Service Organizations and Governmental Agencies

American Bar Association
Telephone: 800-285-2221
Internet: www.abanet.org
The American Bar Association is a professional organization of more than 400,000 lawyers. The ABA provides law school accreditation, continuing legal education, information about the law, programs to assist lawyers and judges in their work, and initiatives to improve the legal system for the public. The Center for ProBono work (free legal services) can be found at www.abanet.org/legalservices/probono/directory.html#.

Americans With Disabilities Act Home Page
Internet: www.usdoj.gov/crt/ada/adahom1.htm
Provides information about the federal law entitled, "The Americans with Disabilities Act." Information about the rights of people affected by cancer and other diseases is included.

Angel Flight America
Telephone: 877-247-5433 (877-AIR-LIFE)
Internet: http://www.angelflightamerica.org
Air Life Line coordinates free air travel for those in need of medical care. It is the oldest and largest national volunteer pilot organization in the United States. Air Life Line is funded by donations from individuals, foundations, corporations, and the generosity of volunteer pilots.

Corporate Angel Network (CAN)
Telephone: 866-328-1313 or 914-328-1313
Internet: www.corpangelnetwork.org
CAN is a charitable organization whose mission is to arrange free flights for people with cancer to treatment centers using the empty seats on corporate aircraft. The program is open to all cancer patients who are able to get around on their own and are not in need of medical support while traveling. Eligibility is not based on financial need, and patients may travel as often as necessary.

Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Inspector General Hotline
Telephone: 800-HHS-TIPS (800-447-8477)
Internet: www.oig.hhs.gov
The Office of Inspector General (OIG) protects the integrity of HHS programs as well as the health and welfare of the beneficiaries of the programs. HHS programs and institutions under OIG oversight include Medicare, Medicaid, the Food and Drug Administration, the National Institutes of Health, and many others. The purpose of the OIG hotline is to allow consumers to report fraud, overcharging, or other abuses.

Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Housing Counseling Agencies
Internet: www.hud.gov/offices/hsg/sfh/hcc/hccprof14.cfm
The federal government operates this site. The section noted here is the section of the HUD Internet site that lists approved housing counseling agencies. These agencies can provide information on defaults, foreclosures, credit issues, and reverse mortgages.

Department of Veterans Affairs
Telephone: 800-827-1000 (VA Benefits), 877-222-8387 (Health Care Benefits), 800-669-8477 (Life Insurance)
Internet: www.va.gov
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) offers many benefits to military veterans. The Internet site is comprehensive and allows you to submit online applications for most VA benefits. The site also has contact information for regional VA offices and medical centers. There is also a listing of veterans' service organizations at
http://www1.va.gov/vso.

Dream Foundation
Telephone: 805-564-2131
Internet: www.dreamfoundation.com
The Dream Foundation is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to grant the last wishes of terminally ill adults.

Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
Telephone: 888-INFO-FDA (888-463-6332) or 301-827-4460
Internet: www.fda.gov
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is the government agency responsible for ensuring the safety of foods, human and veterinary drugs, biological products, medical devices, cosmetics, and electronic products that emit radiation. The Cancer Liaison Program answers questions directed to FDA by cancer patients, their loved ones, and patient advocates about therapies for cancer. The program can be accessed online at www.fda.gov/oashi/cancer/cancer.html or by telephone at 888-INFOFDA (888-463-6332) or 301-827-4460. The program provides information about cancer drug approval processes, links to clinical trial Internet sites, and FDA-related articles and information.

Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Single Patient Investigational New Drug Program
Patients who are not eligible for a clinical trial and who are in an immediate medical crisis may be able to receive drugs that are not yet FDA-approved. Your doctor would have to apply to the FDA for permission to use the drug, an approval known as a Single Patient IND for Compassionate or Emergency Use. Contact information appears below.
The FDA usually responds to an application within 24 to 48 hours.
CDER Oncology Drug Products (most cancer drugs): 301-594-2473
CBER Oncology Branch (for biologicals): 301-827-5093
Internet information: www.fda.gov/cder/cancer/singleIND.htm

Medicaid
Internet: www.cms.hhs.gov/medicaid/default.asp
This is the federal government's official site for Medicaid information.

Medicare
Internet: www.medicare.gov
This is the federal government's official site for Medicare information. Information about prescription drug assistance programs can be found at www.medicare.gov/Prescription/Home.asp


National Association of Hospital Hospitality Houses
Telephone: 800-542-9730 or 301-961-5264
Internet: www.nahhh.org
The National Association of Hospital Hospitality Houses (NAHHH) is a nonprofit corporation serving facilities that provide lodging and other supportive services to patients and their families who are confronted with medical emergencies. Each facility assures that a homelike environment is provided to persons who must travel to be with a patient or to receive necessary outpatient care. Reduced cost or free temporary housing may be available on a case-by-case basis.

National Association of State Comprehensive Health Insurance Plans
Telephone: 952-851-7245
Internet: www.naschip.org
The National Association of State Comprehensive Health Insurance Plans (NASCHIP) was created in 1993 to provide educational opportunities and information for state high risk health insurance pools that have been, or are yet to be, established by state governments to serve the medically 'uninsurable' population. The NASCHIP Internet site has a list of states plans and contact information at www.naschip.org/states_pools.htm.

National Consumers League (NCL)
Telephone: 202-835-3323
Internet: www.nclnet.org
NCL works to protect and promote the economic and social interests of American consumers. NCL offers brochures on various health care topics.

National Patient Air Transport Helpline (NPATH)
Telephone: 800-296-1217 or 703-361-1191
Internet: www.patienttravel.org
NPATH provides information about all forms of charitable, long-distance medical air transportation and provides referrals to available sources of help in the national charitable medical air transportation network. The Internet site and Helpline are provided by Mercy Medical Airlift, a national, nonprofit organization.

NeedyMeds.com
Internet: www.needymeds.com
Needy Meds is a nonprofit organization providing information about prescription assistance programs that help eligible participants obtain medicines a little or no cost.

Patient Advocate Foundation (PAF)
Telephone: 800-532-5274 or 757- 873-6668
Internet: www.patientadvocate.org
PAF is a national non-profit organization. PAF provides education, counseling, and referrals to health care consumers concerning managed care, insurance, financial issues, job discrimination, and debt crisis matters. The Internet site has a state listing of financial resources at www.patientadvocate.org/report.php.

RxAssist
Internet: www.rxassist.org
RxAssist is sponsored by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. It is primarily intended for physicians and other health care providers to provide them with the information they need to help patients access prescription assistance programs.

Social Security Administration
Internet: www.ssa.gov
SSA.gov is the official site for information on Social Security benefits and disability programs.

The Viatical and Life Settlement Association of America
Telephone: 407-894-3797
Internet: www.viatical.org
The Viatical and Life Settlement Association of America (VLSAA) was founded in 1995 as a nonprofit trade association for members of the viatical and life settlement industry, associated businesses, and consumers. The Internet site has state-by-state information about member organizations and state regulations governing viatical settlements.