LOW INCOME HIV/AIDS PROGRAM
The Frank’s Friends Initiative assists Massachusetts medical marijuana patients that have documented verified financial hardship and a diagnosis of HIV/AIDS by providing 50% off of products and services for those who qualify at participating medical marijuana dispensaries and certifying healthcare providers.
REGISTER
Patients must bring their valid form of identification and valid Medical Use of Marijuana Program ID card.
DIAGNOSIS
A signed note from a physician that has had an ongoing relationship in treating the patient’s HIV/AIDS.
HARDSHIP
Patients must bring one of the four pieces of documentation to verify financial hardship.
WHAT DOES A PATIENT NEED TO PROVIDE IN ORDER TO QUALIFY FOR THE FRANK’S FRIENDS INITIATIVE?
Patients must bring their valid form of identification and valid Medical Use of Marijuana Program ID card. To prove HIV/AIDS diagnosis, qualifying patients must bring one of the following documents:
- A signed note from a physician that has had an ongoing relationship in treating the patient’s HIV/AIDS.
- A copy of the HIV/AIDS diagnosis from their certifying healthcare provider.
Patients must also bring one of the four pieces of documentation for verified financial hardship in order to qualify. This includes:
- Official MassHealth acceptance letter for the current year, or official MassHealth redetermination letter for the current year
- SSI benefit verification letter for the current year,
- SNAP Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) statement from the current year
- State or federal tax return from this year or last year, income may not exceed 300% of the federal poverty level.
PROGRAM PARTNERS
WHY WAS THE FRANK’S FRIENDS INITIATIVE DEVELOPED?
Long-term HIV/AIDS survivor Frank Shaw learned that the high cost of medical cannabis was preventing some HIV/AIDS patients from being able to take advantage of the Massachusetts medical marijuana program. For this reason, Frank developed the Frank’s Friends Initiative to create discount programs at Medical Marijuana Treatment Centers (MTCs) and certifying healthcare providers to help those with HIV/AIDS and verified financial hardship afford the costs associated with this medication.
