Cystic Fibrosis Patient Assistance Foundation Enrolls 100th CF Patient

April 14, 2009

The Cystic Fibrosis Patient Assistance Foundation (CFPAF) announced today that it has enrolled 100 people since its launch in October of 2008. Dedicated to ensuring the best CF treatment possible, the CFPAF helps patients with the disease who are unable to afford certain high-cost CF medications.

“The CF Foundation is at the forefront of developing new CF drugs that extend and improve the lives of people with cystic fibrosis. However, access to these essential therapies is increasingly a problem,” said Robert J. Beall, Ph.D., president and CEO of the CF Foundation. “To counter this problem, the Foundation is pleased that its new subsidiary, the CFPAF, can help patients find ways to afford the drugs and care they need.”

While 99 percent of people with CF have health insurance, more and more patients find their coverage is inadequate. The average annual cost for CF treatment is more than $40,000, and new research shows that in the last year:

• One in four CF patients skipped doses of their medicine or purposefully took smaller doses because of cost; 
  
  
• And, nearly one in five have delayed seeking care for the same reason.

The CFPAF provides financial assistance for certain FDA-approved medications and medical devices for the treatment of CF lung disease.

“Although we focus on helping people with high out-of-pocket costs, many CF patients can benefit from calling the CFPAF” says Maria Thomas, the program’s manager. “Even if they don’t qualify to receive financial assistance from the CFPAF, we can help them to better understand their insurance coverage and reimbursement, and explain what benefits are available to them. In that way, we help nearly everyone that contacts us.”

CF patients can call the CFPAF and speak with case managers who can help determine if they are likely to qualify for enrollment in the program. For information, visit www.cfpaf.org or call (888) 315-4154.