Patients Say Costs Determining Factor in Their Treatment Decisions

WASHINGTON, June 10 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Seventy-three percent of
insured patients receiving assistance from Patient Access Network (PAN)
Foundation reported that health care costs are influencing their medication
and treatment decisions more this year than last. Nearly half of these said
that cost is having a "very big" or "big" impact on whether they seek
treatment or fill prescriptions.

The results were part of a 2009 patient survey to determine the effects of the
economy, the impact of PAN assistance on patients' lives and their
satisfaction with PAN services. PAN helps insured individuals make copayments
for medications for 21 specific diseases, including certain cancers and a
number of chronic illnesses.

"Our patients do have health insurance; many have Medicare, and yet they still
can't meet all the out-of-pocket costs required for life-sustaining
medications," said Lyn Boocock-Taylor, chair of the PAN Board of Directors.
"The needs of our patients and of the estimated 25 million underinsured people
nationwide simply must be considered in the current health care reform
debate."

For a number of patients struggling to meet medical costs, timely PAN help
sometimes means the difference between life and death, as a cutaneous T-cell
lymphoma patient from Colorado wrote: "I was dying because I did not have the
means to fight my cancer...thanks, thanks, thanks."

For others, like a rheumatoid arthritis patient from Texas, PAN's assistance
eliminated their need to make tough financial choices, saying that: "[With PAN
help] I do not have to choose my treatment over other bills that need to be
paid."

Patients receiving PAN assistance also reported a striking 28 percent increase
(from 71 to 99 percent) in their ability to comply with physicians' medication
orders, because of their copayment assistance for vital medications and
infusions. Failure to take prescriptions as prescribed often disrupts the
medication's helpful effects and can lead to negative consequences such as
hospitalization.

Patients said that the copayment assistance reduced family financial and
emotional strain, improved their overall health and ability to take
medications as prescribed and sometimes sufficiently improved their health
allowing their return to work or education.

"We know patients are struggling, but these survey results confirm that we are
truly reaching those who need help and making a difference in their lives,"
said Julie Reynes, President of PAN.

Additionally, PAN enjoys a patient satisfaction rate of 97%. Patients say
that PAN's professional case managers staffing the call center are
compassionate and helpful.

A summary and more information are on the PAN Web site:
www.patientaccessnetwork.org and a webcast featuring the survey is available
at:
https://patientaccessnetwork.webex.com/patientaccessnetwork/lsr.php?AT=pb&SP=EC&rID=1341952&rKey=59830011FFBA7F58.

PAN is a nonprofit foundation dedicated to providing copayment assistance to
insured patients who otherwise lack the means to meet out-of-pocket medication
costs for specific diseases. Since 2004, PAN has helped more than 60,000
patients across the United States and U.S. territories. It can be reached
through the Web or toll-free at 866-316-7263, with Spanish available.

SOURCE Patient Access Network Foundation

Glenda Kendrick of Patient Access Network Foundation, +1-202-384-1470,
gkendrick@patientaccessnetwork.org