FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Copay Assistance from The Assistance Fund Now Available for Eligible Individuals with Nontuberculous Mycobacterial Lung Disease
ORLANDO, Fla., October 18, 2018 —The Assistance Fund, an independent charitable patient assistance foundation that helps patients and families facing high medical out-of-pocket costs, today announced the launch of a new copay assistance program for Nontuberculous Mycobacterial Lung Disease. The program is designed to help eligible individuals impacted by the condition pay for their medication copayments.
Nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) are organisms found in the environment that can lead to lung disorders and infections when inhaled. Inhalation of NTM does not typically cause illness, but individuals with underlying lung conditions such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, cystic fibrosis or alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency are more likely to be affected.1
“While not everyone who is exposed to NTM develops lung disease, for those who do the impact on daily life can be significant,” said Mark P. McGreevy, President and CEO, The Assistance Fund. “It is our goal to ensure that people living with NTM lung disease are able to access the medications they need with the help of our copay assistance program.”
Approximately 80,000 people in the United States live with NTM lung disease.1 Without treatment, those who develop NTM disorders may experience cough, shortness of breath, fatigue and weight loss. In more severe cases the airways can become damaged or scarred. The most common complication is chronic lung infection.2
To learn more or determine eligibility for financial support, individuals should visit tafcares.org or call (855)-402-8764 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 40 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 73,000 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- “Nontuberculous Mycobacteria Lung Disease.” National Organization for Rare Disorders. Retrieved from https://rarediseases.org/rare-diseases/nontuberculous-mycobacterial-lung-disease/.
2-Learn More About Nontuberculous Mycobacteria (NTM). American Lung Association. Retrieved from http://www.lung.org/lung-health-and-diseases/lung-disease-lookup/nontuberculosis-mycobacteria/learn-about-ntm.html.