ADVI Health’s recent study on alternative funding programs (AFPs) providing access to specialty medicines was included in JMCP – Journal of Managed Care & Specialty Pharmacy. The objective of the study was to describe patients’ experiences and specialty medication access with AFPs. In this survey, 26 optional single-choice and multiple-choice questions with branching logic divided across 5 sections (related to patient challenges with AFPs) were administered to patients recruited from an experienced AFP online patient panel and a patient advocacy group. It assessed patients’ awareness of AFPs from their employers, and experience with the patient impact of delay in access.

The study included 227 patients, 61 percent of which first heard of the AFP as part of their health benefit when trying to obtain their medication. Of 198 patients, 88 percent reported being stressed because of the medication coverage denial and the uncertainty of obtaining their medication. 54 percent of the patients reported being uncomfortable with the benefits manager from the AFP vendor. On average, patients reported waiting to receive their medication for 68.2 days; 24 percent reported the wait for the medication worsened their condition and 64 percent reported that the wait led to stress/or anxiety. Patients who indicated the wait time negatively affected them had considered a job change or left their job at a 3-5 fold higher rate than those who reported no impact from wait time. A significantly higher proportion of patients with hemophilia and other bleeding disorders reported receiving their prescribed medication less often than patients with often, whereas more patients with lower incomes reported not receiving any medication, although these differences were not significant.

In conclusion, most patients who obtain their specialty medicines via AFPs reported being uncomfortable with the process and experiencing treatment delays, which may have been linked to disease progression, worsened mental well-being, and consideration of a job change.

Read more in JMCP.