Charitable patient assistance programs (CPAPs) are a powerful way independent community pharmacists can extend their commitment to patient care beyond the prescription counter. When patients face financial barriers to accessing their medications, a referral to a CPAP can be life-changing — and community pharmacists are uniquely positioned to make that connection. The NCPA Foundation encourages independent community pharmacy staff to familiarize themselves with available programs and to consider CPAP referrals as part of a whole-patient approach to care.
9 Charitable Assistance Programs To Be Familiar With
HealthWell Foundation
The HealthWell Foundation is an independent, non-profit organization that reduces financial barriers to care for underinsured patients living with chronic or life-altering diseases by helping them afford prescription drug copayments, health insurance premiums, deductibles, coinsurance, and other out-of-pocket costs. Their vision is to ensure that no patient — adult or child — goes without essential medical treatments because they cannot afford them.
To qualify, patients must have insurance that covers their medication, be receiving treatment in the United States, and have a household income within program guidelines — generally up to 500% of the federal poverty level.
Providers, pharmacy representatives, and social workers can apply on behalf of patients through the Provider Portal or by phone, and grants cover a rolling 12-month period with no restrictions on which provider or pharmacy a patient selects.
All administrative and fundraising costs are financed by HealthWell, meaning 100% of every donated dollar goes directly to patient grants and services.
Visit healthwellfoundation.org | Call (800) 675-8416
Accessia Health
Accessia Health is a 501(c)(3) organization built on the mission to help create a world where medical expenses don’t break the same people who are trying to heal.
Support is available to individuals of all ages with a qualifying household income and a diagnosed chronic medical condition.
Accessia Health’s patient assistance programs provide financial help with health insurance premiums, medication copays and coinsurance, travel expenses related to receiving medical care, and a broad range of other medical expenses including visits, hospitalizations, laboratory testing, and durable medical equipment. A standout feature of their approach is their Your Assistance. Your Choice. model, which allows for greater flexibility so that financial assistance can be used in the most effective way possible for each individual patient.
Providers, caregivers, and social workers are encouraged to apply for financial assistance on behalf of their patients.
Accessia Health also offers a free legal assistance program — A.C.C.E.S.S.® — through which attorneys help individuals with disability legal aid, Social Security Disability, and Supplemental Security Income claims.
Visit accessiahealth.org | Call (800) 366-7741
PAN Foundation
The PAN Foundation’s mission is to accelerate access to affordable, equitable healthcare through financial assistance, advocacy, and education. Covering more than 80 diseases and chronic illnesses, PAN is a strong referral option for community pharmacists whose patients are struggling with the ongoing costs of treatment.
PAN offers copay grants covering out-of-pocket costs for prescription medications, health insurance premium grants to help pay for monthly insurance costs, and transportation grants for patients who need help getting to and from medical appointments, pharmacies, and other health-related activities. All grants provide coverage for a full 12-month period. Providers and pharmacies can apply for PAN grants on behalf of patients and help manage their grants through the PAN portal, available anytime online. Patients can also sign up for wait lists when specific disease funds are closed, so they’re notified as soon as funding becomes available. 93% of all donations go directly to patients.
Visit panfoundation.org | Call (866) 316-7263 | Monday–Friday, 9 a.m.–5:30 p.m. ET
CancerCare
The CancerCare Co-Payment Assistance Foundation (CCAF) is a nonprofit organization established in 2007 to address the needs of individuals who cannot afford their insurance co-payments for cancer medications. Operating as a 501(c)(3) and a supporting organization to CancerCare, Inc., CCAF has operated in compliance with OIG guidance and IRS rules and regulations since its founding.
CCAF helps patients afford co-payments for chemotherapy and targeted treatment medications, helping ensure patients can stay on track with their care. Pharmacists and other providers can enroll patients directly — CCAF offers a pharmacy card for claims adjudication with specialty and retail pharmacy providers, and will consider retroactive reimbursement for first-time applicants actively receiving a covered treatment for dates of service within 60 days prior to approval. If a patient’s cancer type is not currently funded, CCAF’s co-payment specialists will provide information about other patient assistance programs, support services, and additional resources.
Visit cancercarecopay.org | Call (866) 552-6729 | Email information@cancercarecopay.org
Blood Cancer United
Blood Cancer United (formerly The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, or LLS) offers financial assistance programs designed to make costly blood cancer care more accessible to patients. For community pharmacists, it’s a highly relevant referral resource for any patient managing leukemia, lymphoma, myeloma, or other blood cancers.
Programs include a Co-Pay Assistance Program covering insurance premiums and treatment-related co-pays and co-insurance for prescription drugs, labs, scans, and tests; an Urgent Need Program providing $500 grants for non-medical expenses such as rent, utilities, food, and transportation; travel assistance programs for treatment-related transportation and lodging; and Medical Debt Case Management to help patients navigate insurance denials and out-of-pocket costs. Assistance is available to U.S. citizens and permanent residents with a confirmed blood cancer diagnosis who meet income eligibility requirements.
Visit lls.org | Call (877) 557-2672 | Email FinancialAssistance@lls.org
Patient Advocate Foundation
Patient Advocate Foundation (PAF) is a national 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that provides case management services and financial aid to Americans with chronic, life-threatening, and debilitating illnesses. PAF’s Co-Pay Relief (CPR) program provides direct payment for co-pays, co-insurance, and deductibles for patients who need financial assistance Copays — and in some cases, assistance with insurance premiums and ancillary services as well.
What sets PAF apart is its depth of patient support: beyond financial assistance, PAF offers one-on-one personal advocate services to help patients overcome insurance denials, healthcare access issues, and medical debt challenges. Since opening to patients in 2004, the CPR program has helped more than 736,000 patients, distributing nearly $2.4 billion in assistance. Pharmacies can apply on behalf of patients through a secure 24/7 online portal, making it an efficient referral pathway for busy community pharmacy teams.
Visit copays.org | Call (866) 512-3861 | Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m.–5 p.m. ET
Good Days
Good Days is a national non-profit charitable organization that lifts the burdens of chronic illness through assistance, advocacy, and education. mygooddays As the nation’s leading charitable organization of its kind, Good Days leverages technology to provide essential financial assistance and resources for life-saving and life-changing treatments to people in need mygooddays — and has assisted more than 500,000 patients to date.
Good Days offers copay assistance, travel assistance, premium assistance, and diagnostic testing assistance, covering what insurance won’t. mygooddays Their dedicated Care Navigators go beyond financial support, helping patients navigate the system and connecting them to additional foundations and organizations dedicated to those with specific, life-altering conditions. mygooddays Pharmacies can apply for assistance on behalf of patients directly through the Good Days website, and 93 cents of every dollar raised goes directly to patients. mygooddays
Visit mygooddays.org | Call (877) 968-7233
National Organization for Rare Diseases
The National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD) is the leading independent patient advocacy organization representing all individuals and families affected by rare diseases in the United States. Adult Congenital Heart Association A rare disease is defined as one affecting fewer than 200,000 Americans — and cumulatively, more than 7,000 rare diseases affect over 30 million people. NIDCD
NORD pioneered patient assistance programs in 1987, and today its programs include free drug assistance, co-pay and premium assistance, travel and lodging assistance for clinical trials, and expanded or emergency access programs. National Organization for Rare Disorders Assistance is available to U.S. residents who have an applicable diagnosis or physician referral and meet NORD’s financial need criteria, and NORD is able to offer same-day approval for many programs. FindHelp
For community pharmacists, NORD is a particularly valuable referral resource for patients managing rare or complex conditions where treatment costs can be especially burdensome.
Visit rarediseases.org | Call (800) 999-6673 | Monday–Friday, 9 a.m.–6 p.m. ET
The Assistance Fund
The Assistance Fund (TAF) is an independent 501(c)(3) charitable patient assistance organization dedicated to helping insured patients afford the treatments they need. TAF provides financial assistance for copayments, coinsurance, deductibles, and other health-related out-of-pocket costs across more than 100 disease programs — covering conditions ranging from rare diseases to chronic and life-threatening illnesses. Since 2009, TAF has helped over 260,000 children and adults access critical treatment, and last year alone served more than 72,000 patients.
Pharmacists can refer patients directly through TAF’s Provider Portal, which offers up-to-date patient information and streamlined enrollment support. Referred patients receive conditional approval and immediate assistance while completing their application — making the referral process fast and impactful.
TAF is rated four stars by Charity Navigator, holds a Platinum Seal from Candid, and has been named to the Forbes Top 100 Charities list.
Visit tafcares.org | Call (855) 845-3663 | Monday–Friday, 9 a.m.–5:30 p.m. ET
