PAN to provide co-payment assistance for medications to underinsured patients through five new funds

Patient Access Network (PAN) Foundation will expand its services to provide co-payment assistance for medications to underinsured patients through five new funds -- including grants of up to $10,000 per year for prostate cancer patients.  The other new funds will provide access to medications for patients with hepatitis B or C, non-kidney solid organ transplants, cytomegalovirus (or CMV), and acromegaly.

These new funds are an expansion of PAN's 21 existing cancer and chronic disease funds, which cover conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, breast cancer, and colorectal cancer. PAN provides grants of $1,500-$10,000 per year to qualified patients to help pay for medications for these diseases.  In 2009 PAN helped over 18,821 patients access their medications.

PAN President, Julie Reynes, says these new disease areas will allow the organization to help more patients than ever in 2010. "Every day we hear from patients tell us our assistance saved their lives.   We are pleased to be able to finally help with the largest area of unmet need--prostate cancer."

Demand for co-payment assistance has risen dramatically in the past year with most co-payment assistance organizations reporting at least a 20% increase in demand.  PAN is optimistic that these new funds will help meet this rising demand.