FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Eligible Individuals with Hypophosphatasia to Receive Financial Assistance from The Assistance Fund
ORLANDO, Fla., Jan 22, 2019 — The Assistance Fund, an independent charitable patient assistance foundation that helps patients and families facing high medical out-of-pocket costs, today announced the opening of a new financial assistance program for Hypophosphatasia. The program will assist eligible individuals with out-of-pocket medical expenses associated with treating the disorder. Hypophosphatasia (HPP) is a rare inherited disorder caused by mutations in the ALPL gene.1,2 These mutations disrupt the mineralization process where minerals such as calcium and phosphorus are deposited into bones and teeth as they are forming.2 Six major clinical forms of HPP have been identified and are classified by the age of symptom onset and diagnosis.1 The most severe forms appear in infancy and include symptoms such as failure to gain weight, short limbs, soft skull bones and respiratory problems.2 “From birth, Hypophosphatasia can compromise the quality of an individual’s life,” said Mark P. McGreevy, President and CEO, The Assistance Fund. “Those living with this condition require support from their family, friends and caregivers to complete daily tasks. We are honored to now be another pillar of support for those living with this disorder through our financial assistance program.” It is estimated that severe forms of HPP affect 1 in 100,000 newborns; however, the overall prevalence of HPP is unknown, largely because symptoms present differently in each individual.1,2
To learn more or determine eligibility for financial support, individuals should visit tafcares.org or call (855) 308-9435 to speak with a patient advocate.
A list of all the programs available at The Assistance Fund can be found on the website tafcares.org.
About The Assistance Fund
The Assistance Fund is an independent charitable patient assistance foundation that helps patients and families facing high medical out-of-pocket costs by providing financial assistance for their copayments, coinsurance, deductibles and other health-related expenses. The Assistance Fund currently manages more than 50 programs – each of which covers the FDA-approved medications that treat a specific disease. Since its founding in 2009, The Assistance Fund has helped more than 78,000 adults and children access the medicines they need to stay healthy or manage a chronic condition. To learn more about The Assistance Fund, or for information on how to donate, please visit tafcares.org.
Media Contact
Margaret Figley
Director of Communications
margaret.figley@tafcares.org
References
1. “Hypophosphatasia.” National Organization for Rare Disorders. Retrieved from: https://rarediseases.org/rare-diseases/hypophosphatasia/.
2. “Hypophosphatasia.” U.S. National Library of Medicine: Genetics Home Reference. Retrieved from: https://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/condition/hypophosphatasia#genes.