WILMINGTON, Del., Nov. 9 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — AstraZeneca today announced a new program that provides significant savings to Medicare Part D beneficiaries who may have difficulty affording their medicines. Beginning Nov. 15, people who qualify and enroll will be able to go to their participating local pharmacy and immediately receive savings on AstraZeneca products, including NEXIUM(R) (esomeprazole), CRESTOR(R) (rosuvastatin), SEROQUEL(R) (quetiapine fumarate), TOPROL XL(R) (metoprolol succinate) and ARIMIDEX(R) (anastrozole). This is a unique offering in comparison to other patient assistance programs because it gives people convenient savings on their medicines at the pharmacy counter.
AZ Medicine & Me(TM) for people in Medicare Part D is special because it’s easy to sign up, has no enrollment fee, and will be available at local pharmacies. The program is designed specifically to help qualifying Medicare Part D enrollees receive additional savings on their AstraZeneca medicines. Enrollees will pay no more than $25 for a typical 30-day supply of AstraZeneca medicines available through Medicare Part D.
“We support AstraZeneca in its efforts to assist Medicare Part D enrollees who lack the means to afford their prescription drugs,” said National Health Council President Myrl Weinberg. “We hope this will ensure that additional beneficiaries — especially those with chronic conditions and disabilities — will continue to have access to certain medications.”
“AstraZeneca is to be applauded for helping people with Medicare find even more savings. We encourage more companies to follow their lead,” said James Firman, the President & CEO of the National Council on Aging. NCOA, the Access to Benefits Coalition (which NCOA chairs) and AstraZeneca are continuing to work together on My Medicare Matters, a grassroots community education and outreach campaign, helping those people with Medicare who have limited resources access the programs and benefits that can improve their health.
“Today’s expansion of AstraZeneca’s patient assistance offerings further reflects our ongoing commitment to helping to ensure uninterrupted, affordable access to medicines for people,” said Tony Zook, President and CEO, AstraZeneca US. “We are committed to helping people in need get the medicines they need at a cost they can afford, including Medicare prescription drug plan enrollees, and we believe AZ Medicine & Me(TM) will do just that.”
AZ Medicine & Me(TM) is not part of the government’s Medicare program but rather is an independent offering from AstraZeneca designed to help people enrolled in Medicare Part D who need assistance in getting their medicines. Beginning Nov. 15, people may sign up by calling the AZ Medicine & Me(TM) hotline at (1-800-957-6285) or visiting http://www.azmedicineandme.com/. To qualify for AZ Medicine & Me(TM) an applicant must meet the following criteria:
1. Be enrolled in Medicare Part D. 2. Have an annual individual income at or below $30,000, or an annual income at or below $40,000 per couple. 3. Be taking AstraZeneca medicine(s). 4. Have spent at least 3% of their annual household income on prescription drugs during the calendar year.
People who qualify for the program will pay no more than $25 for a typical 30-day supply of their AstraZeneca medicine, and will receive the assistance at the pharmacy counter immediately upon initial qualification. Once the person completes the application process, they will have the choice of getting a 30-, 60- or 90-day supply of medicine filled at their local pharmacy, with additional savings for the 60- and 90-day fills. A typical 60-day retail supply will cost no more than $37.50 and a typical 90-day retail supply will cost no more than $50.
AstraZeneca has received a favorable advisory opinion from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (OIG) affirming that the company’s extension of coverage to Medicare Part D beneficiaries in its new program is consistent with OIG guidelines.
About AstraZeneca and Our Commitment to Patient Assistance
Last week, AstraZeneca also announced new efforts to help people without prescription drug coverage. Also beginning November 15th, the AstraZeneca Patient Assistance Program will expand to help those in the middle class as well as those with lower incomes. This means that a family of four earning $60,000 or less, couples earning $40,000 or less, or individuals earning $30,000 or less, who do not have prescription drug coverage, may qualify to get their AstraZeneca medicines for free.
AZ Medicine & Me(TM) for People in Medicare Part D is just one of several patient assistance offerings that provide AstraZeneca medications at significant savings or free of charge to qualifying individuals and families. For nearly three decades, AstraZeneca has offered drug assistance programs side by side with its medicines. In 2005, through the AstraZeneca drug assistance programs, AstraZeneca provided more than $751 million in savings to more than 712,000 patients without drug coverage throughout the U.S. and Puerto Rico.
AstraZeneca is a major international healthcare business engaged in the research, development, manufacture and marketing of prescription pharmaceuticals and the supply of healthcare services. It is one of the world’s leading pharmaceutical companies with healthcare sales of $23.95 billion and leading positions in sales of gastrointestinal, cardiovascular, neuroscience, respiratory, oncology and infection products. In the United States, AstraZeneca is a $10.77 billion healthcare business with more than 12,000 employees. AstraZeneca is listed in the Dow Jones Sustainability Index (Global) as well as the FTSE4Good Index.
For more information about AstraZeneca, please visit: http://www.astrazeneca-us.com/.
AstraZeneca
CONTACT: Abigail Baron, +1-302-885-3578, [email protected],or Emily Denney, +1-302-885-3451, [email protected], both ofAstraZeneca LP
Web Site: http://www.astrazeneca-us.com/http://www.azmedicineandme.com/
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