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Welvista Announces Partnering with sanofi-aventis U.S. to Provide Medication at No Cost to the Uninsured

Posted on: Monday, 1 December 2008, 11:33 CST

COLUMBIA, S.C., Dec. 1 /PRNewswire/ -- Welvista is pleased to announce it has reached an agreement with sanofi-aventis U.S., one of the world's leading pharmaceutical companies, to dispense the company's medications to the uninsured through Welvista's no-cost prescription medication program. With the addition of 23 sanofi-aventis drugs from the company's Patient Assistance Programs (PAPs), Welvista now has 180 drugs on its formulary for the uninsured. Including sanofi-aventis, Welvista now partners with 12 pharmaceutical companies, making it the largest mail-order pharmacy for the uninsured in the country.

Welvista provides an innovative prescription drug program for residents in three states who fall below 200 percent of the federal poverty level and are without health insurance coverage. The William E. Murray pharmacy, located at Welvista's headquarters off Forest Drive in Columbia, dispensed more than $34 million dollars in prescription medications in 2007 to Welvista's patients to treat diabetes, hypertension, mental illness and more.

Welvista also provides oral healthcare services for the children of limited income families in South Carolina through Smiles for a Lifetime, with centers in Allendale County, Dillon II, Clarendon I and II school districts, and Charleston.

"Our pharmaceutical partners are essential to the success of our organization; we wouldn't exist without them," says Welvista CEO Ken Trogdon. "We are committed to improving health and wellness for the uninsured. Our model has proven its viability, and we will continue to add prescription drugs that we know our patients need."

About Welvista

Welvista is an innovative model of non-governmental healthcare intervention serving thousands of patients in three states. This healthcare network provides medications at no cost to the uninsured who do not qualify for Medicaid, Medicare or VA insurance and for those who cannot afford to pay for insurance coverage on their own. Welvista also operates Smiles, five pediatric dental care centers caring for approximately 5,000 children from limited income families who would not otherwise have access to oral healthcare. With the addition of sanofi-aventis U.S., Welvista now partners with 12 pharmaceutical companies that donate prescription drugs to approved patients. To learn more about the organization, visit www.welvista.org.

About sanofi-aventis U.S.

Sanofi-aventis U.S. is an affiliate of sanofi-aventis, a leading global pharmaceutical company that discovers, develops and distributes therapeutic solutions to improve the lives of everyone. Sanofi-aventis is listed in Paris (EURONEXT:SAN) and in New York (NYSE: SNY). For more information, visit: www.sanofi-aventis.us or www.Sanofi-aventis.com.

SOURCE Welvista

Source: PR Newswire

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