Health Fairs (Spring, Summer and Early Fall) • Conferences • State Fair

15. VIII. PC4ND Process • Client contacts program via phone or e-mail • Client’s information is inputted in telephone log/database/hotline • In order of receipt, clients are called back and intake session begins • PC4ND completes intake form • Search is done for PAP’s • Applications and instructions are sent to client • Follow-up with client after 2 weeks

16. IX. Client Follow-up • Clients are always encouraged to call with questions during the application process • Clients are called within two weeks of receipt of application to see if they need additional assistance • Clients are asked during the intake session if they need assistance with completing the application; if yes, a volunteer is assigned to the client

17. X. PDP Expertise • Never judge black and white; especially on incomes • Hardship cases • Let PAP’s decide if clients qualify; take pressure off your organization being the ‘bad guy’ • Coverage for Part D recipients ‘in gap’ by PDP’s • Assets are usually not counted so they are not a problem as with LISA

18. XI. Workspace • Employees • Private work space (confidential information is shared) • Printer • Computer with Internet • Telephone with headset • Access to fax machine • Call log/hotline

19. Workspace cont. • Volunteers • Large tables for assembling • Applications • Projects • Outreach projects • Printers, copiers and telephones • Coffee!!

20. XII. Supplies • Postage • Paper • Program brochures • Promotional Items • Staplers, pens, paper, etc. • Date stamp • 3 ring binders • Resource Directories (Physician, PA)

21. XII. Database needs • NeedyMeds.com • Updated data system of PAP’s • Can purchase database for use on your own website or utilize their database (free) • Affordable; company works with non-profit entities to make it affordable • Professional additions may be updated automatically • Smaller versions available for small business use

22. XIII. Data Collection • Track each client via generic spreadsheet • 2005/2006 12,719 people were helped • Generic savings of $8,203,755 (Compile a savings per client based on a national average provided by PhRMA-$645 per person) • Include hits on website, walk-ins and volunteer contacts as clients that were assisted

23. Logo

24. ND PC4ND PC4ND would love to help you set up a program that has been as successful as ours. • Contact Information • Sharon St. Aubin @ sstaubin@nd.gov or 701-328-9616 • Cindy Sheldon @ csheldon@nd.gov or 701-328-9604

25. Questions??