Helping the Poor Get Medication - NeedyMeds

Long before the U.S. economy went south, Rich Sagall and a friend formed a company that made it possible for the neediest to obtain their medications. (Source: Rich Sagall).

In 1997, Needymeds.com, a non-profit company, was created by Sagall, a board certified family and occupational physician and Libby Overly, a medical social worker. Overly gathered information about a patient assistance program (PAP) while Sagall was just learning how to make web pages. (Source: Needymeds).

The organization's mission is to educate individuals, professionals, and organizations about sources of help where they can get no-cost needed medications. The company, a 501(3) © corporation, now has information on over 300 companies and state and local programs that help people with prescriptions.

Needymeds.com has had well over 5 million visitors to the home page to date and they get over 8,000 visitors daily, according to Sagall. The program is self-funded by sales of manuals and other items. Then there are a number of sites that charge to help people learn about patient assistance programs and complete the application forms.

With pending Medicare changes, Tennessee is ending much of its patient assistance programs because of the economy, said Sagall, and he doesn't see the problem going away. Poverty guidelines for NeedyMeds assistance vary from state to state. Many, but not all pharmaceutical companies have patient assistance programs, said Sagall. In 2002 PAPs helped over five million people, according to the needymeds.com website. The drug companies decide if they will have a PAP and, if they do, which of their medicines are available through the program. Sometimes a medicine or certain drug will be on a program, then off, and then back on again. Many companies have programs or prescription cards that will allow qualified patients to get medications at a discounted price.