Take Action on Asthma
Inhale. Exhale. Give. Share. Repeat.
There are 670,000 North Carolinians living with asthma. This is the equivalent to the entire population of Boston.
NC MedAssist serves the uninsured and low-income residents of NC with lifesaving medication to treat chronic illnesses, including asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases (COPD), such as emphysema and chronic bronchitis. 17% of our patients currently need these medications to treat chronic respiratory conditions. It’s not a luxury item, it’s an item that allows them to continue breathing.
We receive all of our prescription and OTC medicine through generous in-kind donations, but inhalers have recently been removed from the list of items we receive, directly affecting 3,236 of our patients. Now we must choose between purchasing the generic version for our patients or removing inhalers completely from our formulary. This one small change will add over $800,000 to our budget next fiscal year.
What are the risks if we are unable to fund the cost and patients do not receive their medication?
- Removal of inhalers from our formulary
- Higher utilization of emergency room visits across the state
- Increased healthcare costs to the community
- The inability for patients to work, exercise, participate in daily activities
- Possible death for severe asthmatic cases
This is an immediate need. Just $111 will provide one patient with the critical inhaler they need. We hope to raise $55,000 to help 500 asthmatic patients breathe easily.
