Copayment and Premium Assistance Available across Broad Range of Disease Areas
The
HealthWell Foundation®, an independent non-profit that provides a financial
lifeline for inadequately insured Americans, has launched a Movement Disorders
Fund to provide copayment and premium assistance to eligible Medicare patients.
Through the fund, HealthWell will provide up to $10,000 in copayment or premium
assistance to individuals who have annual household incomes up to 500 percent
of the federal poverty level. The new fund will assist patients in several
different movement-related disease areas, including, but not limited to,
Huntington's Disease, Tourette Syndrome, Parkinson's Disease, Chorea, Tardive
Dyskinesia and General Dyskinesia.
"The
assistance that the HealthWell Foundation will be able to provide to
individuals living with Huntington's disease through this fund addresses an
unmet and critical need," said Louise Vetter, President and Chief
Executive Officer, Huntington's Disease Society of America. "Huntington's
Disease (HD) is a devastating and debilitating disease for which there is no
cure. Offering copayment and premium assistance as a resource to HD patients
and their families will certainly go a long way in diminishing some of the
financial obstacles they face in treating their disease."
Michael
S. Okun, M.D., Professor and Chair of Neurology, University of Florida and
National Medical Director of the Parkinson's Foundation, commented on the
significance of the new fund, "The average patient spends thousands of
dollars on treatments that make a substantial difference in their lives, and
many families can't absorb the high cost. If a Parkinson's patient misses a
single dose of medicine, it can leave them temporarily disabled and unable to
function. The Parkinson's Foundation is happy to partner with the
HealthWell Foundation to make it easier for patients and families to
access the evidence-based therapies to make their lives better."
"Diagnosis
and treatment of Tourette Syndrome is a resource-intensive process," said
Amanda Talty, Vice President, Resource Development and Marketing, Tourette
Association of America. "Limited knowledge and a fundamental
misunderstanding of the disorder can be daunting to both patients and
providers. Treatment plans vary depending on the severity of the symptoms and
many individuals with Tourette often have co-occurring conditions, most
commonly Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), Attention Deficit-Hyperactivity
Disorder (ADHD), and anxiety. The ability to offer the HealthWell Foundation's
new fund as a financial resource to these patients and their families serves as
a critical component in minimizing the frustration they endure from the time of
diagnosis through treatment."
"We
are excited about the launch of this new fund as it represents hope and a
financial lifeline for so many Americans who suffer from these incurable and
devastating diseases," said Krista Zodet, HealthWell Foundation President.
"It's an honor to work side by side with recognized leaders in these
disease communities to ensure that we reach as many patients as possible who
will benefit from this resource. Only through the generosity of our
donors are we able to bring financial relief to these patients and give them a
little less worry about being able to afford to start or continue
treatments."
To
learn more about the diseases covered under the fund and to determine
eligibility and apply for financial assistance, visit HealthWell's Movement Disorders Fund page. To learn how you
can support this or other HealthWell programs, visit HealthWellFoundation.org.
About
the HealthWell Foundation
A nationally recognized, independent
non-profit organization founded in 2003, the HealthWell Foundation has served
as a safety net for more than 250,000 underinsured patients in more than 50
disease areas by providing access to life-changing medical treatments they
otherwise would not be able to afford. HealthWell provides financial assistance
to adults and children facing medical hardship resulting from gaps in their
insurance that cause out-of-pocket medical expenses to escalate rapidly.
HealthWell assists with the treatment-related cost-sharing obligations of these
patients. For more information, visit www.HealthWellFoundation.org.
About
Huntington's Disease Society of America
The Huntington's
Disease Society of America (HDSA) is the premier non-profit organization
dedicated to improving the lives of everyone affected by Huntington's disease.
From community services and education to advocacy and research, HDSA is the
world's leader in providing help for today and hope for tomorrow for people
with Huntington's disease and their families. HDSA's network of chapters,
affiliates, HDSA Centers of Excellence, social workers and support groups
provides a seamless connection for help, education and outreach to HD families
and health care professionals across the United States. To learn more about
HDSA, visit: www.hdsa.org.
About
the Parkinson's Foundation
The Parkinson's Foundation is working toward
a world without Parkinson's disease. Formed by the merger of National Parkinson
Foundation and the Parkinson's Disease Foundation in August 2016, the mission
of the Parkinson's Foundation is to invest in promising scientific research
that will end Parkinson's disease and improve the lives of people with
Parkinson's and their families through improved treatments, support and the
best care. For more information, visit www.parkinson.org
or www.pdf.org, or call (800) 4PD-INFO
(473-4636) or (800) 457-6676.
About
Tourette Association of America
The Tourette
Association of America (TAA) has emerged as the premier national non-profit
organization working to make life better for all people affected by Tourette
and Tic Disorders. Through education, research and advocacy, TAA provides help,
hope and a supportive community across the nation, empowering individuals to deal
with the complexities of this spectrum of disorders. Visit www.tourette.org to learn more.
CONTACT:
Ginny Dunn
240-632-5309
SOURCE
HealthWell Foundation
Related
Links
http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/healthwell-foundation-launches-movement-disorders-fund-to-provide-financial-assistance-to-medicare-patients-300448948.html
No comments:
Post a Comment