Transparency of Industry-Sponsored Oncology Patient Financial Assistance Programs Using a Patient-Centered Approach

Pharmaceutical manufacturers sponsor drug-specific patient assistance programs that provide eligible patients with financial assistance, either in the form of providing the drug free of charge or copayment assistance. Describing these programs and determining who receives assistance is an important first step in understanding the impact and role of financial assistance in cancer care. Our objective was to describe eligibility criteria and benefits for cancer-specific, manufacturer-sponsored patient assistance programs.

We conducted a prospective review of patient assistance program Web sites and called patient assistance program telephone hotlines from the perspective of a patient or caregiver requesting program details.

We identified 24 manufacturers with patient assistance programs, covering 87% of Food and Drug Administration-approved oncology drugs. For free drug programs, the average maximum annual income for qualification was $86,279. For copayment assistance programs, the average was $104,790. Thirty-five percent of free drug programs and 53% of copayment assistance programs declined to provide details on how financial need was determined. None of the programs shared details on patient usage statistics.

Variation exists in the quality and quantity of data available to patients seeking financial assistance for cancer treatment via manufacturer Web sites and hotlines. Greater transparency among patient assistance programs would enhance utility for patients and help to determine the net impact on costs and adherence.