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Astellas offers many programs for patients facing financial barriers to accessing their necessary medications.
Astellas Pharma US, Inc., provided drug assistance for over 15,600 uninsured and underinsured patients in 2009. Astellas has committed significant resources to ensuring patient access to therapy through its patient assistance program, called the Astellas Access Program—providing free drugs, distributing these drugs free of charge to patients, and administering the programs that help patients connect with this assistance. In total, Astellas contributed over $35 million to patient assistance.
Astellas Reimbursement ServicesSM (ARS) supports patient access to Astellas medications by helping patients get the most from their healthcare plan. ARS delivers high-quality assistance at no cost to you. Services include benefit verification, prior-authorization requirement guidance, and help with appealing denied claims.
Steps to benefit verification:
Contact ARS to request assistance with a benefit verification, or complete a Benefit Verification Request Form, which can be downloaded here. For assistance in completing the form, please contact ARS at 1-800-477-6472. The form can also be completed with the help of a healthcare provider or case manager. Once the form is completed, fax it and a copy of the front and back of the insurance card(s) to ARS at 1-866-317-6235.
Within one day, the insurance provider will be contacted by ARS to verify benefit coverage and any claims submission requirements.
Once the benefit has been verified, the patient or healthcare provider will receive a Summary of Benefits by mail or fax.
ARS is available to answer any questions patients or healthcare providers may have.
Astellas Reimbursement Services
1-800-477-6472
Monday through Friday, 9 AM to 8 PM EST
The Prograf: Value Card helps transplant recipients receive $200* in instant savings on each of their next 12 Prograf prescriptions—a total savings of up to $2,400* per year.
*Subject to eligibility. Restrictions may apply. Offer not valid for residents of Massachusetts and those who participate in Medicare, Medicaid, or any other federal- or state-funded pharmaceutical benefit program.
What is Prograf?
PROGRAF is a prescription medicine used with other medicines to help prevent organ rejection in people who have had a kidney, liver, or heart transplant. PROGRAF is not for use with medicines called cyclosporines (Gengraf®, Neoral®, and Sandimmune®) and is not for use with a medicine called sirolimus (Rapamune®) in people who have had a liver or heart transplant. It is not known if PROGRAF is safe and effective when used with sirolimus in people who have had kidney transplants. It is not known if PROGRAF is safe and effective in children who have had kidney or heart transplants.
Important Safety Information
What is the most important information I should know about Prograf?
Prograf can cause serious side effects, including:
1. Increased risk of cancer. People who take Prograf have an increased risk of getting some kinds of cancer, including skin and lymph gland cancer (lymphoma).
2. Increased risk of infection. Prograf is a medicine that affects your immune system. Prograf can lower the ability of your immune system to fight infections. Serious infections can happen in people receiving Prograf that can cause death. Call your doctor right away if you have symptoms of an infection such as fever, sweats or chills, cough or flu-like symptoms, muscle aches, and/or warm, red, or painful areas on your skin.
Do not take PROGRAF if you are allergic to tacrolimus or any of the ingredients in PROGRAF.
Before you take PROGRAF, tell your doctor if you: plan to receive any live vaccines, have or have had liver, kidney or heart problems, are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. PROGRAF may harm your unborn baby and can pass into your breast milk. You and your doctor should decide if you will take PROGRAF or breastfeed. You should not do both.
Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take, including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. PROGRAF may affect the way other medicines work, and other medicines may affect how PROGRAF works. Know the medicines you take. Keep a list of your medicines and show it to your doctor and pharmacist when you get a new medicine.
How Should I Take PROGRAF?
Do not eat grapefruit or drink grapefruit juice while taking PROGRAF. Take PROGRAF exactly as your doctor tells you to take it. Take PROGRAF with or without food and the same way and time every day. If you take too much PROGRAF, call your doctor or go to the nearest hospital emergency room right away.
PROGRAF may cause serious side effects, including:
high blood sugar (diabetes), kidney problems, nervous system problems, high levels of potassium in your blood, high blood pressure, or heart problems (myocardial hypertrophy). Call your doctor right away if you have any of these symptoms: frequent urination, increased thirst or hunger, blurred vision, confusion, drowsiness, loss of appetite, fruity smell on your breath, nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, muscle tremors, numbness and tingling, headache, seizures, vision changes, shortness of breath, chest pain, feel lightheaded, or feel faint.
The most common side effects of PROGRAF are: tremors (shaking of the body); high blood pressure; kidney problems; diarrhea; headache; stomach pain; trouble sleeping; nausea; pain; weakness or low red blood cell count (anemia); infection; constipation; low levels of phosphate in your blood; swelling of the hands, ankles, or legs; high levels of fat or potassium in your blood; numbness or tingling in your hands or feet; fever; or low levels of magnesium in the blood.
Tell your doctor if you have any side effect that bothers you or that does not go away. These are not all the possible side effects of PROGRAF. For more information, ask your doctor or pharmacist. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects.
You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch, or call 1-800-FDA-1088.
Please see the Patient Prescribing Information and Full Prescribing Information for additional safety information.
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