How Assistance Works
Streamlining our patient’s specialty pharmacy experience with unmatched full-service convenience
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1. Check Your Coverage/Benefits Verification
Our team of expert billers finds the best avenues of coverage that minimize out-of-pocket costs.
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2. Transfer Prescription to AmeriPharma®
We process your prescription by working with your previous pharmacy or prescriber, making the transition quick and easy.
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3. Prior Authorization
Our team of specialists obtains approval from your insurance companies within 24 to 72 hours.
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4. Copay Assistance & Financial Aid
We secure financial aid and decrease copays, out-of-pocket expenses, and high deductibles. To date, AmeriPharma® Specialty Care has secured $55 million in financial assistance for our patients.
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5. Nursing Care Coordination If Needed
AmeriPharma® puts your schedule and home environment first when scheduling and coordinating one of our specialized nurses for your in-home infusions.
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6. Delivery Coordination
Medications are always delivered in strict compliance with the specific requirements for shipping. Next-day and overnight cold-chain deliveries are coordinated around your schedule.
Overview of GLASSIA
If you’ve been diagnosed with emphysema (a lung disease) or are experiencing symptoms similar to emphysema due to alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency (AATD), your healthcare provider may prescribe a medication called GLASSIA.
GLASSIA, also known by its generic name, alpha-1 proteinase inhibitor (Alpha 1-PI), was approved by the FDA on July 1, 2010, for AATD. This medication replaces the missing Alpha 1-PI in adults with AATD and helps prevent further lung damage.
GLASSIA infusions are FDA-approved for chronic augmentation and maintenance therapy in adults who have emphysema due to severe hereditary deficiency of alpha-1 proteinase inhibitors.
Note: Alpha-1 proteinase inhibitor (Alpha 1-PI) and alpha-1 antitrypsin (AAT) are both terms that refer to the same protein.
Composition and Mechanism of Action
GLASSIA is made from human plasma (the liquid part of the blood), which contains alpha-1 proteinase inhibitor protein.
Normally, alpha 1-PI or ATT protein protects the lungs by stopping the activity of an enzyme (a protein) called neutrophil elastase, which kills bacteria in the lungs.
However, in people with AAT deficiency, elastase doesn’t stop working and eventually damages the lungs. This typically leads to emphysema, which causes symptoms like shortness of breath, wheezing, and a chronic cough.
Mechanism of Action
GLASSIA treatments work by raising the alpha-1 PI levels in the bloodstream. This helps lower inflammation and prevent further damage to lung tissue, thereby slowing the progression of lung disease.
Note: GLASSIA is not a cure for AAT deficiency; it only helps to manage this complex condition and slow down or prevent further lung damage.
Copay and Financial Assistance
AmeriPharma® Specialty Pharmacy alleviates financial burdens for patients and their families
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Advanced software locates funding sources to match you with top-dollar foundation programs
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One of our copay assistance specialists will assist with the application process
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Automatic updates will be sent to you and your physician on the status of the funding
Contraindications and Warnings
GLASSIA is contraindicated in patients who have:
- Active lung infections
- A history of severe allergic reactions to alpha 1-PI products
- Immunoglobulin A (IgA) deficiency with antibodies against IgA
Furthermore, you may get an infection from GLASSIA. Although this medication is made from human blood and undergoes a rigorous testing and screening process, there is still a chance that it might contain infectious agents such as:
- Viruses
- The variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (vCJD)
- The Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) agent
Precautionary Measures
Before opting for GLASSIA, tell your healthcare provider if you are/have:
- Pregnant or plan to become pregnant because it is not known whether GLASSIA treatments can cause harm to an unborn baby.
- Breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed, since there is no information available on how GLASSIA infusions may affect breastfed infants or milk production.
- Taking any over-the-counter medications, supplements, or herbal products.
- Any health problem like liver disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), or other breathing problems.
GLASSIA Side Effects
Common side effects include:
- Cough
- Fatigue
- Nausea
- Dizziness
- Sinus infection
- Chest discomfort
- Shortness of breath
- Increased liver enzymes
Serious side effects include:
- Worsening or flare-up of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
Insurances Accepted
We accept Medicare, multi-state Medicaid, Medi-Cal, Blue Shield, and most private insurances. Call us to find out more about your coverage.
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