Crohn's disease and Ulcerative Colitis are two if the most common forms of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) in the United States.
Both CD and UC are conditions characterized by chronic inflammation of the digestive tract. Although they share many similarities, there are key differences between the two diseases.
Both Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis affect men and women equally and can occur at any age but often develop in teenagers and young adults. The symptoms of ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease patients experience are similar. Although the causes of the disease are unknown, both have similar types of contributing factors such as environmental, genetic and the body’s immune system response.
In contrast, some of the most notable differences between Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis are that Crohn’s disease can occur anywhere between the mouth and anus whereas ulcerative colitis is limited to the colon; in Crohn’s the intestine is both healthy and inflamed throughout whereas in ulcerative colitis there is continuous inflammation and lastly, Crohn’s disease can occur in various layers of the intestinal wall where as ulcerative colitis affects the inner lining.
Both disease can often require surgery to remove or repair damaged sections of the bowels or to remove obstructions But when treated early with immunosuppressants, patients can live a quality life while staying in remission.
It is estimated that 1.3% of US adults (3 million) reported being diagnosed with IBD (either Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis).
Prior Authorization Support
Quite often, prescription insurance plans require your doctor to obtain a prior authorization for speciality medications. Basically, this means that the medication to treat your condition must be pre-approved before you can receive it.
The good news is that Premier Pharmacy’s RAPIDx Prior Authorization Program works tirelessly with your doctor to identify and gather the necessary information. In doing so, we free up some time for your doctor and care team so that they can focus on giving you the care and attention you need.
Financial Assistance Support
Specialty medication therapy can be costly even with insurance coverage. Our experienced and knowledgeable team specialists help patients gain access to funding to help make medication costs more affordable. Some available resources include:
Government funded programs
Disease specific foundations
Manufacturer assistance programs
Co-payment cards
For uninsured patients we assist with enrollment in manufacturer sponsored free drug programs when available.
Medication & Gastrointestinal Information
Autoimmune Medication List: CROHN’s & COLITIS FOUNDATION
Crohn’s Disease: CROHN’S & COLITIS FOUNDATION
Ulcerative Colitis: CROHN’S & COLITIS FOUNDATION
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Resources 
Online and in-person local support groups are available for people with ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease and for their family or friends. Support groups provide a safe place to share your feelings and to help with the emotional aspect of living with these conditions. Various support groups are available to suit your needs and some provide access to a licensed social workers. Some available resources are:
Patient Services
Premier Pharmacy has highly trained staff, who specializes in inflammatory bowel diseases, available 24/7/365. Our Inflammatory Bowel Disease Team is dedicated to helping you from the minute we receive your prescription and throughout your journey.
We are here for you and will:
- Partner you with a Treatment Advocate who will serve as your go to person and whom you will have direct access to
- Work directly with your doctor and insurance to get pre-authorization for your medication so you can start as quickly as possible
- Secure funding from manufactures or organization to help cover the cost of the medication
- Provide education on your medication and diagnosis
