Drug Savings, Patient Assistance Programs
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Patient Assistance Programs (PAPs)

NeedyMeds was started in 1997 when a family physician and a medical social worker realized there were dozens of pharmaceutical patient assistance programs available, providing medications to those in need at low- or no cost, but no centralized resource for the information.  We became that resource, using the relatively new Internet as the perfect medium for the constantly changing information.  Despite growing significantly since our inception, we still have an expanding database of Patient Assistance Programs (PAPs) to help those unable to cover the costs of prescriptions.   Patient assistance programs are typically run by pharmaceutical companies to help uninsured […]

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Affordable Care Act, Awareness, Health, Mental Health, Safety
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LGBT Health Awareness Week

Since 2003, the last week of March has been LGBT Health Awareness Week.  We have gone over some of the barriers to healthcare for some of the transgender community in a previous blog post, but it remains important to bring awareness to the unique healthcare needs of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people and the health disparities that continue to beleaguer the lives of so many Americans.   A report by the Institute of Medicine found that fear of discrimination causes many LGBT people to avoid seeking out medical care.  This compromises an entire community as lesbian, gay, bisexual, and […]

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Awareness, Health, Safety
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Bleeding Disorder Awareness Month

Thirty years ago, March was designated Hemophilia Awareness Month.  This year, the scope has expanded to promote awareness for all bleeding disorders.  Bleeding disorders affect the way blood clots, which can result in heavy or prolonged bleeding.  Bleeding disorders can also cause abnormal bleeding from minor cuts and scrapes or internal bleeding from bruises which wouldn’t cause any problems in people with no bleeding disorder.  Different diagnoses include hemophilia, von Willebrand disease, and blood factor deficiencies; they are mostly considered hereditary or congenital conditions.   Hemophilia is likely the most known bleeding disorder, affecting one in 5,000 male births. The […]

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Awareness, Health, Mental Health
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Improve Bedtime Habits for Sleep Awareness Week

The National Sleep Foundation is celebrating its annual Sleep Awareness Week to raise awareness for the health benefits of sleep and tips for a better night’s rest.  In the US, Sleep Awareness Week ends with Daylight Savings Time—the night many associate with losing an hour of sleep.   Sleep disturbances and daytime sleepiness are telling signs of poor sleep hygiene.  If you are experiencing a problem sleeping, it is a good idea to evaluate your bedtime routine.  It may take time to notice any positive effects from changing your sleep habits.  If sleep has been a long-term problem, consulting your […]

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Affordable Care Act, Healthcare Reform, Prescription Drugs
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Presidential Candidates Weigh In on Prescription Prices

In a previous blog post, we went over why drug prices can rise seemingly without explanation and how the cost of medications ranks as a top priority to a majority of Americans.  We are now in the midst of primary elections in the United States, and candidates from both parties have addressed the issue and proposed different policies. In the same prior blog post, we mentioned a proposed bill for the Prescription Drug Affordability Act.  Independent Senator from Vermont and Democratic Presidential Candidate Bernie Sanders proposed the bill aimed at assisting individuals with Medicare with the high costs of medications, […]

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About Us

Welcome to the NeedyMeds Voice! We look forward to presenting you with timely, provocative pieces on healthcare reform, patient advocacy, medication and healthcare access, and other health-related news. Our goals are to educate, enlighten, and elucidate; together, we will try to make sense of the myriad and ongoing healthcare-related changes in the U.S. today.