Ian Manners Explains the Impact of Patient Financial Assistance Programs

No one wants to think that they can’t afford the treatment, and they certainly don’t want to raise that issue with their physician, said Ian Manners, MBA, co-founder, CEO, Vivor.

Transcript

With more patient financial assistance programs, does it seem like the stigma of being unable to afford medications is going away?

When done right, this kind of proactive approach really makes a big difference. It’s the difference between waiting for someone to raise their hand and say, “I have a financial problem,” which patients don’t want to do; no one wants to think that they can’t afford the treatment, and they certainly don’t want to raise that issue with their physician, because naturally, like anyone, if you’re diagnosed with cancer, you worry that that means you’re not going to get the best possible treatment, which is what you want the most.

So, what we found is that a really proactive approach of coming to a patient with an answer, instead of a question and a problem, makes a huge difference, saying “I’ve been able to find these solutions for you. They’re not charity, these are just coupons and programs made available by the pharma companies and foundations that are for you, and they can dramatically decrease your out-of-pocket costs. You can put a dollar amount on it.” I think that specificity and that proactive approach really makes a huge difference.