What Others Say About PAN
|
Highlights of 2010 Patient Survey Patient Access Network (PAN) Foundation surveyed its patients in the spring of 2010 to determine patients’ perspective on healthcare reform, the effect of copayment assistance on patient compliance and adherence and patients’ lives and patient satisfaction with PAN services. • 98 percent of patients were able to comply with physicians’ medication instructions when they received PAN assistance, compared to 63 percent who were able to comply before receiving PAN help. That’s a 35 percent increase that’s key to patients getting their medications on time and in the way that is most likely to be effective. • 73 percent of patients said that expensive co-payments were their biggest barrier to accessing treatment. Transportation, side effects and that they have few symptoms of illness were the next highest barriers to starting or continuing their treatment. • Survey results showed support for some components of healthcare reform: o 65 percent of surveyed patients support filling the Medicare Part D doughnut hole, o 80 percent back prohibiting insurance companies from denying coverage for pre-existing conditions and o 67 percent support prohibiting insurance companies from denying coverage due to an annual or lifetime cap. • Survey results showed considerable confusion with healthcare reform. When patients were asked if they support healthcare reform 48 percent said they are not sure, 28 percent said yes and 25 percent said no. Comments show that patients do not understand all of the components or do not understand how it impacts their care. • Patients said they benefited from PAN assistance in several ways: o 78 percent experienced a decreased stress level, o 72 percent had an increased ability to cover medical bills, o 61 percent reported improved health and o 7 percent were able to begin or continue employment or education. Patients also said that PAN assistance eliminated the need to sell their house or make other financial trade-offs, improved their ability to follow prescribed medications, and, in many cases, literally saved their lives. • 98 percent of patients are “satisfied” to “extremely satisfied” with PAN services, reporting that “every question is answered patiently and professionally; with excellent communication, low wait times, fantastic phone personnel.” PAN is a nonprofit foundation that provides 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 80,000 patients across the United States and U.S. territories. PAN can be reached through the Web or toll-free at 866-316-7263, with Spanish available. A webcast on the survey and more information on PAN can be found at www.PANfoundation.org. |