Increasing Rates of Patients on a Transplant Waitlist QIA

Transplant Information During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Network 17 Transplant Centers:

• University of California (UC) San Francisco Transplant Center: https://www.ucsfhealth.org/clinics/connie-frank-transplant-center-at-ucsf
• UC Davis Transplant Center: https://health.ucdavis.edu/transplant/
• California Pacific Medical Center (CPMC) Transplant Center: https://www.sutterhealth.org/cpmc
• Queens Transplant Center―Hawaii: https://www.queens.org/the-queens-medical-center/services/transplant-center/transplant-center-qmc
• Stanford Health Care Kidney Transplant Program: https://stanfordhealthcare.org/medical-clinics/kidney-transplant-program.html

Transplant Medication Resources:

• American Society of Transplantation (AST) Medication Access and Drug Shortage Concerns During the COVID-19 Pandemic
• Patients should always contact the transplant center that they are working with. There are financial coordinators that may be able to provide advice.
• Most pharmaceutical companies have assistance programs for their medications.  It can sometimes be a lengthy process and take a month or two for approval, but often patients can get the medications for free:
  
  • Astellas Pharma US, Inc.: https://www.astellas.com/us/patients-and-caregivers/resources-and-contacts
  • Novartis: https://www.novartis.us/our-products/patient-assistance
  • Pfizer: https://www.pfizerrxpathways.com/
  • UNOS link to pharmaceutical company patient assistance phone numbers for frequently prescribed transplant medications: https://transplantliving.org/financing-a-transplant/prescription-drug-assistance/
• COBRA: Even though the premiums are extremely expensive, patients can apply for premium assistance through the American Kidney Fund (AKF). If the patient qualifies, AKF may reimburse patients for the medical premium only.
• Medicare will cover medication costs for the first 3 years.  The patient may also be able to move into a Medicare supplement plan.
• Good Rx (https://www.GoodRx.com): Provides coupons to lower the cost of prescriptions.
• National Kidney Foundation prescription resources: https://www.kidney.org/patients/resources_Prescription
• Cornerstones4Care.com: https://www.cornerstones4care.com/. This is a program for patients requiring insulin after transplant.

California Specific Resources:

Patients can apply for Covered California or Medi-Cal by going to: https://c4yourself.com/c4yourself/index.jsp. 

Patients can apply for MRMIP (Major Risk Medical Insurance Program) through the State of California by going to: https://www.dhcs.ca.gov/services/Pages/MajorRiskMedicalInsuranceProgram.aspx. AKF may be able to assist with the premium costs.

Patient education: Partnering Along the Road to Transplant (English/Spanish): Use this handout to educate on ways to improve communication between patients and their providers and ease the transplant process for patients.

Ascent to Transplant videos for patients and healthcare providers:

• Patient-focused video
• Healthcare provider-focused video

Understanding the Kidney Allocation System: Wednesday February 19, 2020

Arizona Mayo Clinic Transplant physicians, Dr. Khamash and Dr. Jadlowiec, share a wealth of information on the essentials to understanding the Kidney Allocation System. This presentation may be viewed at the link below:

• Play recording (56 mins.)