Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39963183›Full record

ArticleInternational journal of MS care2025

Financial Assistance Value for Equitable Access to Specialty Medications for Adults With Multiple Sclerosis Using Health System Pharmacy Services.

Julie Wawrzyniak Heppner, Andrew Choma, Tiffany Otto, Erin Collins

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in International journal of MS care, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

4 authors.

Julie Wawrzyniak HeppnerFrom the Department of Pharmacy, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3673-5928
Andrew ChomaFrom the Department of Pharmacy, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY.
Tiffany Ottothe Department of Neurology, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY.
Erin Collinsthe Department of Neurology, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundContributing to the total economic burden of multiple sclerosis (MS) in the United States, the estimated direct medical costs of MS in 2019 were $63.3 billion, with medications accounting for over half of these expenses.

methodsThis single-center retrospective chart review evaluated claims data for University of Rochester MS Center patients receiving financial assistance for MS specialty medications dispensed through the HSSP or infused at the MS center between July 20, 2020, and July 20, 2022. Descriptive statistics were used to assess all outcomes data.

resultsPatients received $3,377,172.96 in financial assistance. The median financial assistance used per patient per day of medication coverage was $2.08 (IQR, 12.02). The median out-of-pocket cost per patient per day after financial assistance was $0 (IQR, 0). Manufacturers provided the most financial support with a total contribution of $2,404,883.31, followed by grant foundations, which provided $574,659.27. Internal facility funds and the New York State Elderly Pharmaceutical Insurance Coverage program provided $241,377.97 and $156,252.41, respectively.

conclusionsPatients at this MS center were able to save thousands of dollars in out-of-pocket costs using financial assistance. Integrated HSSPs and MAS teams can help reduce the out-of-pocket cost of MS specialty medications, which may improve access to these medications.

Indexed as

disease-modifying therapyDMTfinancial assistancehealth system specialty pharmacymedication accessmultidisciplinary teamout-of-pocket prescription costs

Identifiers

PMID39963183
PMCPMC11830990

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.