ORLANDO, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Assistance Fund, an independent charitable patient assistance foundation that helps patients and families facing high medical out-of-pocket costs, announced the opening of a new financial assistance program for Fabry Disease. The program will provide eligible individuals with financial assistance for out-of-pocket medical expenses incurred as a result of the condition.
Fabry Disease is a rare disorder resulting from a deficiency of the enzyme alpha-galactosidase A. When there is not enough alpha-galactosidase A, a fatty substance called globotriaosylceramide builds up in cells lining the blood vessels. This can lead to skin and corneal lesions, swelling in the legs, frequent body aches, chronic fatigue and intolerance to temperature extremes, impacting many daily activities. More severe symptoms include lung disease, stroke, hearing loss and kidney failure.1,2
“People living with Fabry Disease may face a number of complications,” said Mark P. McGreevy, President and CEO, The Assistance Fund. “Treatments for disease management and serious complications resulting from Fabry Disease may come with significant out-of-pocket costs to the patient. We are excited about the launch of this new program as it will help eligible individuals to allay the costs associated with the management of their disease.”
“The National Fabry Disease Foundation is very excited about The Assistance Fund's program to offer financial support to people with Fabry Disease,” said Jerry Walter, Founder and President of the National Fabry Disease Foundation. “With a definitive lab test to diagnose Fabry Disease and two approved treatment options available in the U.S., children should not have to suffer a diminished quality of life and adults should not be at risk of premature death due to heart disease, kidney disease and strokes because they cannot access appropriate healthcare. We thank The Assistance Fund for joining our fight to live better and longer lives.”
To learn more or determine eligibility for financial support from The Assistance Fund, individuals should visit tafcares.org or call (855) 253-9223 to speak with a patient advocate.
A list of all the programs available at The Assistance Fund can be found on the website tafcares.org.
About The Assistance Fund
The Assistance Fund is an independent charitable patient assistance foundation that helps patients and families facing high medical out-of-pocket costs by providing financial assistance for their copayments, coinsurance, deductibles and other health-related expenses. The Assistance Fund currently manages more than 40 programs – each of which covers the FDA-approved medications that treat a specific disease. Since its founding in 2009, The Assistance Fund has helped more than 73,000 adults and children access the medicines they need to stay healthy or manage a chronic condition. To learn more about The Assistance Fund, or for information on how to donate, please visit tafcares.org.
References
1. “Fabry disease.” U.S. National Library of Medicine. Retrieved from https://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/condition/fabry-disease#diagnosis.
2. “Symptoms Overview.” National Fabry Disease Foundation. Retrieved from https://www.fabrydisease.org/index.php/about-fabry-disease/fabry-disease-symptoms-overview.
