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Survey of Provider Perspectives on Patient Assistance Programs

Sausalito Healthcare Partners; E-Expert Reimbursement Partners, Sausalito, CA; and Minnesota Oncology, US Oncology, Minneapolis, MN

Corresponding author: Roberta Buell, MBA, Managing Partner, Sausalito Healthcare Partners, 8 Alexander Ave, Sausalito, CA 94965; e-mail: bbuell{at}covad.net.

Although drug companies proudly market their patient assistance programs (PAPs) for needy individuals, oncologists say navigating these programs too often requires weeks of paperwork, repeated telephone calls, and bureaucratic delays. For years, oncology practices have reported concerns with the time spent on these applications; for those who might qualify for these programs, the end result is usually delay in appropriate treatment. To measure this difficulty in obtaining assistance, this survey attempted to quantify the costs of applying for PAPs. The survey sample included 100 oncology practices from 32 states. The results confirmed that the current program application process is indeed expensive, time consuming, and often unsuccessful.

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