Cost-saving Options
Speak up at the doctor’s office: Doctors don’t typically know your financial situation. They prescribe the drug that they think will help the patient manage blood glucose the best. Being humans – also susceptible to marketing – that drug may be the one the drug rep just left samples of, or maybe a drug that has just been FDA approved that they want to test to see how it works on their own patients, so ask your doctor before you leave the office if you would do as well on a cheaper generic brand of a tried and true medicine as opposed to the flashy new brand name drug.
Test strips too expensive? Explore your options if you are having trouble affording the test strips for your blood glucose meter. Doctors’ offices may be able to offer samples from diabetic supply companies for newly diagnosed patients. If you are having trouble affording strips for the meter your doctor gave you, consider a Reli-On Prime from Walmart which was reviewed by Consumer Reports as being both one of the most accurate and affordable meters available. It costs approximately $10 for the meter and $9.00 for 50 test strips.
Shop around: It is remarkable how much difference there is in price for a medication from pharmacy to pharmacy. Shop around and don’t be afraid to have your prescription transferred to get a better deal.
Helping Hands
Patient assistance is another vital service offered by the DFM. The “Helping Hands” program provides free emergency assistance with diabetes-related medicines and medical supplies once per year to uninsured or underinsured Mississippians. The DFM will also make referrals to pharmaceutical assistance programs and other area agencies. Patients must have current prescriptions and have their medical team or social workers contact the DFM to verify the patient’s need.
HIPPA REGULATIONS FORBID THE DFM FROM DISCUSSING ADULT PATIENTS’ NEEDS WITH FRIENDS, RELATIVES, NEIGHBORS, ETC. THE EXCEPTION BEING FOR MINOR CHILDREN OR OTHER INDIVIDUALS OVER WHOM YOU HAVE LEGAL GUARDIANSHIP.
THE DFM CANNOT LEGALLY GIVE MEDICINE TO INDIVIDUALS WITHOUT A CURRENT PRESCRIPTION.
YOUR DOCTOR OR MEDICAL SOCIAL WORKER MUST CONTACT THE DFM AT 601-957-7878 TO OBTAIN A PATIENT ASSISTANCE FORM WHICH FOR HIPPA COMPLIANCE WILL BE FAXED BACK TO US.
AFTER THE DOCTOR OR MEDICAL SOCIAL WORKER COMPLETES AND FAXES BACK THE PATIENT ASSISTANCE FORM – WITH COPIES OF CURRENT PRESCRIPTION(S) TO VERIFY THAT: A. THE PATIENT IS UNDER A DOCTOR’S CARE AND B. THE PATIENTS CURRENT NEEDS, THE DFM CAN WORK TO GET ONE MONTH’S MEDICATIONS AND/OR SUPPLIES TO THE PATIENT BY A NUMBER OF METHODS DEPENDING ON THE PATIENT’S LOCATION AND OTHER FACTORS.
AS WE CANNOT AFFORD TO CONTINUE ASSISTANCE LONG-TERM, the DFM will also make referrals to pharmaceutical assistance programs and other area agencies.
Drug Company Patient Assistance
Novo Nordisk Patient Assistance Program
https://www.novocare.com/diabetes-overview/let-us-help/pap.html
- GlucaGen Hypokit: glucagon (rDNA) for injection
- Levemir: insulin detemir (rDNA) injection
- Levemir FlexPen: insulin detemir (rDNA) injection
- NovoFine 30G: needles
- NovoFine 32G Tip: needle tip
- Novolin 70/30 Vials: insulin (rDNA)
- Novolin N Vials: 70% NPH/30% regular human insulin (rDNA)
- Novolin R Vials: regular, human insulin injection
- NovoLog: insulin analog injection
- NovoLog 70/30 FlexPen: insulin analog injection
- NovoLog FlexPen: insulin analog injection
- NovoLog Mix 70/30: insulin analog injection
- NovoTwist 32G: needles
- Victoza 6mg/ml 2×3 mL: liraglutide (rDNA) injection
- Victoza 6mg/ml 3×3 mL: liraglutide (rDNA) injection
Sanofi Patient Assistance
https://www.sanofipatientconnection.com/
- Admelog® (insulin lispro injection) 100 Units/mL
- Apidra® (insulin glulisine injection) 100 Units/mL
- Lantus® (insulin glargine injection)
- Soliqua® 100/33 (insulin glargine and lixisenatide) injection 100 Units/mL and 33 mcg/mL
- Toujeo® (insulin glargine injection) 300 Units/mL
Lilly Patient Assistance Program
Lilly Diabetes Solutions:
https://www.lilly.com/resources/diabetes-solution-center
- Glucagon: glucagon
- Humalog Injection: insulin lispro injection
- Humalog KwikPen: insulin lispro injection
- Humalog KwikPen Mix 50/50: insulin lispro injection (rDNA)
- Humalog KwikPen Mix 75/25: insulin lispro injection (rDNA)
- Humalog Mix 50/50: 50% insulin Lispro Protamine Suspension, 50% insulin Lispro Injection (rDNA)
- Humalog Mix 75/25: human insulin lispro (rDNA)
- Humulin 70/30: isophane human insulin (rDNA); human insulin (rDNA)
- Humulin N Injection: NPH human insulin (rDNA)
- Humulin R Injection: regular human insulin (rDNA)
- Humulin R U-500 Injection: regular insulin human (rDNA Origin)(concentrated)
Other Assistance
GoodRx: https://www.goodrx.com/
NeedyMeds: https://www.needymeds.org/
Need Help Paying Bills: https://www.