New Common Application for HIV/AIDS Medicines Available Through Johnson & Johnson Patient Assistance Foundation, Inc.

Form Expected to Simplify Application Process and Save Time for Patients in Need

NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J., Sept. 12, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Johnson & Johnson Patient Assistance Foundation, Inc. (JJPAF) today announced that it has started to use a new common patient assistance program application for the HIV medicines it offers, streamlining for patients in the U.S. the process of applying for HIV medicines from multiple patient assistance programs. The new form consolidates all the required information in one place and is the result of a first of its kind public-private partnership with six other pharmaceutical companies, numerous Federal agencies and public-health and advocacy groups.

The form will simplify access to medications for patients who take HIV/AIDS medications offered by multiple manufacturers' patient assistance programs. A copy of the common application form is available here.  Janssen Therapeutics, Division of Janssen Products, LP, a Johnson & Johnson company, donates HIV medicines to JJPAF.    

Patients with HIV may require multiple medication regimens from different pharmaceutical companies.  This poses particular challenges for patients who lack adequate insurance and may need to enroll in patient assistance programs to get their medicines.

"Providing the common form for HIV/AIDS medicines was achieved through a shared vision to help patients," said Denise Sitarik, Vice President, JJPAF. "Making the application process simpler and easier for patients who are in need is very important to us."

On September 12, 2012, companies and their affiliated foundations that provide free or reduced-cost HIV medicines through patient assistance programs began to use the new common form, saving time and simplifying the application process for thousands of patients in the U.S. The original JJPAF application may still be used for medicines provided by JJPAF.

Each patient assistance program will determine eligibility for assistance based on the person's situation and individual program requirements. Patients still control which patient assistance programs receive their information. JJPAF keeps confidential all patient information that it receives.

In addition to JJPAF and the other companies and foundations, the government and nonprofit organizations that helped to develop the form include the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration (part of HHS), State AIDS Directors and AIDS Drug Assistance Programs, and various community representatives and advocates. The effort was convened by the National Alliance of State and Territorial AIDS Directors. 

About JJPAF

The Johnson & Johnson Patient Assistance Foundation, Inc. is a nonprofit organization that assists patients without adequate financial resources and prescription coverage in obtaining free products donated by the operating companies of Johnson & Johnson. The Foundation is an independent organization reflecting the Johnson & Johnson operating companies' long-standing commitment to helping patients access prescription medicines. For more information visit www.jjpaf.org

SOURCE Johnson & Johnson Patient Assistance Foundation, Inc.