J. Kiffin Penry Patient Travel Assistance Fund

Through a generous gift from Cyberonics, Inc., The Epilepsy Foundation has established the J. Kiffin Penry Patient Travel Assistance Fund. J. Kiffin Penry, who died in 1996, is considered one of the most influential epilepsy leaders of his generation. He became a professor at Bowman Gray School of Medicine following a distinguished career at the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS). Dr. Penry served for a number of years on the Epilepsy Foundation’s Professional Advisory Board and National Board of Directors.

Travel assistance funds are available for individuals who must travel more than 50 miles from their home to receive medical services, but lack adequate financial resources to meet the cost of this travel. Following are the criteria for eligibility and program guidelines.

Eligibility

Patient must have evidence of the need to travel more than 50 miles from home to receive medical services. This can be through a notarized letter from the patient’s doctor, medical service provider, or the facility (i.e., hospital) where the services will be rendered.

Patient must be a legal resident of the United States.

Evidence must be provided that the applicant has attempted to exhaust other funding sources available within the county and state where the patient lives, and from the insurance company with which the patient participates. This is a fund of last resort.

Generally, the fund will assist the patient for his or her travel costs only, unless the applicant is a minor or extraordinary circumstances exist. If the applicant is a minor, funds will be provided for one adult to accompany the minor.

Original receipts are required for reimbursement.

Applicants from Areas Served by an Affiliate
Applicants in affiliated areas must submit the application to the affiliate. The Affiliate will verify the information provided by the applicant, sign the application, and submit applications to the National Office for the patient.

Applicants from Unserved (Unaffiliated) Areas
Applicants from unserved areas will apply for assistance directly to the Epilepsy Foundation’s National Office by completing a Request for Travel Assistance Application. An unserved area is one in which there is no state or local chapter of the Epilepsy Foundation. (If you are uncertain, please contact the Epilepsy Foundation at 1-800-470-1655 ext. 3726,)

Program Guidelines

The maximum amount which can be awarded per family within any 2-year time period is $1,500. Most awards will be for less than $1,000. An itemized list of expected expenses will help the applicant define the amount needed.

If the patient must travel multiple times, then each instance will be considered separately. One application should be completed, and subsequent requests for additional funds can be made as a supplemental letter. There is no guarantee of approval for subsequent trips or that the fund will not be depleted.

Application should be made prior to travel when possible. Requests for reimbursement for travel which occurred three months or more prior to the time of submission of application will not be considered.

Reimbursement will only be provided for:

Air, rail, bus fare or mileage, lodging, parking and tolls, and up to $30 allowance per day for reasonable meal expenses, only for approved travelers. Reimbursement will be provided for all approved expenses where original receipts have been submitted.



Selection Process

A committee of three members will review each request. The committee will consist of an Epilepsy Foundation National Office staff member, an Epilepsy Foundation National Board Member, and an Epilepsy Foundation Affiliate representative, plus three alternates for each position.

All Requests for Penry Fund travel assistance must be made through Elizabeth Schreiber at the National Office (800/470-1655, ext. 3726; lschreiber@efa.org). Applicants in affiliated areas must submit the application through the affiliate.





Actual (original) receipts must be provided for all expenses (except mileage) for reimbursement.

The maximum amount which can be awarded per family within any 2-year time period is $1,500. The Penry fund will consider one trip at a time for an applicant, but multiple requests may be made totaling $1,500 in two years, as long as the fund has adequate resources.


For more info please call your local foundation or call 1-800-332-1000