HAMPTON, Va. and DUBLIN, July 19, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Patient Advocate Foundation (PAF) and Jazz Pharmaceuticals (Nasdaq: JAZZ)have partnered to launch the Narcolepsy CareLine, a dedicated hotline (866-538-7617) providing support services to the narcolepsy patient community. The hotline is staffed by a team of professionals from PAF, a national non-profit organization with experience in customized patient-focused case management.
Narcolepsy is a chronic neurologic brain disorder caused by the brain's inability to regulate sleep-wake cycles normally, and can affect all aspects of a patient's life, emotionally, physically, socially and academically. Impacting 1 in approximately 2,000 people in the United States of America, narcolepsy symptoms can lead to a variety of complications, such as limitations on education and employment opportunities, driving or machine accidents, difficulties at work resulting in disability, forced retirement or job dismissal and depression. It is estimated today that between 125,000 and 200,000 people are affected by this disorder in the United States.
Through the Narcolepsy CareLine, narcolepsy patients, their caregivers and healthcare providers can now receive individualized support services including assistance with insurance appeals, guidance with insurance benefit reimbursement and benefit programs, assistance with Medicare, Medicaid and Disability screening and enrollment, as well as referrals to local, state or federal resources. Further details, web contact forms and a full list of services available through the Narcolepsy CareLine can be found by calling 1-866-538-7617 or at narcolepsy.pafcareline.org.
"We are so pleased to have this opportunity to support narcolepsy patients by providing a resource to assist with the potential access barriers and practical challenges that they face," says Beth Patterson, president of mission delivery of Patient Advocate Foundation. "Both patients and providers will benefit from the guidance and expertise of the case managers at Patient Advocate Foundation."
Bruce Cozadd, chairman and chief executive officer of Jazz Pharmaceuticals, a specialty biopharmaceutical company stated, "Our company is committed to forming partnerships and broadening the services offered to patients with narcolepsy. The Narcolepsy CareLine is a great example of how two organizations can come together on behalf of patients."
About Patient Advocate Foundation
PAF is a national non-profit organization that seeks to safeguard patients through effective mediation assuring access to care, maintenance of employment and preservation of financial stability relative to their diagnosis of chronic, life threatening or debilitating disease. Patient Advocate Foundation has been consistently rated as a 4-star "exceptional" charity by Charity Navigator, the foremost independent evaluator of charities in the United States. For more information about Patient Advocate Foundation, please visit http://www.patientadvocate.org/.
About Jazz Pharmaceuticals (Nasdaq: JAZZ)
Jazz Pharmaceuticals plc is a specialty biopharmaceutical company focused on improving patients' lives by identifying, developing and commercializing products that address unmet medical needs. The company has a diverse portfolio of products in the areas of narcolepsy, oncology, pain, psychiatry and women's health. The company's U.S. marketed products in these areas include: Xyrem® (sodium oxybate), Erwinaze™ (asparaginase Erwinia chrysanthemi), Prialt® (ziconotide intrathecal infusion), FazaClo® (clozapine USP) HD and LD, Luvox CR® (fluvoxamine maleate) and Elestrin® (estradiol gel 0.06%). Outside of the U.S., Jazz Pharmaceuticals also has a number of products marketed by an international division, EUSA Pharma.
SOURCE Jazz Pharmaceuticals
Rebecca Reid, Schmidt Public Affairs, +1-703-548-0019, RReid@schmidtpa.com; or Ami Knoefler, Jazz Pharmaceuticals plc, Ireland + 353 1 638 1032, U.S. +1-650-496-2947, ami.knoefler@jazzpharma.com
