Part D PAPs inconsistent
Executive Summary
Availability and assistance from pharmaceutical assistance programs sponsored by states and drug makers are uneven, according to GAO. Its Sept. 5 report finds that only 23 states currently offer 37 qualified programs; eligibility and the type and extent of assistance vary between programs, with 20 programs offering broadly defined assistance, while 14 are aimed at a specific disease or condition. Manufacturer-sponsored PAPs also vary in eligibility requirements and application process, GAO notes, and are typically limited to the drugs that the manufacturer produces