The PAN Foundation and the Bladder Cancer Advocacy Network announce new alliance to provide support for people living with bladder cancer
PAN Foundation contact:
Liz Eckert, Marketing and Communications Manager
Email: leckert@panfoundation.org
Washington, D.C., March 29, 2019 -The PAN Foundation and the Bladder Cancer Advocacy Network (BCAN) today announced they are launching a new alliance to offer a broad range of support for people living with bladder cancer.
Working together, the PAN Foundation and BCAN will ensure that people living with bladder cancer have access to both financial and patient support services, providing them with the comprehensive support needed to best manage their disease.
“While PAN is focused on providing underinsured patients with the financial assistance they need to access essential medical care, adjusting to life after a diagnosis often requires additional resources,” said PAN President and CEO Dan Klein. “By partnering with BCAN, we can connect those living with bladder cancer to educational resources and support services that can empower their patient journey and improve their quality of life.”
According to the National Institutes of Health, bladder cancer is a type of cancer with abnormal, uncontrolled growth in the cells of the bladder. The American Cancer Society estimates there will be approximately 80,000 new cases of bladder cancer in the U.S. this year.
“The bladder cancer community and BCAN are grateful to have these funds to direct patients and survivors in need,” said BCAN CEO Andrea Maddox-Smith. “We are appreciative that the PAN Foundation and their supporters recognize the more than 600,000 U.S. citizens affected by bladder cancer .”
Patients who qualify for the PAN Foundation’s Bladder Cancer Assistance Program are eligible to receive $3,400 per year in financial assistance. Eligible patients must be getting treatment for bladder cancer; must reside and receive treatment in the United States; must have Medicare health insurance; and the medication for which they seek assistance must be covered by Medicare and listed on PAN’s list of covered medications. In addition, patients must fall at or below 500 percent of the Federal Poverty Level.
Patients, or advocates and caregivers applying on their behalf, can apply for assistance using the PAN Foundation’s online patient portal (www.panapply.org), or by calling 1-866-316-7263, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. ET, Monday through Friday. To learn more about PAN’s nearly 70 disease-specific programs, visit www.panfoundation.org.
About the PAN Foundation:
The PAN Foundation is an independent, nationwide 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to providing help and hope to underinsured patients who are unable to afford the out-of-pocket expenses for their prescribed medications. Since 2004, PAN has provided over $3 billion in financial assistance to nearly 1 million patients who would otherwise be unable to afford their medications. To learn more, visit www.panfoundation.org.
About the Bladder Cancer Advocacy Network:
The Bladder Cancer Advocacy Network (BCAN) was founded in 2005 and is the only national advocacy organization devoted to advancing bladder cancer research and supporting those impacted by the disease. BCAN is on the front-lines advocating for greater public awareness and increased funding for research to identify effective treatments and eventually, a cure for bladder cancer.
Each year, BCAN provides thousands of patients, caregivers and the medical community with the educational resources and support services they need to navigate their bladder cancer journey. BCAN works collaboratively with the medical and research professionals who are dedicated to the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of bladder cancer and empowers the patient community by allowing them to share experiences with others, and to participate in building awareness of the need for a cure.