The Assistance Fund, an independent charitable patient assistance foundation that helps patients and families facing high medical out-of-pocket costs, today announced a program to provide financial support for patients with primary biliary cholangitis. The Primary Biliary Cholangitis Financial Assistance Program helps patients afford copays, health insurance premiums and incidental medical expenses relating to FDA-approved prescription medications treating primary biliary cholangitis.
Primary biliary cholangitis (formerly known as primary biliary cirrhosis) is a chronic disease that destroys the intrahepatic bile ducts in the liver. The progressive destruction of these ducts prevents bile from traveling to the small intestine, leading to a buildup of bile in the liver, inflammation, and scarring (fibrosis). Left untreated, scar tissue replaces healthy liver tissue, impairing the organ’s functioning and leading to cirrhosis.[i]
“Given the severe complications associated with untreated primary biliary cholangitis, it is crucial that all patients have access to the medications prescribed by their health care providers,” said Mark P. McGreevy, President, The Assistance Fund. “The Assistance Fund is eager to help patients facing financial barriers to treatment afford the medications that will preserve their quality of life.”
“Individuals with primary biliary cholangitis have medication options to help manage their symptoms and slow the disease’s progression, but these treatments may be financially out of reach for some families,” said Gerald Lauria, Vice President of Business Development and Strategic Initiatives. “With the help of The Assistance Fund, patients who qualify can receive financial support to access an optimal treatment regimen for their condition.”
To learn more or determine eligibility for support through the Financial Assistance Program, individuals should visit tafcares.org or call 844.294.6407 to speak with a patient advocate.
A list of all the funds available at The Assistance Fund can be found at tafcares.org/patients/apply. New funds can open and close at any time as funds are allocated to patients in need of assistance and new funds become available. We encourage patients to frequently check the status of the fund for their disease area if they are seeking financial assistance.
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 30 funds – 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 43,000 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.
References [i] “Primary Biliary Cholangitis.” American Liver Foundation. 2016, December. Retrieved from http://www.liverfoundation.org.