Autoimmune Disease Awareness Month
March was Autoimmune Disease Awareness month, and as we begin to look forward to the start of a new month at RareMed Solutions, we wanted to reflect on those who face health challenges brought on by autoimmune diseases every day. At RareMed, it is our mission to provide access to therapies for patients who need them most. With autoimmune diseases affecting more than 50 million people nationwide, and approximately 4% of the world’s population, we strive to help make a difference in these patients lives by providing the tools, education, and support patients need to expedite access and maximize the quality of healthcare outcomes in their treatment journeys.
What are Autoimmune Diseases?
By definition, an autoimmune disease is a condition in which the immune system mistakenly attacks and damages healthy body tissue and cells, rather than doing the job they are designed to do, which is to protect. Autoimmune diseases are often hereditary and may affect multiple people in the same family. However, it takes nearly 5 years, on average, for patients to receive an accurate diagnosis. Patients are often required to visit multiple doctors and specialists to receive a diagnosis, all while trying to manage their health and navigate the complicated world of healthcare. Additionally, about 25% of people living with an autoimmune disease also are managing another condition simultaneously.
RareMed Solution’s Role
Biologics are a category of medication that are used to help autoimmune disease patients. Biologics are designed to target specific components of the immune system, with the goal to weaken or immobilize the features of the immune system that are triggering autoimmune diseases, without the adverse side effects that can come from broadly weakening the immune system.
Though newer to the market than traditional medications, and often times very effective, these breakthrough treatments can also create obstacles for patients to overcome during therapy. The route of administration, such as self-injection or intravenous delivery, can present barriers to patients, as well as the logistics and storage requirements for temperature-sensitive products. Additionally, the out-of-pocket price for biologic medications can be challenging to manage.
RareMed strives to remove the hurdles that many autoimmune disorder patients face by assisting our patients at every step of their treatment journey. RareMed facilitates access to treatment for a variety of therapies that treat autoimmune diseases. In doing so, the company provides secure cold chain dispensing to all 50 states and territories, effective pharmacist and clinical counseling, patient education, free drug dispensing, and copay solutions – all contributing to making these life changing medications available and more accessible for our patients suffering from autoimmune diseases.
For more info on autoimmune disease visit Autoimmune.org.
For more info on how RareMed solutions can provide access and patient services to your autoimmune therapy, contact us.