Tag: diagnosis based assistance

Drug Discount Card, Healthcare Reform, NeedyMeds, Patient Advocate, Patient Assistance
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20 Years of NeedyMeds

NeedyMeds is celebrating twenty years since starting as a website for those seeking assistance with the high-costs of prescription medications. In 1997, Richard Sagall, MD, and Libby Overly, MSW, MEd, both realized a need for a centralized resource for information on pharmaceutical Patient Assistance Programs (PAPs). Over our first ten years, we gained 501(3)(c) non-profit status, introduced our PAPTracker software for advocates helping patients with PAP applications, and started our first newsletter Patient Advocate News (now known as Patient Assistance News; aka PAN).

In 2007, we began to expand the website from more than just Patient Assistance Programs to include government programs and other application assistance providers. The following year we grew to include databases of free/low-cost/sliding-scale clinics, coupons for medications, and other organizations that provide diagnosis-based assistance. The NeedyMeds Drug Discount Card started in 2009, saving users $560,000 in its first year nationwide. To date, the NeedyMeds Drug Discount

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Patient Assistance
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Resources for Parkinson’s Disease

Parkinson’s disease is a fairly common disorder, with nearly 60,000 people diagnosed in the United States every year. It is a progressive neurological disease that affects the body’s motor system. There are a variety of symptoms, from Parkinson’s Action Network, “The four primary symptoms of Parkinson’s disease are tremor, or trembling in hands, arms, legs, jaw, and face; rigidity, or stiffness of the limbs and trunk; bradykinesia, or slowness of movement; and postural instability, or impaired balance and coordination.”Currently the cause of Parkinson’s Disease is unknown and there is no cure, but according to Parkinson’s Action Network “scientists and researchers believe there to be both genetic and environmental factors.” While there is currently no cure, there are a variety of treatment options available.

Finding Help on NeedyMeds

The first place to look for assistance would be our

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Health, NeedyMeds, Pediatrics
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Resources for Autism

           Autism is a common disorder, with 1 in 68 American children born somewhere on the autism spectrum.  From AutismSpeaks.org, “Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and autism are both general terms for a group of complex disorders of brain development.”  The signs of autism are usually apparent when a child is between 2 and 3 years old.  Symptoms are different for everyone, according to autism-society.org. “Some of the behaviors associated with autism include delayed learning of language; difficulty making eye contact or holding a conversation; difficulty with executive functioning, which relates to reasoning and planning; narrow, intense interests; poor motor skills and sensory sensitivities.”  The cause of autism is still being researched and debated, although doctors generally agree that “There is no known single cause for autism spectrum disorder, but it is generally accepted that it is caused by abnormalities in brain structure or function.”.  There are lots of programs available for children with autism and their families, ranging from summer camps to supplies and medications.

What

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Patient Assistance
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Resources for Breast Cancer

Breast Cancer is a very serious condition that affects many women in America. According to the National Breast Cancer Foundation, “One in eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime.” It is also the most commonly diagnosed cancer in women, with over 220,000 women diagnosed annually in thde Unite States with an estimated 40,000 annual deaths. Breast Cancer also affects men, although it is more rare — “an estimated 2,150 men will be diagnosed with breast cancer and approximately 410 will die each year.”  Breast Cancer affects each patient differently — “Breast cancer can begin in different areas of the breast — the ducts, the lobules, or in some cases, the tissue in between.” There are also numerous types of Breast Cancer – non-invasive, invasive, recurrent, and metastatic. Luckily there are many programs available nationwide to help Breast Cancer patients pay for the costs of medicine, procedures, and more.

What Help is Available?

The first place to check for financial assistance with Breast Cancer costs would be our

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Patient Assistance
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All About Resources for Hearing Loss and Deafness

In today’s blog post we highlight a number of national and state programs that assist those who are deaf or suffering from hearing loss. Hearing loss affects many Americans, with approximately 3 out of every 1,000 children born deaf, along with 17% of the nation reporting some degree of hearing loss. Symptoms of hearing loss include muffled speech and sounds, difficulty understanding words in a group of people, need to turn up the volume of the radio or TV, and social issues such as withdrawal or avoidance of social gatherings.

What Causes Hearing Loss?

There are two major types of deafness: conduction deafness and nerve deafness. Conduction deafness is caused by an “interruption of the sound vibrations in their passage from the outer world to the nerve cells in the inner ear.” This can be caused by damage to the inner ear, earwax buildup, or ear infections among other causes.

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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.