Handout: What is an Alternative Funding Program?
65% of U.S. workers get healthcare coverage through insurance self-funded by their employers, and employers are continually trying to keep those insurance costs in budget. Recently, many employers are controlling those costs by forcing their employees to use illegal, foreign pharmacies to obtain higher-cost “specialty” medicines that treat conditions like cancer, HIV, rheumatoid arthritis and diabetes. This exposes patients to non-FDA-approved and counterfeit medicines.
This practice carries civil and criminal liability for employers but not patients. You can confidentially report employers and vendors who employ these practices to Homeland Security Investigations: Email iprcenter@hsi.dhs.gov, denoting “AFP” in the subject line. You can also report them to PSM by emailing editors@safemedicines.org.
