The HealthWell Foundation is a nonprofit organization with a mission to reduce financial barriers to care for underinsured patients with chronic or life-altering diseases. The foundation assists with copays, premiums, deductibles, and out-of-pocket expenses for those in need. In late June 2022, the HealthWell Foundation announced that it had expanded a fund for homocystinuria to include and support patients with organic acidemia. The Organic Acidemia Association has also come onboard as a contributor and alliance partner for the HealthWell Foundation. In fact, it was a donation from the OAA which helped with expansion.
The Homocystinuria and Organic Acidemias Fund will support patients with up to $5,000 for premium and treatment-management costs. While this is not an exhaustive list of covered therapies, some covered therapies include Ammonul, Buphenyl, carglumic acid, Cyanokit, Dextrose (non-OTC), Flagyl 375, L-citrulline, and Nuvessa.
Currently, the fund is temporarily closed. However, patients in need are encouraged to keep a close eye out for when funds are replenished. To learn more about the Homocystinuria and Organic Acidemias Fund, who qualifies, and what treatment options are covered, head to the HealthWell Foundation website.
About Organic Acidemia
Organic acidemia is considered to be an umbrella term which refers to a collection of metabolic disorders inherited in an autosomal recessive pattern. To inherit a form of organic acidemia, individuals must inherit one defective gene from both parents. There are multiple forms of organic acidemia, such as methylmalonic acidemia, propionic acidemia, isovaleric acidemia, and maple syrup urine disease. In each case, these disorders disrupt enzymes as they break down amino acids. As a result, amino acids accumulate throughout the brain and nervous system, causing health impacts. Typically, symptoms manifest in early infancy (within one week following birth), though they may occur in later infancy or early childhood. To learn more about specific symptoms, click on the links above!
