Increasing Awareness and Understanding of the Healthcare Assistance Program: A Patient Resource
Abstract
The Health Assistance Program (HAP) through the University of Vermont Medical Center/Porter Medical Center is a resource for patients in the Network who are struggling to pay for expensive but effective and clinically appropriate medications like injectables for diabetes, anticoagulation drugs or inhalers due to cost, underinsurance or interruption in insurance. The HAP/UVMMC Mail Order Pharmacy helps eligible low- and middle-income families who make at or below 400% of the federal poverty limit get prescription medications at no cost, even if they have insurance. Lack of awareness and understanding about this program by patients and providers could potentially lead to patients self-discontinuing important medications due to cost when they do not have to. This in turn may lead to worsening outcomes and unnecessary emergency room visits and hospitalizations.