Patient Assistance Programs | Knowing Your Options

Q. What are Patient Assistance Programs (PAPs)?

A. Patient Assistance Programs are government, pharmaceutical, and non-profit grant programs which provide co-pay assistance, premium assistance, and free medication to eligible applicants.

Q. Do I have to be uninsured to qualify?

A. No.  The programs are vast and so are the eligibility requirements.  Most programs are intended for under insured and non-insured patients; however, there are programs such as the Healthwell Foundation, Patient Access Network, and The Patient Advocate Foundation that offer grants to fully insured patients with high, out-of-pocket costs.

Q. How do I know if I qualify?

A. Contact each program for eligibility requirements.

Q. How do I find Patient Assistance Programs?

A. First, ask your physician’s office for their recommendations.  Doctors’ offices are given brochures by pharmaceutical sponsored co-pay programs to give out to their patients.  Next, search the Internet for the drug, or treatment, for which you are seeking assistance. 

A few search programs for medications are:  needymeds.org and patientassistance.com.

Q. Am I guaranteed acceptance into Patient Assistance Programs?

A. No.  There are no guarantees with any program.  Grant programs often run out of funding; there are limitations to the number of uses for co-pay cards; and eligibility requirements change.  It is the responsibility of the patient to know the limitations of the programs into which they are accepted.

Q. Are there any tips to applying to Patient Assistance Programs?

A.Yes.  Completely fill out applications.  Do not leave blanks since this will slow, or reject the application.  If the question does not pertain to you, simply write N/A.   Also, have copies of your most recent tax return, insurance cards, photo identification, and most recent financial obligations.  Not all programs will require all these documents.  Be sure to send in the required information.

 

The bottom line:  Ask for assistance.  There are many programs for patients to utilize.  To be successful, you must ask, seek out, and initiate the Patient- Assistance- Program process.  Please do not assume that your physician, or medical staff, is aware of your financial constraints.  The Arthritis and Infusion Center’s staff is the area’s leading expert in financial assistance.  We are more than happy to help our patients seek out the assistance they need.  

What is OSTEOPENIA?

At The Arthritis & Infusion Center, we often see patients who are suffering from osteopenia.  This condition is marked by a lower than normal bone mineral density, which means the person can have weak bones that fracture easily.  People who present with this condition are often thin Caucasians, who have a family history of osteoporosis.  Secondary risks include those who have eating disorders, or diseases that affect the absorption of nutrients from food, specifically Calcium or Vitamin D.  In addition, we see the condition in people who have been inactive or bedridden for long periods of time.  Osteopenia sufferers may also be those who smoke or drink excessive amounts of alcohol.  Unfortunately, there are no symptoms to osteopenia, but our staff diagnoses the threat by doing a DEXA scan (a form of X-ray) to detect the amount of bone loss in the patient’s body. (Do I Need a Bone Density Test?)  The United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommends that all women, age 65 and older, should be screened for osteoporosis, which will also show if you have osteopenia.  If you are diagnosed with osteopenia, your treatment plan will include medication, but Calcium is the most critical mineral to build bone mass.  Therefore, a healthy diet, combined with exercise (specifically a weight-bearing routine), as well as making changes to your lifestyle would be recommended.  It is very important to know the medical history of those in your family, because your DNA could make you pre-determined to have osteopenia.  However, Dr. Hulon Crayton always reminds his patients that any pain is not normal!  Your first call should be to The Arthritis and Infusion Center; however, more research is available on our website as well at www.drcrayton.net.

A Rheumatologist That Understands Pain Shares a Fibromyalgia Success Story

My name is Jean Clark.  Dr. Crayton has been great as a physician for my health issues.  He has done more for me in just the last month than all the doctors I’ve seen over the last 15 years.  In 1997, I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia. I felt I was never provided with any real treatment other than pain management prescriptions that left me feeling overly medicated, and never really fixed the problem.  Some of the medications I was given even gave me seizures.  When I began seeing Dr. Crayton, he listened to my history, showed genuine concern, and was able to provide a treatment plan for me, which included gradually weaning me off all the medications I was taking.  Less is better! If you have fibromyalgia, go see Dr. Crayton.  He’s the best!

National Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Month

The Arthritis & Infusion Center would like to remind you that March is “National Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Month”.  Unfortunately, no one knows the exact cause of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS).  There are many theories, which include that it may be tied to an Epstein-Barr or human herpes virus, although NO specific virus has been definitely identified to be the exact cause.  It has also been theorized that a faulty immune system is to blame.  Regardless, what we DO know is that the symptoms include extreme tiredness that can last for at least six months and are not relieved by bed rest.  Symptoms can be so severe that the person is not able to participate in various activities.  Although there are no specific tests to specifically diagnosis CFS, The Arthritis & Infusion Center has found that patients who present with the various symptoms also show abnormal results when given a brain MRI or when a white blood cell count is taken.  There are medications that tend to relieve the symptoms, and allow for a more normal lifestyle, so contact our office, because we want you to remember:  Pain is not normal!  Let us help!

www.drcrayton.net or 873-6748.

10 Questions for Your Physician (Part 2)

Recently, The Arthritis & Infusion Center posted Part I of the Top Ten (10) Questions you should know when you go to visit your doctor.  In this second edition, we’ll look at other information you need to consider. 

As the most tenured Rheumatologist in Bay County, Dr. Hulon Crayton has always made it a point to a) educate his patients as to their various conditions, and b) encouraged them to be active participants in their treatment plan.  More importantly, one of Dr. Crayton’s gifts is to really listen to what his patients are saying, which helps him with an accurate diagnosis.  According to the US Department of Health & Human Services, the next set of questions you should ask Dr. Crayton include:

• What are the possible complications to this procedure?
• Which hospital do you recommend should I need additional care?
• How do you spell the name of the drug you are prescribing?
• Are there any side effects to this medication?
• Will this medicine interact with medicines I’m already taking?

In addition to these suggestions, The Arthritis & Infusion Center has compiled an article about how important it is to bring all your medications to your firstappointment with Dr. Crayton. REMEMBER:  Pain is NOT normal!  We can help!  If you are suffering from painful joints, call us today to get these, and any other questions you may have, answered.  Good medical care is a partnership, so join us today! 

10 Questions for Your Physician (Part I)

At The Arthritis & Infusion Center, we are always looking for ways to improve the quality of life for our patients who suffer from rheumatological diseases (Rheumatoid arthritis, osteoporosis, psoriasis, fibromyalgia, and lupus, to name just a few).  When people first present to our office, there are various items they need to bring with them.  In addition, according to the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, there are ten (10) questions you should ask during your appointment.  In this article, we are going to cover the Top Five (5) questions on which to focus your attention:

• What is this test for?
• Ask the Dr. Crayton:  How many times have you done this procedure?
• When can I expect to receive the results of this test?
• Why do I need this treatment? And,
• Are there any alternatives to this procedure/test?

 

When you open the lines of communication between you and your physician, by being totally prepared prior to your appointment, such information can actually help you feel better, take better care of yourself, and may even save your life.  The more information you can provide to your doctor, regarding your condition and previous history, the better the outcomes to your overall health.  REMEMBER:  Pain is NOT normal.  We can help!  Contact The Arthritis & Infusion Center for more information regarding the various treatment alternatives you can expect to improve you quality of life.

RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS vs OSTEOARTHRITIS: What’s the difference?

Most people know the term “arthritis” refers to the inflammation of the joints, which is usually accompanied by pain.  Generally speaking, when people refer to arthritis, they are often referring to osteoarthritis (OA), which is a very common ailment, and usually experienced by the elderly.

In a recent study done via rheumatoidarthritis.com, they made the following observations:

     

Rheumatoid Arthritis                                              

More severe than Osteoarthritis                                             

Caused by the immune system attacking the body               

Can affect people of any age (most common: 20-60)                            

Affects more women than men                                             

Osteoarthritis

Less severe than Rheumatoid Arthritis

Caused by wear & tear on the body

Generally affects people over age 40

Symptoms can be felt throughout the entire body

Commonly found in both men & women

What are the causes of Osteoarthritis and Rheumatoid Arthritis?  What symptoms point to Osteoarthritis or Rheumatoid Arthritis?  These are questions you need to have with a qualified Rheumatologist.  Dr.Hulon Crayton is the longest-tenured Rheumatologist in this region. It is very important for you to be diagnosed – accurately – so that your treatment is most effective to your condition.  Our slogan, “Pain is not normal,” refers to not only Osteoarthritis and Rheumatoid Arthritis … there are many other conditions that cause pain.  The Arthritis and Infusion Center should be your first call to figure out the source of your pain, and to discuss any questions you may have to clear up any confusion.  Contact us today!