Note: This press release describes an addition to an already existing financial resource for cancer patients, which covers many different types of cancer. Visit the links below for more information.

Patient Advocate Foundation Announces Additional Support for Co-Pay Relief Program Serving Prostate Cancer Patients

Co-Pay Relief Program Provides Direct Financial Support for Pharmaceutical Co-Payments to Insured Patients in Medical and Financial Need

WASHINGTON, D.C. (July 29, 2010) –Patient Advocate Foundation (PAF) – a national non-profit organization that seeks to safeguard patients through effective mediation assuring access to care, maintenance of employment and preservation of their financial stability relative to their diagnosis of life threatening or debilitating diseases – is pleased to announce that it has received a substantial contribution which will provide additional funding support for prostate cancer patients through its Co-Pay Relief Program (CPR).

PAF’s Co-Pay Relief Program provides direct financial support for pharmaceutical co-payments to insured patients, including Medicare Part D beneficiaries, in 20 disease categories who financially and medically qualify. Since the program’s inception in April 2004, CPR has distributed more than $77,650,000.00 million in assistance to over 36,000 patients nationwide who were unable to afford their out of pocket pharmaceutical expenses. In the last year, several internal enhancements have been made to the Co-Pay Relief Program to improve patient access including raising federal poverty (FPL) guidelines from 250% to 500% and creating 24-hour provider application portal.

“We are thrilled to announce additional funding for prostate cancer patients, which will allow us to offer financial assistance to hundreds of additional patients each year. PAF is committed to improving the quality of life of patients facing medical and financial hardship through our professional case management and Co-Pay Relief services,” said Nancy Davenport-Ennis, Founder and CEO of PAF. “A cancer diagnosis can be the most overwhelming experience a person may ever face in his or her lifetime. Coupled with high out of pocket costs associated with treatments and therapies, the journey can become significantly more challenging to manage – so we are particularly pleased to be able to offer assistance to so many more patients, which will lead to more thorough management of their disease.”

In 2009, over 18 percent of the patients who requested information and assistance from PAF reported pharmaceutical co-pay expenses as their number one access issue. Forty-five percent of the patients seeking help were over the age of 65, a 25% increase from 2008.

Patient Advocate Foundation and its companion organization, the National Patient Advocate Foundation (NPAF), were founded on the principle that health care is a basic human need and shared social responsibility. Annually, PAF receives thousands of contacts requesting information and assistance via their toll-free hotline as well as online. Complete direct, sustained case management services are provided to patients from all fifty states free of charge. For more information about PAF, visit www.patientadvocate.org or call toll free (800) 532-5274. For more information about PAF’s Co-Pay Relief Program visit www.copays.org or call toll free (866) 512-3861.