Abbott Laboratories has expanded its industry-leading Medicare Assistance Programme (MAP) to provide significant cost savings on prescription medication for low-income seniors and other eligible Medicare beneficiaries.
Under the expanded programme, Abbott is seeking to partner with drug-discount cards approved by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to offer Synthroid (levothyroxine sodium tablets, USP) for $5 per monthly prescription for the most needy seniors. Synthroid is currently the second most prescribed drug in the United States and is used by more than 10 million patients. The programme also seeks to offer other Abbott medications for chronic conditions including, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, epilepsy and bipolar disorder, for $12 per monthly prescription for seniors and Medicare beneficiaries with low incomes through participating cards.
"Abbott is committed to providing an additional level of support for the seniors who need it most through our expanded Medicare Assistance Programme," said William G. Dempsey, senior vice president, Pharmaceutical Operations, Abbott Laboratories.
Abbott's original MAP programme was introduced in January 2003, offering its rheumatoid arthritis drug for free to Medicare-eligible patients until a meaningful Medicare drug benefit was enacted. MAP was commended by the Secretary of Health and Human Services, members of Congress, and physicians nationwide. Since its inception, the Abbott MAP programme provided nearly $80 million in prescription savings, while benefiting thousands of Medicare beneficiaries who lack prescription drug coverage.
"I'd like to congratulate Abbott Laboratories, who along with other parties, are providing much needed interim assistance in lowering the price of prescription medications for seniors, especially for those who need it the most," said Mark McClellan, M.D., Ph.D., administrator of the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.
"Until the new Medicare prescription benefit takes effect in 2006, many seniors are looking for the best ways to save money on the drugs they need to stay healthy and maintain their quality of life," said Jim Firman, president and CEO of the National Council on the Aging (NCOA). "Low-income seniors can obtain significant savings by using Abbott's MAP programme in combination with the $600 credit available through the new Medicare approved discount cards."
More than 7.4 million Medicare enrollees are expected to participate in the drug discount card programmes, according to CMS. Of those, 4.7 million are expected to have annual incomes under 135 per cent of the federal poverty level (FPL). These enrollees are eligible for transitional assistance under the drug card programme, and many will be eligible for additional assistance once the Medicare prescription drug benefit takes full effect on January 1, 2006. Enrollees who have exhausted their $600 annual credit will be eligible for the $5 and $12 monthly prescriptions offered through Abbott's expanded MAP and administered through participating CMS-endorsed discount cards. Seniors and other Medicare beneficiaries who have income that exceed FPL requirements but who use the CMS-approved discount cards, will also receive discounts on many of Abbott's chronic care medications.
In addition to providing its rheumatoid arthritis drug at no cost to Medicare beneficiaries without a prescription drug benefit, the expansion of the Abbott MAP programme has been extended to cover other chronic diseases. Abbott medications will also be available at a discounted retail price for those who exceed the 135 per cent FPL and who use a CMS-approved card for diseases including, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, epilepsy, bipolar disorder, infectious disease, and HIV/AIDS.