ONS Voice: Alternative funding programs—don’t be fooled by promises of ‘free’ specialty cancer drugs
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- Advocacy: npaf.org
- Research: patientinsightinstitute.org
Alternative funding programs (AFPs) claim to help companies reduce their healthcare costs by offloading the plan’s responsibility for covering most or all specialty drugs. But many employers, patients, and healthcare professionals are learning that AFPs are harmful and adding barriers to treatment.
A recent article in the ONS Voice, which is published by the Oncology Nursing Society, focused on the impact these programs have on patients who need oral cancer medications, which are typically labeled specialty medications by health plans.
PAN Foundation Chief Advocacy and Engagement Officer Amy Niles, who was interviewed for the article, explained that AFPs present a number of ethical and legal issues and more education is needed both for patients and healthcare professionals.
“[AFPs] are truly schemes, and it’s very difficult for patients to understand what they’re in the middle of,” she said.