Spinal Muscular Atrophy Health Equity Fund
Co-Pay Relief Program Fund Notices
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This fund has been developed in response to patients who have contacted PAF for help with their medication expenses and could not find help. While this fund has been fully designed and we are ready to provide needed support to these patient communities, this fund is not yet able to accept applications for assistance as we are still working to secure charitable donations that will allow us to open it.
If you, or someone you know, would like to contribute to this fund, please visit our Donors page for more information on how to provide critical support for patients in need.
Fund Type
- Co-pay, Co-insurance & Deductibles
- Office visits and administration charges related to treatment
- Medical Insurance premiums
$6,500 Per Year
- Household Income Requirements 400% or less of Federal Poverty Guideline (FPG) (adjusted for Cost of Living Index (COLI) and number in household)
- Insurance Requirements All Insurance Types
-
Residency RequirementsMust reside in an eligible county
Must receive treatment in the United States
Is my zip code eligible for Health Equity Funds?
About Spinal Muscular Atrophy Health Equity Fund
Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is a genetic disorder in which nerve cells in the spinal cord and brain stem degenerate, causing progressive muscle and wasting. The protein called SMN (survival of motor neuron) is found on both copies of the SMN1 gene. SMA is characterized by weakness and wasting (atrophy) in muscles used for movement (skeletal muscles).Weakness tends to be more severe in the muscles that are close to the center of the body (proximal) compared to muscles away from the body’s center (distal). The muscle weakness usually worsens with age. The SMN2 gene is found throughout the body, but has the highest levels in the spinal cord.
There are three types of SMA where symptoms first appear during infancy and childhood, type I SMA, also called Werdnig-Hoffman disease, is apparent by age 6 months accounts for more than half of new cases; type II (intermediate) SMA typically develops between age 3 and 15 months; type III SMA, also called Wohlfart-Kugelberg-Welander disease, begins between age 15 months and 19 years and worsens slowly. Type IV SMA first appears between the ages of 30 and 60 years old. Other names for this condition includes: 5q SMA, proximal SMA, SMA, SMA-associated SMA, spinal amyotrophies, spinal amyotrophy, spinal muscle degeneration, spinal muscle wasting, and infantile onset.
Our Health Equity Funds were developed to get assistance to those people and places who need it the most. Developed using the CDC’s Social Vulnerability Index (SVI) and CDC Disease Incidence data, our Health Equity Funds serve people living in 220 counties across the United States that have been identified by the CDC as having the highest social vulnerability scores and are burdened with high rates of chronic diseases. The Health Equity Funds are designed to specifically provide support to eligible patients living in one of the 220 counties covered by the funds, which is verified using the zip code of the patient’s home address. All other eligibility requirements, and fund operation, are the same as our general funds.
- CureSMA 800-886-1762
- First Hand Foundation816-210-1569
- MedlinePlus- SMN2 Gene
- MedlinePlus- Spinal Muscular Atrophy
- Merck Manual
- Muscular Dystrophy Association833-275-6321
- National Institutes of Health
- Spinal Muscular Atrophy Foundation646-253-7100
- CancerCare866-55-COPAY
- Good Days877-968-7233
- Healthwell Foundation800-675-8416
- National Organization for Rare Disorders800-999-6673
- Needy Meds800-503-6897
- Patient Access Network Foundation866-316-7263
- Patient Services Inc.800-366-7741
- The Assistance Fund855-845-3663
