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When you and your doctor are weighing different treatment options for multiple sclerosis (MS), there are many factors to consider. Treatments have different risks and benefits, and each may affect your body and your daily life in a different way. It is important to discuss with your doctor what options are available and the pros and cons of each.
Many treatments fall into the category called “disease-modifying therapies” (DMTs).
Patient Support Programs (PSPs)
For many DMTs, drug manufacturers offer free PSPs that you can choose to participate in when you are prescribed their product. These programs differ, but are all generally designed to help you get started with a new drug and ensure you are using it properly. Just as each drug is different, each PSP is different.
PSPs May Provide:
One-on-one private counselling
- Via telephone or online
- Usually given by a qualified nurse
- Instructions or training for how to take your medication
Resources and recommendations to support your treatment
Financial support and assistance with insurance forms
Some PSPs include advisors to help you navigate insurance reimbursement or financial assistance programs. It may even be possible to get a prescribed medication at no cost while your insurance claims are pending, or under special circumstances.
Some PSPs do more. They may coordinate delivery of the drug to your house and help you set up appointments. They may perform additional tests, like blood tests, and provide all the results to your doctor to ensure that the medication is working properly and safely. Many PSPs also offer resources for side effect management and a connection to communities of fellow patients for more support.
It is important to note that a PSP is not a replacement for your neurologist or other healthcare providers. You and your doctor should decide what treatment is best for you.
Do PSPs help?
A lot of research has been done to determine how helpful PSPs can be for patients on different treatments and with different diseases.1
Results from a review of 64 studies
of Patient Support Programs1
(41 out of 64 studies)
improved a clinical outcome
(27 out of 42 studies)
improved quality of life, daily functioning, or similar
(27 out of 41 studies)
reported adherence to medication
Some PSPs also offer cost savings for patients with chronic diseases. In the U.S., a study reported participation in a PSP improved disease-related and overall medical costs* relative to those patients who didn’t participate.2
35% lower
disease-related medical costs
(P=0.005)
and
29% lower
overall medical costs
(P=0.0004)
for Patients in a PSP (n=1,134) vs Patients NOT in a PSP (n=1,134)
How do you learn more and sign up for a PSP?
The enrolment process for each PSP is different. Most programs have an enrolment form that you or your doctor will sign and submit. Whether you are starting a new therapy or are continuing on a current therapy, it is important to ask your doctor whether a PSP is available for the treatment you are prescribed.
When discussing any PSP with your care providers, be sure to get a complete picture of all of the benefits it offers (there may be many).
Here’s a list of things to look for — you can refer back to this when discussing PSP programs with your doctor:
- A welcome kit with information about the product
- Bridge program and financial assistance (copay or free products for those who qualify)
- Reimbursement services and assistance with drug coverage
- Home delivery of products
- Nursing support (via telephone hotline, online chat, or in person)
- Injection training or infusion coordination (if necessary)
- Educational resources to better understand and manage your disease
- Treatment adherence and appointment reminders
- Advice for coping with side effects
- Monitoring and testing services (e.g., blood tests)
- A mobile app for your phone
Check your knowledge!
What did you learn?
True or false?
Patient support programs for MS
treatments offer only product training.
Not true! PSPs for MS treatments often offer many things — product training, one-to-one counselling, resources and recommendations to support your treatment, financial support and assistance with insurance, and more.
Discuss with your doctor whether your treatment has a PSP and what it can offer you.
That’s right! PSPs for MS treatments can usually offer product training, one-to-one counselling, resources and recommendations to support your treatment, financial support and assistance with insurance, and more.
Discuss with your doctor whether your treatment has a PSP and what it can offer you.
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