Reimbursement and patient assistance programs for oral chemotherapy agents.

Oncology nurses increasingly are being asked about medication insurance coverage for oral chemotherapy agents and other medications. In small clinic and office settings, nurses often are key providers of this information. Nurses need to be informed about Medicare's medication reimbursement guidelines and able to identify resources for patients. Resources may include pharmaceutical manufacturers, patient medication assistance programs, and medication discount programs. This article reviews these resources and provides tips to use them optimally in busy oncology practices.