How the Foundation helps
Assistance with appealing a denied claim
If an insurance company has denied a patient's prescribed treatment, the National Psoriasis Foundation can usually send the insurance company a letter in support of the claim. Have your patient e-mail advocacy@psoriasis.org (or fax 503.245.0626) and provide his/her name and address, the name of the insurance company, the patient ID number, the name and address of the insurance company's medical director/appeals department, and a brief description of the situation. We cannot help until we have this information.
A copy of the patient's insurance policy (as it pertains to the specific treatment claim) and any letters from you or the insurance company can help us draft a more persuasive letter.
Improving access to care
In addition to helping doctors and their patients overcome insurance barriers, the Psoriasis Foundation is working on a policy level to improve access to care. The Foundation worked with Blue Shield of California to improve that company's policy on use of biologic treatments for moderate to severe psoriasis. Through collaboration with Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) and the Oregon Dermatology Society, the National Psoriasis Foundation also worked to broaden coverage of psoriasis under the Oregon Health Plan, Oregon's version of Medicaid.
As part of the ongoing effort to share these and other experiences in changing health plan policies, the National Psoriasis Foundation presented at the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) in July 2006. Use the link below to download this presentation.
 Helping Patients Overcome Insurance Barriers (177k PDF)
For permission or other information about this presentation, please contact Advocacy Director Sheila Rittenberg, at 503.546.8365 or srittenberg@psoriasis.org.
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