Q&A: Campaign to improve access to care for underserved patients with asthma

Key takeaways:

• Of 25 million Americans with asthma, 19 million live below 450% of the federal poverty limit.
• MedicoCX launched its participation in the Accessia Health One Breath National Asthma Raise with a $10,000 donation.

Accessia Health and MedicoCX have teamed up to raise up to $1 million to improve access to care for patients with asthma and allergies, particularly those in medical treatment deserts.

As a nonprofit patient assistance organization (PAP), Accessia Health provides financial assistance, programs and services for people with rare and chronic medical conditions. MedicoCX comprises independent specialists — primarily allergists — who use their cumulative buying power to decrease the costs of medical supplies and medications including biologics.

MedicoCX helped Accessia Health launch One Breath National Asthma Raise with a $10,000 donation. Healio spoke with Gwen Cooper, MPA, president and CEO of Accessia Health, to find out more about the campaign and why it is needed.

Healio: What are the primary obstacles to accessing care for underserved patients with asthma?

Cooper: Cost and access! Of the 25 million Americans living with asthma, 19 million live below 450% of the federal poverty limit, creating an economic challenge for access to any health care, much less asthma care. Obtaining health insurance is often the first step in seeking health care, but if the copays for doctor visits and medications are unaffordable, patients don’t engage with the health care system until an emergency arises. Costs for asthma treatments could average around $3,266 a year for individuals without insurance. Hispanic or Latino people are among the highest uninsured rates in the nation at more than 17%, with the African American community at more than 10%. So, the first step is making sure all people get health insurance — commercial, Medicare or Medicaid.

Healio: How does Accessia Health support patients?

Cooper: We have pioneered the patient assistance model for people living with chronic medical conditions, providing more than $1.2 billion in financial assistance so far. Through our 70-plus disease funds, we provide robust assistance offerings, including insurance case management, education and financial support to pay for health insurance premiums, medication copayments, medical treatments, travel and other medical expenses. We are one of only a few nonprofits who are uniquely positioned to financially support patients by putting money in their hands to pay for their health care costs.

Healio: What role does education play in these patient assistance programs?

Cooper: Understanding how to navigate the health care system is critical to engagement. Our education platform — Amplify Your Voice, Control Your Care — provides the education that consumers need to improve their own health literacy. Knowledge is power, and it allows people to participate in their own individual health care journey.

Healio: What can physicians do to improve access to care?

Cooper: Educate patients on the importance of screening and diagnosis and about PAPs like Accessia Health who have the means to help pay for health care costs. It also is crucial to understand what populations are not seeking treatment and why. The more resources that become available for our patient populations, and the more that physicians and their staff educate patients about those resources, the easier it is for us to engage diverse populations in the health care system. It is the first step in health care equity!

Healio: On a policy level, how can we improve access to care?

Cooper: Use your voice! Talk about it both often and loudly! There are numerous bills at the state and federal level focusing on rural access to health care as well as underserved urban communities. The challenges are often similar — low health literacy. Get involved and use your voice with elected officials to support legislation that will pour resources into the communities that need it the most. It starts with resources to provide education where people live. Fund community health care workers, train faith leaders about the benefits of health insurance, and provide seed money for screening and diagnosis to get people into the system. Then, keep educating.

Healio: Do you have anything else you would like to add?

Cooper: Patient assistance is not new. What is new is our innovative approach to provide assistance to anyone, regardless of their zip code or diagnosis. Our team thinks differently. We do not want to wait for someone to walk through the door with a diagnosis. Instead, we want to meet people where they are at and help them engage with the health care system to prevent crisis episodes to truly improve health outcomes.

We operate pursuant to an Office of Inspector General opinion that allows us to pay for health care on the individual patient level. We take this gift seriously and are a trusted partner for pharma, providers and donors who all want to lower health care costs while also improving health outcomes. It is a tall order, but with our proven model, we believe we are the catalyst for change.

Reference:

• Accessia Health announces MedicoCX as national supporter of One Breath Asthma Raise. https://accessiahealth.org/asthmaraise/. Published April 27, 2023. Accessed May 30, 2023.