Patient Financial Assistance Program
Our goal is to equitably administer financial assistance to help your patients overcome barriers before and after transplant.
Who is eligible for patient financial assistance?
Patients are eligible for financial assistance if they meet any of the following criteria and are
<350% the Federal Poverty Level:
Pre-Transplant
Patient has a formal search through the NMDP/Be The Match Registry, with intention to move forward with an allogeneic transplant, facilitated by NMDP/Be The Match (related or unrelated).
Post-Transplant
Patient had a NMDP/Be The Match facilitated transplant within 3 years of application submission date (related or unrelated).
Patient had an NMDP/Be The Match facilitated transplant (related or unrelated), is at least 90 days post-transplant, and actively being treated for chronic GVHD.
Clinical Trials
Patient is enrolled or in the process of enrolling in a clinical trial for a blood cancer or disorder and needs assistance covering travel expenses.
Transplant Center Reimbursement
Transplant center needs reimbursement for search and procurement activities facilitated by NMDP/Be The Match that are not covered by patient insurance.
Please use this letter as a confirmation of pre-approval
What patient financial assistance can cover?
It can help patients with costs before and after transplant, which may include:
- Unexpected financial burdens (unemployment, extended hospital stay expenses, car troubles, etc.)
- Out-of-pocket costs related to medical care (copays for medication, clinic visits and dental work)
- Non-medical out-of-pocket costs for patients and caregivers (temporary housing, food, gas, etc.)
- Medical costs associated with chronic graft-versus-host disease management
- Travel costs related to clinical trials
- Costs related to fertility preservation for patients with SCD
- Inadequate health insurance coverage for search and procurement activities facilitated by Be The Match
- An emergency or crisis event that is impacting post-transplant care (see Crisis Grant details below)
How do I apply for patient financial assistance?
Complete the online application:
Apply for Patient Financial Assistance
Applications must be submitted by a healthcare professional through our secure online application. The data in this application is for internal use only and will never be shared. Within 5 business days we determine patient eligibility and award an amount using a sliding scale. If approved, patients will receive funds in the form of the payment method selected in the application.
These worksheets can help you prepare the information needed for the online application:
- Pre-transplant, post-transplant, and clinical trial travel grants (patient-friendly) worksheet
- Transplant center needs reimbursement for NMDP/Be The Match facilitated search activity
Our Patient Financial Assistance Program is funded by the Be The Match Foundation® and facilitated through our Patient Financial Assistance team. Availability of patient financial assistance depends on funding and is not guaranteed, regardless of eligibility.
Search Assistance Funding
The National Marrow Donor Program/Be The Match provides a Search Assistance Fund (SAF) grant directly to transplant centers to be applied toward patient accounts when insurance or coverage issues prevent patients from moving forward with a transplant. If your center will not proceed without insurance authorization, please use this letter as a pre-approval (up to $20,000).
To qualify for SAF reimbursement all the following must be true:
- Claim for search and procurement charges was submitted to insurance and denied OR patient is uninsured. Appropriate documentation includes:
- Explanation of Benefits
- Policy documentation outlining lack of or no coverage
- Denial from insurance company
- We cannot accept the billing/payment account summary from TC
- Prior Authorization denials will only be accepted if they have been appealed and denied
- Attestation by health care team that patient is uninsured
- Activities for reimbursement were facilitated by NMDP
- Related transplants must be facilitated by Related Donor Services
- Invoice(s) submitted with reimbursement request are no more than 12 months old
Examples of eligible scenarios for reimbursement include (but not limited to):
Eligible for SAF
- Has donor search coverage, but insurance pays for "Chosen Donor Only"
- Prior Authorizations that have been denied after being appealed*
- Patient is uninsured
Not Eligible for SAF
- Payment to TC denied due to contract agreement between policy and TC
- Services rendered outside NMDP/BTM
- Payments to Medicare when patient died prior to transplant**
*Requests submitted for pending PA’s will be denied
** Reference the alloHSTC Cost-Based Reimbursement Webinar
The grants were a gift from heaven. When you’re sick and can’t work for a year or more, you don’t know what you’re going to do…the grants made such a big difference in our lives!”
–Bruce, transplant recipient
Crisis Grant
The Crisis Grant, founded by Ira & Diana Riklis, can provide up to $10,000 for patients experiencing a crisis directly impacting their access to transplant.
To be eligible, all the following requirements must be met:
- Patient has a donor identified or had an NMDP/Be The Match facilitated transplant within the last 24 months
- Patient or family has an emergency or crisis event prohibiting patient from receiving required treatment and/or impact the patient’s health
- Pre-transplant: Must have a donor/cord ready for workup
- Post-transplant: Must actively be receiving care
- Patient must reside in the United States
- Patient's household income does not exceed 350% of the federal poverty line
- Income does not exceed monthly costs - including costs needed for the crisis
If your patient meets the above eligibility requirements, please email our Patient Financial Assistance team at patientgrants@nmdp.org to request the application. We ask you email us for a new application for each patient. Crisis Grant applications must be submitted by transplant center staff member.
Other Resources
Access free financial resources for patients
Our Patient Navigators can help patients and caregivers get answers to financial and insurance questions, cope with uncertainty and connect with others who understand the transplant process.
- Email: patientinfo@nmdp.org
- Phone: 1 (888) 999-6743
It’s hard for many patients to keep paying their mortgage, utilities or credit card debts when there are so many new bills to pay after transplant. If it’s hard to keep up with all your bills, call your creditors (the companies you owe money to) and explain your situation. Many will understand and work with you. Ask about getting lower, more manageable monthly payments.
If your patients need help talking to creditors about lowering your payments, call a nonprofit consumer credit counseling service. These organizations can help you set a budget and they can also work with your creditors to come up with a payment plan. Call (800) 388-2227 or visit the National Foundation for Credit Counseling.
Questions?
Contact our Patient Financial Assistance team.
Phone
1 (763) 406-8114