TAF Winter Provider Newsletter 2022

President's Message

Hello Friends,

I hope you and your families had a joyful and healthy holiday season. At The Assistance Fund (TAF), we are excited to kick off another year of striving for the day when no person goes without treatment because of an inability to pay.

Our 2022 Reenrollment process is now complete and we have mailed all acceptance letters. Our team knows how important the application process is for your patients. If you have suggestions to improve our Reenrollment process, please reach out over the phone to a TAF Patient Advocate or through our Provider Portal. We welcome your ideas.

I am pleased to share that TAF was recently included in Forbes' America's Top 100 Charities and The Nonprofit Times' NPT 100 lists for 2021. These distinctions from two nationally-renowned organizations are a tremendous honor. These achievements would not have been possible without the hard work of our provider community, our patients, our hardworking TAF staff, and the generosity of our donors. Thank you.

Finally, this fall we launched our new Advocacy Action Center. Since its October launch, more than 1,000 of our patients have made their voice heard, urging their members of Congress to modernize Medicare Part D so cost is never a barrier to accessing critical treatment.

Please read on for other important news and updates below. Though the days may be colder, I look forward to many sunny days ahead.

Sincerely,

Mark McGreevy

President and CEO

Operations Update

At TAF, we strive for an efficient, user-friendly Reenrollment process. With 2022 Reenrollment complete, here are a few notable data points:

Our team handled more than 31,000 Reenrollment calls.
We received nearly 35,000 Reenrollment applications.
Our average call wait time was reduced by more than 10 minutes for both Purple and Teal Groups from last year.

We are grateful to offer so many of your patients assistance for the next year. As we start the next year, below are two helpful tips to ensure a smooth 2022.

Reimbursements: Patients' 2022 insurance plan information must be on file in order for claims to be paid. Occasional financial or demographic audits may be conducted, as required by our programs. As a reminder, all claims for 2021 must be submitted by March 31, 2022. For more information, please visit our dedicated Reenrollment Page.

Change of address: Don't miss important mailings from TAF. If your patients have recently moved, it's important that they provide their new address to TAF, as well as the U.S. Postal Service.

TAF Receives National Recognition, Top Marks in 2021

This December, TAF received a perfect 100/100 rating in Charity Navigator's Encompass Ratings. In January, TAF was named by GreatNonprofits as a top-rated nonprofit. And once again, TAF was named in Forbes' America's Top 100 Charities and the Nonprofit Times' NPT 100 lists, and received Guidestar/Candid's Platinum Seal of Transparency. Since 2009, we've helped more than 160,000 underinsured people living with life-threatening, chronic, and rare diseases access their critical treatment.

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We're Growing!

So far, TAF has added two new disease programs in 2022, bringing our total to 74. Below is a list of the most recent additions:

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) Financial Assistance Program
Thyroid Cancer Copay Assistance Program

View a Full Listing of TAF's Disease Programs

New Advocacy Action Center Mobilizes TAF Community

In October, TAF’s Advocacy team launched its first mobilization campaign from our new Advocacy Action Center, encouraging TAF advocates to contact their members of Congress to support Medicare Part D reform. Unlike other insurance programs, Medicare Part D puts no limit on the annual out-of-pocket costs older adults pay. Beneficiaries often pay most of their total cost-sharing responsibility early in the year. These upfront costs are burdensome and can result in delaying treatment. Seniors should be able to evenly distribute these costs throughout the year.

The message from our advocates was loud and clear: No one should go without treatment because of an inability to pay. More than 1,000 letters across all 50 states and Washington, DC, were delivered.

Make your voice heard by becoming a TAF advocate.

Take Action

Purple Pro: Lorena Burke, Patient Advocate

What is your favorite part about your job?

Getting to know the patients we help. At TAF, we get to know them on a more personal basis. It’s a great feeling when my patients call and remember me.

What are some of the most common questions you receive?

The most common questions are about our disease program waitlists.

What have you learned while working at TAF?

I’ve learned every patient is different. Some are quicker to learn and some need to go step by step. I try to treat each individual with respect and meet them where they are.

What three words best describe how to be successful at your job?

Passionate, patient, and empathetic.

How are you trying to improve patients’ experience?

With each patient, I try to figure out exactly what their needs are and then go above and beyond. With Reenrollment this was important as some patients were scared. I wanted to be there to support them and advise them to make sure they correctly filled out the application.

Describe what it’s like to work at TAF.

Working at TAF feels like a big family. Everyone makes me feel welcome.

What is one fun fact about you?

I’m a sneakerhead. I have 175 pairs!

Which TAF value do you most identify with and why?

Passion. When you’re passionate about what you do it isn’t like going to work. I love being able to tell patients about a resource or that they were approved for assistance.

Conference Attendance

On the Road

The Assistance Fund will attend a range of virtual and in-person conferences in 2022. Here is a list of some of our upcoming conferences:

Myasthenia Gravis Foundation of America National Virtual Patient Conference 2022 (February 10 –11, 2022)
EveryLife Foundation for Rare Diseases Virtual Rare Disease Week on Capitol Hill 2022 (February 22– March 2, 2022)
Asembia Specialty Pharmacy Summit, Las Vegas, NV (May 2–4, 2022)
Patient Assistance & Access Programs Conference, Parsippany, NJ (June 28–30, 2022)
World Orphan Drug Congress, Boston, MA (July 11–13, 2022)
Healthcare Advocate Summit, New Orleans, LA (September 7–9, 2022)

Read Patients' Stories on Our New Medium Page

We love hearing from our patients. Their lives, and their stories, are why we come to work every day.

“With their fast and easy application process and helpful Patient Advocates, it’s clear they have a singular mission: helping patients get the medications they need.” – Brad, Pulmonary Hypertension Copay Assistance Program

“I’m able to have a good life, access this medication, and help others." – Tom, Multiple Sclerosis Copay Assistance Program

“I’m so grateful that my doctor always goes above and beyond to keep myself and others living their healthiest lives to the fullest.” – Susi, Primary Biliary Cholangitis Financial Assistance Program

Now, you can read their stories on our new Medium page. Follow The Assistance Fund today!

Patient Profile: Tia, Epilepsy Copay Assistance Program

Alis volat propriis. “She flies with her own wings.” All her life, Tia has lived by these words, the state motto of Oregon. The words capture her love of nature, a strong independent streak, and an unbreakable belief in herself.

Tia recently moved from Eugene to Portland and enjoys exploring her new town.

“There are a lot of nice trails here,” she said. “There’s a river that runs right through the city. It’s really pretty.”

Tia’s new home allows her to spend more time with her sister and niece, who live just one door down from her.

“We are super close," Tia said. “With her and her kids right next door to me, we are always there to support each other.”

The proximity to family has been crucial. A massive stroke in 2009 left Tia with brain damage, post-traumatic stress disorder, and worst of all, seizures.

“The seizures weren’t bad for the first 10 years,” she said. “But in July of 2019, I had 30 seizures in one week.”

Her doctors diagnosed her with epilepsy and recommended important treatment, including new seizure medication, to put an end to her debilitating episodes.

“When I was discharged, I saw the treatment was $160 a bottle,” Tia said. “It was the only thing that stopped my seizures, but I could not afford something like that.”

A social worker referred Tia to The Assistance Fund’s (TAF’s) Epilepsy Copay Assistance Program. The program provides eligible individuals with financial assistance for out-of-pocket costs for prescribed FDA-approved treatment, such as copays, deductibles, and coinsurance.

“When I heard I was eligible, I was so excited,” she said. “It meant I could get back to doing things on my own.”

No longer experiencing daily seizures, Tia was able to begin counseling and physical therapy sessions. Before long, she was back to her active way of life.

“I have a couple of walking partners and have been hiking every other week,” Tia said. “Now that I am seizure-free, I can be more active and take advantage of the outdoors.”

Tia is grateful to have her independence back. With her family by her side, she is ready to take on the future.

“TAF has truly saved me financially and physically,” she said. “Now, I’m able to stay positive and focus on living a fulfilling life.”

Upcoming Disease Awareness Months

January

Blood donor

Thyroid

February

Cancer Awareness Day – February 4

Cancer prevention

Heart Month

International Epilepsy Day – February 14

Macular degeneration

March

Amyloidosis

Bleeding disorders

Brain Awareness Week

Multiple sclerosis

Neuromyelitis optica

TAF staff wearing pink for Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

April

Fabry disease

International Pompe Day – April 15

National Sarcoidosis Day – April 30

Oral, head, and neck cancer

Parkinson's disease

Porphyria

Primary immunodeficiency

Spondyloarthritis

TAF Is on Instagram

If you're on Instagram, follow @TheAssistanceFund for the latest news and updates, as well as a look at the people behind our best-in-class patient experience.

Christina's Corner

Happy New Year! It's been a busy time here at TAF, with new programs opening and thousands of patients applying for Reenrollment for 2022. With our Reenrollment period complete, I want to remind you of an important upcoming date. Calendar-year-2021 claims are due by March 31, 2022. If you have questions regarding 2022 TAF Reenrollment, visit our Reenrollment FAQs.

This fall, we created a one-pager with answers to some of the most common questions we receive about our Provider Portal. You can find the one-pager located in the Resource Library in the Provider Portal. TAF's Provider Portal is the easiest way to submit overrides for claims, view your unique patient information dashboard, and more. Encourage your colleagues to register for access today! Thank you to everyone who has spread the word about the Portal.

As we enter another year battling COVID-19, I want to salute you, our frontline heroes. Thank you for your continued hard work and dedication to helping the patients we serve.

As always, please don't hesitate to reach out to me with questions or concerns at Christina.Abbene@tafcares.org.

Christina Abbene, Program Manager