Anti-Infective Therapy

Local Financial Resources:

• UC San Diego Health Outpatient Parenteral Antibiotic Therapy (OPAT) Program: This program, led by board-certified infectious disease specialists, is designed to help patients avoid hospitalization for serious infections by providing intravenous (IV) antimicrobial therapies in a clinic or at home. The program treats various infections, including sepsis, cellulitis, bone and joint infections, spinal fluid infection, and drug-resistant infections like MRSA​​.
• Rady Children’s Hospital: Offers systemic antibiotic treatment for conditions like infected eczema, eczema herpeticum, and superficial dermatophytosis. They provide guidance on the use of first- or second-generation cephalosporins and other anti-infectives for these conditions​​.

Local Consumer Advocacy Support:

• Consumer Center for Health Education & Advocacy (CCHEA): Assists low-income residents of San Diego county in navigating the healthcare system, particularly in getting the healthcare they need​​.
• Legal Aid Society of San Diego: Provides legal assistance to low-income individuals and disadvantaged communities, including issues related to welfare and health benefits​​.
• Community Health Improvement Partners (CHIP): A collaborative effort in San Diego focusing on improving the health of residents through advocacy, education, and various programs​​.

National Financial Resources:

• Patient Advocate Foundation (PAF): Provides case management services and financial aid to Americans with chronic, life-threatening, and debilitating illnesses. They offer a National Financial Resource Directory to assist individuals in finding resources to ease the financial burden of medical treatment​​​.

National Consumer Advocacy Support:

• National Patient Advocate Foundation: Focuses on ensuring that patients’ financial and social needs are not overlooked in healthcare. They offer resources and tips on getting covered and using insurance, addressing health equity, and dealing with surprise medical bills​​​​.

These resources provide a comprehensive support system for patients in San Diego undergoing Anti-Infective Therapy, encompassing financial aid, policy advocacy, legal assistance, and healthcare system navigation.

Anti-Inflammatory

Local Resources in San Diego:

• The Assistance Fund for Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy (CIDP): This program helps eligible individuals pay for out-of-pocket medical expenses related to CIDP, such as copays, health insurance premiums, therapy administration costs, and treatment-related ground travel costs​​.
• The Assistance Fund for CIDP: The Assistance Fund
• UC San Diego Health – Financial Assistance and Payment Plans: UC San Diego Health offers financial assistance based on household income and family size. This assistance is available to those with or without healthcare insurance. Patients with insurance must have incurred healthcare costs amounting to at least 10% of their family income​.
• UC San Diego Health – Financial Assistance: UC San Diego Health

National Resources:

• Myositis Support and Understanding – Myositis Patient Financial Assistance Program: This program is for US residents diagnosed with a type of Myositis (inflammatory myopathy). It provides financial assistance for medical bills, emergency household expenses, and mobility devices, depending on the individual case and eligibility​​​​​​​​​.
• Myositis Support and Understanding – Myositis Patient Financial Assistance: Myositis Support and Understanding
• Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation – Patient Financial Assistance Programs: This foundation offers support for patients needing financial assistance to pay for IBD medications, treatments, and services, including copay card programs and pharmaceutical financial aid assistance programs​​​​​.
• Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation – Patient Financial Assistance Programs: Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation
• GBS/CIDP Foundation International – Financial Resources Portal: This portal provides various assistance options for patients with GBS, CIDP, and MMN. It includes programs from pharmaceutical companies like Grifols, Takeda, CSL Behring, Kedrion, and Pfizer, offering support for uninsured or underinsured patients​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​.
• GBS/CIDP Foundation International – Financial Resources Portal: GBS/CIDP Foundation International
• Additional National Programs and Organizations: These include Accessia Health, NORD Rare Care, Good Days, Patient Advocate Foundation, Partnership for Prescription Assistance, National Organization of Social Security Claimants, HealthWell Foundation, Kaiser Foundation Consumer Guide, and MedMonk. These programs provide various forms of financial assistance, ranging from copay and medication costs to insurance issues and legal advocacy​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​.

Antibiotic/Antiviral

Local Financial Resources:

• Scripps Health Financial Assistance: Scripps Health offers financial assistance including full or partial charity care based on family size and income, discounted bills for uninsured patients regardless of income level, and interest-free extended-payment plans. Eligibility generally depends on family income and expenses, with full bill forgiveness for low-income, uninsured patients earning less than twice the federal poverty level (FPL), and partial forgiveness for those earning between two and four times the FPL​​​.
• Government-Sponsored Programs: Patients may qualify for Medi-Cal, County Medical Services, or Medicare. Medi-Cal has new income requirements as of 2014, potentially covering more people. For insurance through the Covered California health insurance exchange, government subsidies may help reduce the cost of monthly premiums depending on income level​.

Local Consumer Advocacy Support:

• Consumer Center for Health Education & Advocacy (CCHEA): A project of the Legal Aid Society of San Diego, helping low-income residents navigate the healthcare system​.
• Legal Aid Society of San Diego: Provides legal assistance to low-income individuals and disadvantaged communities for various legal problems, including health benefits and immigration issues​.

• Community Health Improvement Partners (CHIP): A collaboration in San Diego that works on needs assessment, advocacy, education, and programs to improve health​.

National Financial Resources:

• Patient Advocate Foundation (PAF): Offers case management services and financial aid to Americans with chronic, life-threatening, and debilitating illnesses. PAF has a National Financial Resource Directory to help individuals find national and regional resources to reduce the financial burden of medical treatment​​​.

National Consumer Advocacy Support:

• Partnership to Fight Infectious Disease: This group includes patients, providers, community organizations, academic researchers, business and labor groups, and infectious disease experts. They focus on raising awareness of infectious disease threats and advancing solutions for pandemic preparedness. They advocate for the development of new antimicrobial products and address antimicrobial resistance by promoting policy changes and investment in new treatments​​​.

These resources provide a comprehensive support system for Antibiotic/Antiviral therapy patients in San Diego, encompassing financial aid, policy advocacy, legal assistance, and healthcare system navigation.

Anticoagulants

Local Resources in San Diego:

• Partnership for Prescription Assistance: Offers a search engine to help patients, caregivers, and healthcare providers learn more about resources available through various biopharmaceutical industry programs. It includes information on approximately 500 public and private assistance programs for those with financial need. Partnership for Prescription Assistance

National Resources:

• • Patient Advocate Foundation’s National Financial Resource Directory: This directory helps individuals quickly find national and regional resources dedicated to improving access to quality care and decreasing the financial burden of medical treatment. Patient Advocate Foundation​​​.

• Savings Cards from Pharmaceutical Companies:

• • Janssen CarePath: Assists patients prescribed Xarelto, catering to those with commercial insurance, government coverage, and the uninsured. Janssen CarePath
  • Eliquis 360 Support: Helps patients prescribed Eliquis understand their prescription coverage and ways to save on out-of-pocket costs. Eliquis 360 Support
  • Savaysa: Offers a savings card for eligible patients not enrolled in state or federally-funded prescription benefit programs, allowing them to pay as little as $4 a month. Savaysa
  • Pradaxa: Provides a savings card for patients with commercial insurance, government coverage, and the uninsured. Pradaxa
  • Patient Advocate Foundation: Contains a directory of organizations providing financial assistance, including copayment and medication assistance, to patients with various conditions. Patient Advocate Foundation​.

Blood Cell Deficiency

National Resources:

• • Patient Advocate Foundation (PAF): Provides case management services and financial aid to Americans with chronic, life-threatening, and debilitating illnesses, including blood cell deficiencies. They have a National Financial Resource Directory. Patient Advocate Foundation – National Financial Resource Directory

• National Hemophilia Foundation (NHF): Offers financial assistance, scholarships, and patient assistance programs for people with bleeding disorders, which may be relevant for some blood cell deficiency conditions. NHF – Bleeding Disorder Patient Assistance Programs
• National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD): Provides patient assistance programs for individuals living with rare diseases, including blood cell deficiencies. They offer medication assistance, financial help with insurance premiums and co-pays, diagnostic testing assistance, and more. NORD – Financial Assistance For Patients With Rare Diseases

Local Resources in San Diego:

Hemophilia Association of San Diego County (HASDC): Offers a financial assistance program for individuals or families affected by bleeding disorders, with specific eligibility criteria. HASDC – Financial Assistance Program

Chemotherapy

Local Financial Resources:

• Cancer Care Financial Assistance: Offers limited financial assistance for cancer-related costs such as transportation and child care. They also provide information and referrals to help find other financial resources. Services are statewide and there are no fees. Eligibility requirements include a cancer diagnosis confirmed by an oncology healthcare provider, active cancer treatment, living in the U.S., and meeting Federal Poverty Limit guidelines​.
• Cancer Angels of San Diego (CASD): Specifically for Stage IV cancer patients, CASD provides financial assistance directly to service providers such as landlords and utilities, aiming to support as long as needed. They cover patients regardless of cancer type, with eligibility based on residency in San Diego County, cancer being the main cause of financial hardship, and having less than $3,500 in savings​​​​​​​.

Local Consumer Advocacy Support:

• Consumer Center for Health Education & Advocacy (CCHEA): Helps low-income residents of San Diego County navigate the healthcare system, assisting in getting the necessary healthcare​.
• Legal Aid Society of San Diego: Offers legal assistance for a variety of problems including health benefits and immigration issues, with eligibility determined by Federal Poverty Income Guidelines​.
• Community Health Improvement Partners (CHIP): A collaboration in San Diego focusing on needs assessment, advocacy, education, and programs to improve health​.

National Financial Resources:

• Cancer Financial Assistance Coalition (CFAC): Provides a searchable database of financial resources for patients​.
• Family Reach: Dedicated to eradicating financial barriers accompanying a cancer diagnosis​.
• Healthwell Foundation: Helps patients with chronic diseases afford their medications​.
• Leukemia & Lymphoma Society: Offers limited financial assistance for treatment-related expenses for patients with blood cancers​.
• National Foundation for Transplants: Assists with fundraising for patients needing transplants, including bone marrow and stem cell transplants​.
• Triage Cancer: Provides an online tool for financial guidance post-cancer treatment​.
• The SamFund: Supports young adult cancer survivors with grants and financial education​.
• American Cancer Society and United Way: Directs people to community services​.

National Consumer Advocacy Support:

Numerous national organizations provide advocacy and support for cancer patients, addressing various aspects such as research, education, financial assistance, legal issues, and psychosocial care. These include the Alliance of Dedicated Cancer Centers (ADCC), American Association for Cancer Research (AACR), American Cancer Society (ACS), Association of Community Cancer Centers (ACCC), Association of Oncology Social Work (AOSW), and others. Each organization focuses on specific areas of cancer support and advocacy, such as providing information resources, fighting cancer through research funding and support, enhancing psychosocial services, and assisting in legal and financial matters​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​.

Enteral Nutrition

San Diego-based Resources:

• Dysphagia Outreach Project: Offers assistance to low-income individuals with dysphagia by providing access to thickeners, pre-modified foods, therapy tools, oral care supplies, and adaptive equipment. This could be relevant for some enteral nutrition patients. Dysphagia Outreach Project
• Neighborhood Healthcare: Provides assistance with various social service issues, including food and housing, which may indirectly benefit enteral nutrition patients. Neighborhood Healthcare

National Resources:

• Nestlé Medical Hub: Offers resources to assist practitioners with navigation and proper documentation of nutrition claims for enteral nutrition reimbursement. Nestlé Medical Hub
• Nestle HealthCare Nutrition Adult Patient Assistance Program (via NeedyMeds): Provides support for patients who need life-saving or life-sustaining medication, and may include eligibility for specific enteral nutrition products. NeedyMeds
• Feeding Matters – Family Assistance Program: Offers financial assistance for families facing financial difficulty due to pediatric feeding disorders, which can include enteral nutrition. Feeding Matters

Additional Notes:

• Reimbursement for enteral nutrition often requires detailed documentation of medical necessity.
• Some assistance programs, such as Nestlé’s, may offer support for both healthcare professionals and patients.
• Specific programs may have eligibility criteria based on income, insurance status, and diagnosis.

San Diego-based Resources:

• Reproductive Partners Fertility Center – San Diego: Offers comprehensive financing options through CapexMD, providing customized loan programs to meet individual needs and ease the financial stress of treatment. Reproductive Partners Fertility Center – Financing Options
• San Diego Fertility Center: Committed to providing flexible financial options and affordable fertility care to each patient. They acknowledge the physical, emotional, and financial strains of fertility treatment. San Diego Fertility Center – Fertility Cost & Financial Options
• EggFund at San Diego Fertility and IVF Center: Works with vetted lenders for IVF, egg freezing, IUI, adoption, and surrogacy. Loans can cover all aspects of the process, including medical treatment and testing. EggFund – Fertility Financing
• Fertility Specialists Medical Group (FSMG) San Diego: Offers transparent pricing, financial support, packages, and cost management options. They focus on ensuring that patients are not surprised by new fees or hidden costs during their treatment. FSMG San Diego – IVF Costs & Packages

National Resources:

• RESOLVE: The National Infertility Association: Provides a list of infertility financing programs and services to help pay for reproductive health medical treatment and medications. RESOLVE – Financing Programs for Fertility Treatment
• Financial Resources for Family Building by RESOLVE: Offers various resources, including fertility treatment scholarships and grants. RESOLVE – Financial Resources for Family Building

Fertility Treatment Scholarships and Grants by RESOLVE: A dedicated page providing information about scholarships and grants specifically for fertility treatments. RESOLVE – Fertility Treatment Scholarships and Grants

Gastroenterology

• Patient Advocate Foundation: This national non-profit organization offers case management services and financial aid to Americans with chronic, life-threatening, and debilitating illnesses. They have a National Financial Resource Directory to help individuals find national and regional resources aimed at improving access to care and reducing the financial burden of medical treatment. Patient Advocate Foundation – National Financial Resource Directory

Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation: This organization provides a comprehensive list of financial assistance programs for patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD), including Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. Categories include academic scholarships, advocacy organizations, camp scholarships, copay card programs, COVID-19 resources, medical supply/ostomy assistance, non-profit organizations with patient assistance programs, pharmaceutical financial aid, and testing/lab assistance programs. Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation – Patient Financial Assistance Programs

Growth Hormone

National Resources:

• Turner Syndrome Foundation: Provides a list of financial resources for growth hormone therapy, including programs run by pharmaceutical companies such as Connections for Growth (Saizen®), Genentech Access to Care Foundation (Nutrophin®), Lilly Cares Foundation (Humatrope®), Pfizer Patient Assistance Program (Genotropin®), NordiCare® (Norditropin®), Novartis Patient Assistance Foundation (NPAF) for Omnitrope®, Sandoz OmniStart Program for Omnitrope®, ZomAccess Financial Support Patient Assistance Program (Zomacton™), and Partnership for Prescription Assistance Program​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​.
• HealthWell Foundation: Offers assistance with prescription drugs and biologics used in the treatment of growth hormone deficiency. Eligibility is based on the individual’s medical, financial, and insurance situation, and patients must be receiving treatment in the United States​​​​​.

Local Resources in San Diego:

UC San Diego Health: Provides financial assistance and payment plans for eligible patients, based on household income and family size. Financial assistance is available for those with or without healthcare insurance, and the application process involves submitting various documents and information​​​.

Hepatitis

Local Resources in San Diego:

• Liver Coalition of San Diego: A local organization including medical specialists, transplant surgeons, patients, and caregivers, focusing on liver health and supporting those affected by liver disease in San Diego County. All funds raised stay in San Diego to support community-based educational programs and services​.

National Resources:

• Patient Access Network (PAN) Foundation: Offers free financial assistance for patients with Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C​.
• Hepatitis PAP and Co-Pay Programs: A range of pharmaceutical company-sponsored prescription assistance programs for specific drugs used to treat Hepatitis C​.
• Patient Advocate Foundation Co-Pay Relief (CPR): Provides direct financial assistance to qualified patients, assisting with prescription drug co-payments related to their diagnosis​.
• NeedyMeds Resources: Provides a state-by-state list of diagnosis-based assistance programs for people with hepatitis C​​.

Additional Resources for Hepatitis C Treatment:

• American Liver Foundation: Offers a Financial Assistance Resource Support Guide and a Free Drug Discount Card for prescription medications, over-the-counter medications, and medical supplies​.
• Pharmaceutical Patient Assistance Programs: Several pharmaceutical companies offer specific drug assistance programs for Hepatitis C, including Mavyret, Vosevi, Sovaldi, Harvoni, Zepatier, Daklinza, Pegasys, Copegus, and Intron A​.
• Non-Profit Organizations for Insurance Copayment Assistance: Organizations like Patient Access Network Foundation, Good Days, HealthWell Foundation, Patient Advocate Foundation Co-Pay Relief Program, Patient Assistance Fund, and Patient Services Inc. offer copayment assistance for Hepatitis C drugs​.

HIV

Local Resources in San Diego:

• San Diego County HIV/AIDS Care and Treatment Services: For residents living below 500% of the federal poverty level with a confirmed HIV diagnosis and who do not qualify for another paying source. SanDiegoCounty.gov
• Ryan White Coverage and Eligibility – UC San Diego Health: Supports primary medical care and essential support services for people living with HIV who are uninsured or underinsured. UC San Diego Health
• San Diego HIV Funding Collaborative: Raises funds to support HIV/AIDS programs in San Diego. San Diego Human Dignity Foundation
• Coordinated HIV Services – Neighborhood House Association: Offers client-centered services like case management, mental health, and substance use outpatient services. Neighborhood House Association

National Resources:

• Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program: Provides a comprehensive system of HIV primary medical care, medications, and essential support services for low-income people with HIV. Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program
• CDC Resources for Persons Living with HIV: Offers a wide range of resources including care and treatment services, help paying for HIV care, housing and job resources, legal issues, mental health treatment, stigma and discrimination, and traveling resources. CDC Resources
• • Find HIV Care and Treatment: locator.aids.gov, hab.hrsa.gov, providers.aahivm.org
  • Get Help Paying for HIV Care: Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program, Social Security Administration, Medicare, Healthcare.gov, Patient Assistance and Expanded Access Programs
  • Find Housing and Job Resources: HOPWA Program, HUD Resources, HIV.gov, Department of Labor
  • Get Help with Legal Issues: Center for HIV Law and Policy, ADA
  • Find Mental Health Treatment: SAMHSA, National Institute of Mental Health
  • Learn about HIV Stigma and Discrimination: CDC’s Let’s Stop HIV Together

Find Traveling Resources: CDC’s Travelers’ Health

Hydration Therapy

National Resources:

• Patient Advocate Foundation (PAF): This national non-profit organization provides case management services and financial aid to Americans with chronic, life-threatening, and debilitating illnesses, which can include those requiring hydration therapy. They offer a Co-Pay Relief Program, providing direct financial assistance to insured patients who meet certain qualifications to help them pay for prescriptions and/or treatments. PAF – Co-Pay Relief Program
• Financial Aid Funds – Patient Advocate Foundation: This independent division of PAF provides small grants to patients who meet financial and medical criteria. The grants are distributed on a first-come, first-served basis until funds are depleted. Each specific fund may have different eligibility criteria. PAF – Financial Aid Funds
• Advocate Health Care: Offers financial assistance to patients in need, in line with their values of compassion and stewardship. They assist uninsured, underinsured, or those facing other financial challenges with healthcare services, including setting up extended-time payment plans and explaining their financial assistance policy. Advocate Health Care – Financial Assistance for Patients

Insurance Coverage for IV Therapy:

Liquid Mobile IV: The coverage for IV hydration therapy depends on the specific insurance plan and company. It’s advisable to check with the insurance provider regarding coverage options. Often, Flexible Spending Account (FSA) and Health Savings Account (HSA) cards are accepted, and some insurance companies may cover IV hydration as part of their wellness program offerings. Liquid Mobile IV – Insurance Coverage & IV Therapy

Immune Deficiency

Local Resource in San Diego:

• The Assistance Fund for Chronic Granulomatous Disease (CGD): This program provides financial assistance for prescription drug costs, health insurance premiums, therapy administration costs, lab/genetic testing, treatment-related travel costs, and disease management for patients diagnosed with CGD. Eligibility requirements include being a U.S. citizen or permanent resident and having prescription coverage for the prescribed treatments. Immune Deficiency Foundation

National Resources:

• NORD – National Organization for Rare Disorders: Offers patient assistance programs for individuals living with rare diseases, including immune deficiencies. Services include medication access, financial help with insurance premiums and co-pays, diagnostic testing assistance, travel assistance for clinical trials or consultation with disease specialists, caregiver respite, emergency support, and more. NORD
  • RareCare program for life-saving or life-sustaining medication and other financial assistance​.
  • Respite Program for caregivers​.
  • Rare Disease Educational Support Program​.

• Patient Advocate Foundation – National Financial Resource Directory: Provides case management services and financial aid to Americans with chronic, life-threatening, and debilitating illnesses. They have created a directory to help individuals find national and regional resources aimed at improving access to care and reducing the financial burden of medical treatment. Patient Advocate Foundation​​​​​.

NeedyMeds – Diagnosis-Based Assistance Programs: Lists various programs offering financial assistance for immune deficiency patients, including Accessia Health, which provides legal advice and assistance with insurance-related concerns, and the Assistance Fund, Inc., which offers financial assistance for medication copays, insurance premiums, and basic healthcare needs. NeedyMeds​.

Immunoglobulin Therapy

National Resources:

• Patient Advocate Foundation (PAF): Offers case management services and financial aid for Americans with chronic, life-threatening, and debilitating illnesses, including those requiring Immunoglobulin Therapy. They provide a National Financial Resource Directory to assist in finding relevant resources. PAF National Financial Resource Directory
• GBS/CIDP Foundation International: Provides a comprehensive financial resources portal, listing various payment assistance options for therapies related to GBS, CIDP, and MMN. This includes assistance programs from pharmaceutical companies for specific Immunoglobulin products, as well as general advice on seeking financial help. GBS/CIDP Foundation International Financial Resources
• Infusion Center: Discusses cost-share and co-pay assistance programs created by manufacturers of biologic therapies and IVIG. These programs help manage the financial burden for patients needing these expensive treatments. Infusion Center – Cost-Share and Co-pay Assistance Programs

Local Resources in San Diego:

UC San Diego Health: Offers financial assistance, discounts, and charity care, working with eligible patients to provide necessary care. Financial assistance is determined by a sliding scale based on household income and family size, and is available to those with or without healthcare insurance. UC San Diego Health Financial Assistance

Inotropic Therapy

• Partnership for Prescription Assistance: This organization offers a free search engine to help patients, caregivers, and healthcare providers find resources through various biopharmaceutical industry programs. It has information on about 500 public and private assistance programs aimed at helping those with financial need access their prescriptions. This service is available 24/7 and is free of charge, specifically serving the San Diego County area​.
• Consumer Center for Health Education and Advocacy (CCHEA): Based in San Diego, CCHEA assists low-income residents in navigating the healthcare system. It’s a project of the Legal Aid Society of San Diego, providing help in getting necessary healthcare​.
• Legal Aid Society of San Diego: This organization offers legal assistance to low-income individuals and disadvantaged communities. They deal with a variety of legal problems, including consumer, family disputes, welfare, health benefits, immigration, poverty law issues, and more. Eligibility for free legal services is determined by Federal Poverty Income Guidelines​.
• Community Health Improvement Partners (CHIP): This is a collaboration of various entities in San Diego, including healthcare systems, hospitals, community clinics, insurers, and others, working collectively on needs assessment, advocacy, education, and programs to improve the health of all San Diegans​​.
• Patient Advocate Foundation (PAF): At the national level, PAF provides case management services and financial aid to Americans with chronic, life-threatening, and debilitating illnesses. They’ve created the National Financial Resource Directory to assist individuals in finding national and regional resources to reduce the financial burden of medical treatment​​​.

National Patient Advocate Foundation: This foundation focuses on navigating the financial and social needs often overlooked in healthcare. They offer solutions for patients and families to navigate through the healthcare system, including resources on getting covered and using insurance, health equity, and protections from surprise medical bills​​​.

Multiple Sclerosis

Resources in San Diego and Nationwide:

• National MS Society – Financial Assistance Resources: Provides a comprehensive guide to financial assistance resources for people affected by MS, including rent and mortgage assistance, utilities, home modifications, assistive technology, and medication assistance. National MS Society Guide
• Multiple Sclerosis Foundation – Grants & Programs: Offers various grants and programs such as the Brighter Tomorrow Grant, Emergency Assistance Grant, Health and Wellness Grant, Healthcare Assistance Grant, Homecare Assistance Grant, Assistive Technology Program, Computer Program, Cooling Program, and Transportation Assistance Grant. Multiple Sclerosis Foundation
• Multiple Sclerosis Association of America (MSAA) – Patient Support Programs: Provides a range of support and prescription assistance programs for MS disease-modifying therapies, treating relapses, and MS symptom management. MSAA
  • Patient Support and Prescription Assistance for MS Disease-Modifying Therapies​​
  • Other Nonprofit Resources​​
  • Prescription Assistance Programs for Treating Relapses​​
  • Prescription Assistance Programs for MS Symptom Management​​

Additional National Nonprofit Resources:

• HealthWell Foundation: Offers copay assistance to help with the cost of MS medications. HealthWell Foundation – Phone: (800) 675-8416​​
• Patient Access Network (PAN) Foundation: Provides financial assistance for copays and other treatment-related costs. PAN Foundation – Phone: (866) 316-7263​​

Patient Advocate Foundation (PAF): Assists with access to care, maintenance of employment, and preservation of finances for patients with MS. Patient Advocate Foundation – Phone: (866) 512-3861​​

Oncology

Local Resources in San Diego:

• County of San Diego – Cancer Care Financial Assistance: They offer limited financial assistance for cancer-related costs such as transportation and child care. Additionally, they provide information and referrals by oncology social workers to help find other financial resources​.
• County of San Diego – Cancer Care Financial Assistance: County of San Diego
• Cancer Angels of San Diego: This organization provides financial assistance to residents of San Diego County, especially those with Stage IV cancer. They help meet basic needs like food, shelter, utilities, and more​​​.
• Cancer Angels of San Diego: Cancer Angels of San Diego
• Moores Cancer Center – UC San Diego Health: Moores Cancer Center has a dedicated on-site financial counselor to assist patients with questions about payment arrangements for medical services, especially for those who are uninsured or whose insurance only partially covers their care​.
• Moores Cancer Center – UC San Diego Health Financial Counseling: UC San Diego Health
• Leukemia and Lymphoma Society – Patient Aid Program: They offer financial assistance to blood cancer patients in active treatment to help with expenses such as groceries, utilities, travel, rent, or other similar expenses​.
• Leukemia and Lymphoma Society – Patient Aid Program: Leukemia and Lymphoma Society

National Resources:

• Cancer Financial Assistance Coalition (CFAC): A group of national organizations that provide financial help to patients. CFAC offers a searchable database of financial resources. They also provide limited financial assistance for co-pays, transportation, home care, and child care​.
• Cancer Financial Assistance Coalition (CFAC): Cancer.Net
• CancerCare: They offer financial and co-pay assistance for cancer-related costs and co-pays. Their professional oncology social workers can also help find additional resources​.
• CancerCare Financial and Co-Pay Assistance: CancerCare
• Patient Advocate Foundation – National Financial Resource Directory: This foundation helps individuals generate a list of national and regional resources dedicated to improving access to quality care and decreasing the financial burden of medical treatment​​​.
• Patient Advocate Foundation – National Financial Resource Directory: Patient Advocate Foundation
• Patient Advocate Foundation Co-Pay Relief Program: This program offers co-pay relief and is part of the broader resources provided by the Patient Advocate Foundation, which includes a variety of support services for cancer patients​.
• Mission4Maureen: They provide financial assistance to families burdened by the cost of brain cancer treatment​.

Myositis Financial Assistance Program – Myositis Support and Understanding: Myositis Support and Understanding

Pulmonary Hypertension

Local and National Resources:

• Pulmonary Hypertension Association (PHA): Provides a comprehensive list of financial assistance options for PH patients, covering medication copays, nonprofit charitable assistance funds, pediatric resources, manufacturer patient assistance programs, specialty pharmacy assistance programs, state and federal assistance programs, and other costs. PHA Financial Assistance
• HealthWell Foundation – Pulmonary Hypertension Fund: Offers copayment and premium assistance to Medicare patients with PH, providing up to $10,000 in medication copayment or insurance premium assistance for a 12-month grant period. HealthWell Foundation
• American Lung Association – Financial Assistance Programs: Lists various programs offering free or low-cost medicines, including SingleCare, Medicine Assistance Tool (MAT), NeedyMeds, RxAssist, and more. It also covers charitable patient assistance programs and government programs like Medicare and Medicaid. American Lung Association Financial Assistance Programs

Specific Assistance Programs and Services:

• SingleCare: Provides prescription discounts through a free downloadable prescription discount card. SingleCare
• Medicine Assistance Tool (MAT): A free search engine for patient assistance resources available from PhRMA’s member companies. MAT
• NeedyMeds: Offers a wide range of prescription assistance programs. NeedyMeds
• RxAssist: A web-based medication assistance resource center. RxAssist
• FundFinder from the Patient Access Network Foundation: Notifies users when financial assistance for their condition becomes available. FundFinder

BenefitsCheckUp: A service by the National Council on Aging, offering a database of over 2,500 benefits programs. BenefitsCheckUp

Rheumatology

National Resources:

• Patient Advocate Foundation (PAF): Offers case management services and financial aid to Americans with chronic, life-threatening, and debilitating illnesses, including those related to rheumatology. They have a National Financial Resource Directory to help individuals find national and regional resources dedicated to improving access to quality care and decreasing the financial burden of medical treatment. Patient Advocate Foundation – National Financial Resource Directory
• The Rheumatologist: Discusses patient assistance programs (PAPs) for rheumatic diseases, particularly focusing on biologic drugs. These PAPs are sponsored by drug companies and provide free medications to qualifying, uninsured, or underinsured, low-income patients. The Ins & Outs of Patient Assistance Programs – The Rheumatologist

Local Resources in San Diego:

• Rady Children’s Hospital-San Diego: Offers financial assistance to patients who have no insurance or other coverage and are unable to pay. Eligibility is based on family income and needs. They also help in arranging manageable payment plans or applying for government-sponsored health benefit programs.
• Scripps Health: Provides rheumatology services in San Diego. While specific financial assistance programs are not detailed on their website, they may have resources or can direct patients to appropriate assistance programs.