Director, Patient Affordability Programs (Copay & Free Goods)

Description

The Director, Patient Affordability Programs is responsible for the strategic oversight, development, execution, and optimization of patient financial assistance programs, including copay assistance, bridge/free goods programs, temporary access solutions, and patient affordability initiatives. This individual will partner across Patient Services, Market Access, Trade, Brand Marketing, Legal, Compliance, Finance, and external vendors to ensure patients can initiate and maintain therapy with minimal financial barriers while supporting brand objectives and maintaining compliance with applicable regulations.

Key Responsibilities:

Program Strategy & Design

• Lead the strategy, design, and evolution of copay assistance, bridge, free goods, and affordability programs across the product portfolio.
• Assess market dynamics, payer changes, accumulator/maximizer trends, and competitive patient support offerings to identify opportunities and risks.
• Develop innovative solutions that reduce patient out-of-pocket costs and reduce patient abandonment.
• Support product launches and lifecycle management through development of patient access and affordability strategies.
• Collaborate with Brand, Market Access, and Trade teams to ensure affordability programs align with overall access objectives.

Program Operations & Vendor Management

• Lead affordability program strategy/design and evolution across the portfolio
• Manage budgets and affordability economics (utilization/redemption, exposure, ROI recommendations)
• Establish service-level expectations and monitor vendor performance against contractual obligations.
• Partner with Legal, Compliance, and Regulatory stakeholders to ensure organizational compliance, mitigate risk, and support adherence to applicable laws, regulations, and company policies.
• Support statement-of-work development, budget management, and vendor governance activities.

Financial Management

• Manage program budgets and forecast financial exposure associated with copay and free goods programs.
• Monitor utilization, redemption rates, and program economics.
• Develop recommendations to optimize investment while maximizing patient impact.
• Partner with Finance and Market Access teams on affordability program modeling and scenario planning.

Performance Analytics & Business Insights

• Develop and maintain key performance indicators, including:
  • Patient abandonment due to affordability
  • Copay utilization
  • Free goods utilization
  • Patient persistence
  • Therapy adherence
  • Gross-to-net impact
  • Program ROI
• Translate data into actionable recommendations for senior leadership.
• Create executive dashboards and performance updates.

Cross-Functional Leadership

• Serve as the primary Patient Services lead for affordability-related initiatives.
• Foster strong partnerships with:
  • Market Access
  • Trade & Distribution
  • Brand Marketing
  • Patient Services Operations
  • Legal
  • Compliance
  • Regulatory
  • Finance
  • Pharmacovigilance
• Ensure patient support affordability strategies are integrated into annual brand plans.

Compliance & Risk Management

• Ensure all affordability and access programs operate in accordance with:
  • OIG guidance
  • Anti-Kickback Statute requirements
  • FDA regulations
  • State privacy laws
  • Company policies and procedures
• Partner with Legal, Compliance, and Regulatory teams to identify and mitigate program risks.
• Support audits, monitoring activities, and CAPA initiatives as needed.

Qualifications:

Required

• Bachelor's degree required.
• 10+ years of pharmaceutical patient services, market access, reimbursement, affordability, or related healthcare experience.
• Experience managing copay assistance and/or free goods programs.
• Strong understanding of:
  • Commercial payer landscape
  • Specialty pharmacy distribution
  • Patient support programs
  • Reimbursement and access challenges
• Demonstrated success leading cross-functional initiatives and external vendors.
• Strong analytical and financial management skills.
• Excellent communication and executive presentation experience.

Preferred

• Experience supporting specialty and rare disease products.
• Experience with bridge programs, PAP programs, accumulator/maximizer mitigation strategies, and temporary access solutions.
• Experience supporting product launches and lifecycle planning.
• Knowledge of hub operations and specialty pharmacy ecosystems.

Ascendis Pharma is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.

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The annual base salary for this position is $220,000 to $230,000 . Actual salary will vary based on various factors such as the candidate’s qualifications, skills, competencies, and proficiency for the role. In addition, some positions may include a company car or car allowance and eligibility to earn commissions/bonus based on company and/or individual performance.