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NH Medication Bridge Program
-An initiative to help low-income persons access needed medications from pharmaceutical companies.
List of N.H.
Medication Bridge program sites
Download a brochure
Eligibility Guidelines
Every major pharmaceutical company has a Patient
Assistance Program that offers many of its medications free
or at a reduced cost to eligible individuals. Eligibility
requirements include:
- The patient must be a U.S. resident.
- The patient must not be eligible for any other type of
prescription coverage for that particular medication,
including Medicaid, VA, private insurance, etc.
- Household income generally must be less than 200% of
poverty level, though this varies by company.
- Only long-term medications are covered.
Background Information:
The N.H. Medication Bridge Program is a private-public
partnership of many organizations under the leadership of
the Foundation for Healthy Communities. The Foundation for
Healthy Communities is a non-profit organization that exists
to improve health and health care. The goal of the program
is to help eligible uninsured and underinsured patients of
all ages to receive needed prescription medications from
pharmaceutical companies’ Patient Assistance Programs.
We currently work with
forty-seven
sites across NH that assist people in accessing these
medications. Our sites include hospitals, community health
centers, physician offices, senior housing, ServiceLink, and
non-profit organizations. Since January 2001, we have
provided over
1 million
prescriptions valued at $275
million for over 16,000 individuals throughout the state.
What is the Role of Medication Bridge?
- To provide a communication link
among all of the Medication Bridge sites in New
Hampshire. This is accomplished by means of the
Medication Bridge ListServ, which notifies members of
daily changes in the Patient Assistance Programs.
Members are also invited to attend regular network
meetings where they can exchange information and ideas
and hear presentations on new programs.
- To act as a resource center to
provide information on all programs available to NH
residents that provide assistance with prescription
medications. Since the advent of Medicare Part D and the
large retail generic drug market, our Medication Bridge
sites have become vital links in assisting low-income
families to sort through the various complex resources
for prescription assistance.
- To publicize the availability of
the Patient Assistance Programs. Medication Bridge has
published, updated, and distributed over 25,000 copies
of the brochure “NH Prescription Assistance Guide” to
targeted agencies throughout the state. This brochure
lists the NH Medication Bridge sites, as well as our
website search tool where individuals can look up
programs for their medications. In addition,
presentations are given throughout the year to notify
both consumers and service providers of the availability
of the pharmaceutical programs.
Need in New Hampshire:
- An estimated 96,000 residents under the age of 65 are
uninsured. (75% adults, 25% children)
- Approximately 45% of the uninsured under the age of 65
(43,200 residents) have a household income less than 200% of
the federal poverty level
- An estimated 147,796 residents of NH are over the age
of 65. None of them have prescription coverage through
Medicare. Nationally only 52% of Medicare beneficiaries
had continuous prescription coverage in the past 12 months
Visit the links below to learn more about the NH Medication
Bridge Program:
NH
Medication Bridge Guide
Patient Information
Provider Information
Website Links
For more information on NH Medication Bridge Program,
contact Bernie Cameron at
bcameron@healthynh.com.
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