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
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.
What Is Neulasta?
Pegfilgrastim, which is also known by the brand name, Neulasta, is a hematopoietic agent that is used to treat neutropenia. Neulasta was the first medication produced based on the active element pegfilgrastim.
Pegfilgrastim is not a hazardous drug, nor is it a form of chemotherapy. Several different biosimilars based on Neulasta have been produced to date.
Mechanism of Action
Pegfilgrastim is a blood cell colony-stimulating agent (CSA) and has been used successfully by cancer patients to stimulate the growth of white blood cells, more specifically neutrophils. It does this by stimulating the production of neutrophils directly from the bone marrow.
How Is Neulasta Used?
Available Formulations
Neulasta is only available as a subcutaneous (under the skin) injection or as a specialized skin patch (also known as an on-body injector [OBI] or Neulasta OnPro). Neulasta injection is available as a single-use prefilled syringe for subcutaneous injection at a dose of 6 mg/0.6 ml.
Subcutaneous Injection
The injection sites can include upper areas of the buttocks, front of the thighs, lower abdomen area (2 inches away from the navel), or the upper outer arms. Do not inject into areas where the skin is tender, bruised, red, scaly, or hard, and avoid areas with scars or stretch marks. After injection, do not rub the injection site. Do not handle the prefilled syringe if you are allergic to latex, and do not save unused medication in the prefilled syringe for later use. You should not attempt to give yourself a subcutaneous injection until you have received the appropriate training from your healthcare provider.
Specialized Skin Patch (On-Body Injector, OBI)
The Neulasta OnPro Patch is a system that your health care provider will program to automatically deliver the drug into the body about 27 hours after chemotherapy. This is convenient for many patients because it saves them a trip to the doctor’s office the day after receiving chemotherapy.
Copay and Financial Assistance
AmeriPharma™ Specialty Care 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
Precautions
Unless approved by your physician, pegfilgrastim is generally not recommended for:
- Patients who have an allergy to human granulocyte colony-stimulating factors (CFS) such as filgrastim or pegfilgrastim products. Allergic reactions can cause a rash over the whole body, shortness of breath, wheezing, dizziness, swelling around your mouth or eyes, fast heart rate, and sweating. If you have any of these symptoms, stop using Neulasta, and call your doctor or get emergency help right away.
- Patients with sickle cell disorder. Using Neulasta can lead to a condition called sickle cell crisis, which may be life-threatening and require discontinuation of Neulasta.
- Patients receiving radiation therapy. Neulasta may increase the risk of developing a precancerous condition called myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) or a type of blood cancer called acute myeloid leukemia (AML).
What To Avoid While Taking Pegfilgrastim
While on pegfilgrastim therapy, you must follow some precautions. Always tell your physician about any medication you are already taking. Do not take any drug or medicine (even herbals or over-the-counter medications) without prior consent from your physician or pharmacist, as they may have interactions with Neulasta. Avoid taking Neulasta within 14 days before or 24 hours after having chemotherapy.
Neulasta Side Effects
Serious side effects include:
- Injection-site pain
- Bone and muscle aches
- Thrombocytopenia, leukocytosis
- Lung problem called acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS)
- Kidney injury
- Capillary leak syndrome (CLS)
- Inflammation of blood vessels
- Rupture of the spleen
Less severe side effects include:
- Sweating
- Dark Urine
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.
Get Started in Minutes
Fill out your information and one of our specialists will call you ASAP.
How Much Can You Save?
Speak with a copay assistance specialist
(877) 778-0318
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