Caring Voice Coalition, one of the largest patient assistance charities in the nation, will not offer financial aid this year, reports Reuters.
The move follows HHS Office of Inspector General's revocation of "a favorable advisory opinion issued to the nonprofit that essentially gave it approval to help Medicare patients pay for drug co-payments," according to the report.
HHS OIG first informed the charity of the revocation in November, following concerns drug companies had unfair influence over the charity. United Therapeutics Corp last month agreed to a $210 million settlement to resolve federal allegations it relied on the charity group to cover Medicare patients' out-of-pocket drug costs to limit consumers' price sensitivity and increase sales.
HHS OIG on Friday gave drugmakers permission to provide free drugs to patients in 2018 that previously received financial assistance from Caring Voice Coalition.
"We are grateful to have been able to assist thousands of patients suffering with numerous chronic illnesses and remain committed to fulfilling our charitable mission of improving the lives of patients with chronic illnesses," Caring Voice Coalition President Greg Smiley said Thursday in a statement cited by Reuters.
The charity has offered financial support to 100,000 people since 2003.
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