Name: Phone: Best Time To Call: A PharmaCare representative will call to assist you and answer your questions. We will leave a brief message if you are unavailable at the time of our call.

Judy and her staff are available to clients by calling 1-800-238-7828 Services include: reimbursement counseling and help locating financial assistance programs, assistance identifying support groups & services, and always, an understanding ear.

The organizations listed in this section has been divided into the following classifications:

• Obtaining Coverage For Health Care/Medications
• Educational and Fundraising Information, Financial Grants, Medication Grants

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

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We would like to thank the staff of The Transplant Foundation for their assistance in identifying the resources included in the initial printing of this resource. Their effort and commitment to the transplant community is deeply appreciated.

The Transplant Foundation is a national, non-profit, volunteer organization providing resource information and direct grants to posttransplant recipients to offset the costs of immunosuppressive medications.

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If you have separated from a full-time place of employment recently, you may be eligible for COBRA coverage. The exception to this is an employee who enrolls in Medicare. In this case, the employer is not required to offer COBRA coverage, but the employer can choose to offer COBRA coverage.

Under COBRA, an employer with 20 or more employees must offer continuation of the group health plan for an 18 or 29 month duration to an employee whose employment is terminated, if certain eligibility standards are met. The employee would be responsible for payment of premiums at the same cost (plus 2%) that the employer was paying. A dependent of the employee may be eligible for 36 months of coverage.

To determine your eligibility for COBRA coverage, contact your employer's employee benefits office. In addition, you can contact:

• Pension and Welfare Benefits Administration at: 202-219-8776 or 202-219-7222
  Contact regarding non-public employment.

• Department of Health and Human Services at: 202-205-0396
  Contact for state and local government employees.

• Internal Revenue Service at: 202-622-4695
  It takes approximately 3-5 working days to receive a response to your request.

For information as to whether your state has such a high-risk pool, call 800-445-1525.

• SSI - SUPPLEMENTAL SECURITY INCOME
  Provides a minimum income level for the aged (65 and over), blind, individuals with disabilities, and couples with limited income and resources. If you are eligible for SSI cash payments, you are likely to also be eligible for Medicaid coverage for medications. To determine if you are eligible for SSI, call the Social Security Office at 800-772-1213.

• MEDICAID
  There are two possible categories of need under the Medicaid program.

  1. Categorically Needy - Individuals who fall at or below the income and resource level designated as the "poverty line" by their state must be covered by Medicaid for their health care, assuming all other eligibility criteria are met.

  2. Medically Needy (Spend Down) - In some states, individuals who are above the income and resource level designated as the "poverty line" may be eligible for Medicaid through the medically needy program. In the states where such a program is offered, individuals are allowed to "spend down" their excess income (but not resources) to the "poverty line" over a period of time. The "spend down" is like a "deductible." It is the process of using medical expenses to reduce the income of an individual to the level of eligibility for Medicaid.

• QMB - QUALIFIED MEDICARE BENEFICIARY
  You are a Qualified Medicare Beneficiary if you are:

  Age 65 or over/or a person living with a disability, AND
  Entitled to Medicare Part A, AND
  Have income that is not over the Federal Poverty level, AND
  Have resources that do not go over the limit set for SSI eligibility.

  If eligible, there is a possibility of Medicaid coverage for prescription medication and/or coverage of other Medicare premium costs. To apply, contact your local public assistance office. For information regarding SSI, Medicaid, Spend Down, and QMB, call the Social Security Office at 800-772-1213.

Medicare Part B pays for immunosuppressive drugs for a period of time beginning with the discharge date of the transplant hospital stay.

On August 6, 1993, Congress passed the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1993 which has extended Medicare coverage for immunosuppressant medications for those who meet the eligibility guidelines.

This phase-in of extended coverage began January 1, 1995, and results in a total of 36 consecutive months of coverage for eligible recipients discharged from transplant on or after July 1, 1995.

Caution: if you do decide to switch to a Medicare HMO, you may not be able to return to your previous Medigap (Medicare supplemental - Plan H, I, J) policy if you return to standard Medicare. Please check on this.

Generally, an individual must purchase one of these Medigap policies within six months of their Medicare B effective date.

There are three Medigap plans (H, I, and J) which offer LIMITED coverage for outpatient medications.

You are strongly encouraged to call your State Insurance Department to determine if you are eligible to buy one of these policies. They can also advise which insurance companies are selling Medigap plans H, I or J. For the number of your State Insurance Department, call the National Insurance Consumer Helpline at 800-942-4242.

There are approximately twenty-five states which have a state kidney program that may offer assistance with outpatient renal medications. To determine if your state has such a program, contact the National Organization for State Kidney Programs in Missouri at 800-733-7345.

STATE	CONTACT:
Connecticut	CONN PACE Program - Connecticut Pharmaceutical Assistance Contract to the Elderly and the Disabled - 800-423-5026 or 203-832-9265
Delaware	The Nemours Health Clinic Program New Castle County - 800-292-9538 or 302-651-4400; Kent and Sussex Counties - 800-763-9326
Illinois	Pharmaceutical Assistance Program - 800-624-2459 or 217-524-0435
Maine	Elderly Low-Cost Drug Program - 207-626-8475
Maryland	Pharmacy Assistance Program - 800-492-1974 or 410-225-5394
Massachusetts	Organ Transplant Fund - 617-727-8825
New Jersey	PAAD Program - Pharmaceutical Assistance to the Aged and Disabled - 800-792-9745 or 609-588-7049
New York	EPIC Program - 800-332-3742 or 518-452-3773
Pennsylvania	PACE Program - Pharmaceutical Assistance Contract for the Elderly - 800-225-7223 or 717-652-9028
Vermont	V-Script Program -800-987-2839 or 802-241-2886 V-HAP Program - 800-529-4060 or 802-241-3971

Listed in alphabetical order are agencies that may offer assistance with educational information, financial grants, fundraising information, and medication grants.

The following letters are noted after each agency name to indicate resources offered:

E - Educational Information
F - Financial Grants
FR - Fundraising Information
M - Medication Grants

Promotes the welfare of kidney patients through education and advocacy. Self-help and patient education are key elements of local chapter activities.

National Office:
1599 Clifton Road
NE Atlanta, Georgia 30329-4251
National Office: 404-320-3333
Affiliate Office in Your Area: 800-227-2345

Non-profit health organization that supports education and research in cancer prevention, diagnosis, detection and treatment, with special services available to cancer patients. Some chapters offer limited medication grants.

1660 Duke Street
Alexandria, Virginia 22314
800-232-3472

Non-profit health organization that provides the general public, diabetics, and health care professionals with educational support including books, literature and seminars.

National Office:
7272 Greenville Avenue
Dallas, Texas 75231-4596
National Office: 214-373-6300
Affiliate Office in Your Area: 800-AHA-USA1 or 800-242-8721

Callers are routed to a local American Heart Association office and can obtain information about heart disease and the type of support services available in their local area. Also, callers can receive a free brochure, "About Heart Transplants."

Non-profit health organization that provides limited grants to needy dialysis patients, transplant recipients and donors to help cover the cost of health-related expenses, transportation, medications, etc. Provides information and support for kidney donation and transplantation as well as general education and information on kidney diseases.

Voluntary agency dedicated to fighting liver disease through research, education and patient self-help groups. Provides fundraising information and will act as trustee for monies raised.

Non-profit, voluntary health organization that offers information to people considering lung transplant, and to those individuals who are at any point in the lung transplant process. Callers can receive a fact sheet on lung transplantation and a list of transplant centers nationwide. This association can provide referrals to local support groups, as well as contacts with other people who have had a lung transplant or are waiting for a transplant. One-time grant assistance is available for respiratory medications.

Private, non-profit group that provides numerous services to recipients and their families including airfare, bus tickets and advice on fundraising and establishing trust funds. Will act as trust fund, no administrative fees collected. AOTA publishes a newsletter for members. Individuals needing airfare or bus tickets must be referred by their transplant center.

The Medical Needs Program provides CellCept® to persons who would otherwise be unable to obtain the medication due to a lack of health insurance or an inability to pay for the drug. To apply, the patient's physician should call the toll-free Roche Transplant Reimbursement Hotline number at 800-772-5790 to speak with a Hotline representative. If the patient meets the initial eligibility requirements for the Medical Needs Program, an application form will be sent to the physician.

2501 COTA Drive
Bloomington, Indiana 47403
800-366-2682 or 812-336-8872

COTA is a federally recognized National Charity that is dedicated to helping families and communities, with transplant-needy individuals, raise the necessary funds for transplant expenses. COTA is able to help US citizens regardless of age who are in need of life saving transplants. All funds raised are designated towards the individual's transplant expenses. COTA does not retain any fee for it's services.

Non-profit health organization supporting diabetes research. Provides information and brochures on diabetes. Offers referrals through its chapters.

Private, non-profit group dedicated to providing financial, social and emotional support to patients needing heart, heart/lung, or lung transplants and their families. NHATF provides modest grants for transplant-related costs. Provides information on centers, support groups, and materials. Individuals may establish regional restricted funds through NHATF. Assists heart, heart/lung, and lung transplant patients with fundraising by providing expertise and by acting as a trust fund for monies raised.

30 E. 33rd Street, 11th Floor
New York, New York 10016
800-622-9010 or 212-889-2210

Voluntary health agency seeking the total answer to diseases of the kidney and urinary tract including prevention, treatment and cure. The Foundation's program brings help to people suffering from kidney disease through research, patient and community services, professional education and public information.

NORD/Sandoz Drug Cost Share (DCS) Program
P.O. Box 8923
New Fairfield, Connecticut 06812-8923
800-447-6673, 800-999-6673 or 203-746-8958

This organization manages a drug cost share program for individuals who cannot afford Sandimmune® (cyclosporine) or Neoral® (cyclosporine for microemulsion). To inquire about the application process, call 800-447-6673, 800-999-6673 or 203-746-8958. Allow 10-12 weeks for eligibility to be determined. Serves as a clearinghouse for information for over 5,000 rare disorders. This information is written clearly for the lay person. NORD can also connect patients who have the same or similar illnesses with each other.

Assists candidates/recipients nationwide in obtaining transplants and aftercare, as well as providing essential support and referral services. Provides clients with fundraising expertise and materials and assures that funds raised are properly dispersed. Limited emergency grants available to provide medications for no more than a 3 month duration. Administrative fee collected.

This association publishes the "Directory of Prescription Drug Patient Assistance Programs" from information provided by member companies. The directory currently lists 59 programs alphabetically by company. Each entry details how to apply, drugs that are covered, and basic eligibility requirements. A free copy may be obtained by writing to PhRMA at the above address. The request must be received on physician, health care professional or agency letterhead.

• CellCept® - Roche- 800-772-5790
• Deltasone® (prednisone) -Upjohn - 800-242-7014
• Imuran® - Burroughs Wellcome -800-722-9294
• Neoral ® - Sandoz - 800-447-6673, 800-999-6673 or 203-746-8958
• Prograf® - Fujisawa - 800-477-6472 or 202-393-5563
• Sandimmune® (cyclosporine) - Sandoz - 800-447-6673, 800-999-6673 or 203-746-8958

The Prograf® Patient Assistance Program helps improve access to Prograf® for patients who have no health insurance for Prograf® and limited financial resources. The program will provide free Prograf® to patients who meet eligibility criteria. For information, applications and screening call 800-477-6472.

National, non-profit, volunteer organization providing grants to posttransplant recipients to offset the costs of immunosuppressive medications. The number of individuals who can receive assistance and the grant amounts are determined by total contributions received each year. The Foundation serves as a national clearinghouse for information, as well as an advocate for the rights of transplant recipients.

1000 16th Street, NW, Suite 602
Washington, DC 20036
800-874-6386 or 202-293-0980

TRIO is an independent, non-profit, international organization committed to improving the quality of life for transplant candidates, recipients, their families and donor families. TRIO, through a network of local chapters, serves its members in the areas of donor awareness, education, support and advocacy. TRIO awards scholarships annually to transplant candidates, recipients and donor family members wishing to pursue post-secondary education. Clearinghouse for educational materials. Referrals made to local chapters.

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