Pfizer RxPathways: Reassurance in a time of need

By Gary Pelletier, Senior Director of Corporate Responsibility, Pfizer Inc.

America’s healthcare system has gone through significant change in recent years. Many creative ideas on how to improve America’s healthcare system are being tried at the local, state and federal level—all of which are helping improve access to care, especially for patients in need.

Amid evolving policy and continued innovation, however, there remains one constant: Many individuals still have gaps in their healthcare coverage. Fortunately, there are programs out there to help people without assured access to needed care and medicines.

At Pfizer, we understand patients’ concern about the cost of their prescription medicines, whether they’re uninsured, or have coverage but face high co-pays and deductibles. That’s why providing patients with access to medicine is a core commitment of Pfizer’s. In fact, for more than 30 years, we have empowered patients in need with assistance and information to secure their access to the Pfizer medicines prescribed by their doctors. Through Pfizer RxPathways, we can now connect patients to Pfizer and industry programs offering insurance support, co-pay assistance, medicines for free or at a savings and more.

In the same way America’s healthcare system has evolved, Pfizer’s efforts to help patients are changing as well. To keep Pfizer medicines accessible to all patients, we are investing in operations and infrastructure to strengthen our patient assistance programs. In 2016 alone, Pfizer employed 184 call center representatives, received more than 890,000 calls from patients and caregivers, processed over 200,000 enrollment forms for our patient assistance program and received over 667,000 visits to our website.

When patients contact our Pfizer RxPathways call center, trained Pfizer Medicine Access Counselors work with each individual—in English, Spanish, or over 100 other languages through our language line translation service—to understand their situation and determine the best way Pfizer might be able to help. We also refer patients to industry-wide initiatives, like the Partnership for Prescription Assistance (PPA), if we learn they have been prescribed medicines that are not made by Pfizer.

This dedicated support has helped more than 1.6 million patients receive over 19 million Pfizer prescriptions for free or at a savings in the period 2012 to 2016.*

Terry is one of the many patients who found a path to his Pfizer prescription medicine through Pfizer RxPathways, giving him much-needed peace of mind. He now helps spread the word about the program so others can benefit from the same kind of help he did.

“I’ve told everybody that I’ve come in contact with about Pfizer, how they’ve helped me, how they help other people—I’ve told family, friends, and anyone that’ll listen about what they’re doing for me,” Terry said.

We know, however, that there are still many people who aren’t aware of the support available through Pfizer RxPathways or other similar programs. So if you or someone you love needs help securing access to their Pfizer medicines, spread the news: Pfizer RxPathways can offer reassurance to patients in need.

*Data on file. Pfizer Inc, New York, NY.

To learn more about Pfizer RxPathways, please visit www.PfizerRxPathways.com or call 1-844-989-PATH (7284) to consult with a Pfizer Medicine Access Counselor. For help with medicines not made by Pfizer, contact the Partnership for Prescription Assistance at PPARx.org to learn about other programs that might be able to provide assistance.

Content From