Schering-Plough Corporation announced that it will continue to provide patient assistance to low-income Medicare beneficiaries after the Medicare drug discount card is launched in May.

"The new drug discount card program with its $600 transitional assistance will be a great benefit for low-income seniors and disabled persons," said Fred Hassan, Schering-Plough chairman and CEO. "We will continue to provide our drugs free of charge to low-income Medicare beneficiaries who will not have sufficient Medicare support."

Earlier this year, Hassan proposed the development of a national charitable medicines foundation through which the pharmaceutical industry would provide "a bridge to coverage" by coordinating access to pharmaceutical manufacturers' patient assistance programs, thereby, improving delivery of medicines to low-income people.

"We are committed to doing the right thing in the current environment," said Hassan. "However, what is needed is a complete overhaul of Medicare to improve the quality of care, especially preventative care, and to improve cost effectiveness."

Schering-Plough operates two patient assistance programs: SP-Cares, which provides primary care products to individuals with family incomes below 200 per cent of the federal poverty level (FPL); and Schering's Commitment to Care, which provides specialty drugs to individuals with family incomes below 325 to 340 per cent of FPL. Medicare transitional assistance will be available for individuals with family incomes below 135 per cent of FPL.

Under the policy announced, Medicare patients who are eligible for Schering-Plough's SP-Cares or Commitment-to-Care programs but are not eligible for Medicare's low-income "transitional assistance" will receive Schering- Plough drugs free of charge. Medicare beneficiaries who are eligible for and have spent the $600 government "transitional assistance" will also receive free drugs through Schering-Plough patient assistance.

Schering-Plough announced it would also provide Medicare phone and website contact information to Medicare beneficiaries who apply for patient assistance, who might also qualify for Medicare transitional assistance. Schering-Plough is a research-based company engaged in the discovery, development, manufacturing and marketing of pharmaceutical products worldwide.