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SAVE Program to be Added to
BenefitsCheckUp Web Site
A Critical Resource
for Uninsured and Under-Insured Americans Regardless of Age or Income
Adds Help for Cholesterol Therapy
Washington, DC., June 23, 2003 - In
an effort to help uninsured and under-insured Americans without
affordable access to well-tolerated and effective cholesterol therapy,
The National Council on the Aging (NCOA) today announced the addition
of the SAVE Program to its first of its kind web-based service known
as BenefitsCheckUpฎ. This development coincides with the national
introduction of the SAVE Program by Andrx Laboratories to cash-paying
patients and their physicians in need of a cost-effective alternative
to expensive name brand pharmaceuticals.
The SAVE Program provides cash-paying
patients with affordable access to routinely prescribed
cholesterol-lowering statin therapy regardless of age or income for a
full 12 months of therapy. In particular, the program offers
well-tolerated and highly-effective cholesterol medication, at a price
that can result in up to $1,000 a year in savings over comparable
national name brand products. The program even lowers the price below
that of some generic products in this widely prescribed class of
drugs.
"Limited access to affordable
medications is a national problem for many seniors who lack
prescription drug coverage. These individuals run the biggest risk of
devastating their personal health and financial stability," said James
Firman, Ed.D., President and Chief Executive Officer of the NCOA.
"Programs that deliver a combination of proven efficacy and safety at
one low price nationwide is what seniors are looking for and what they
deserve. We are proud to include the SAVE program on our popular
BenefitsCheckUp Web site."
BenefitsCheckUp is a free, fast and
confidential web-based service (www.benefitscheckup.org)
that helps users find the right agencies to contact and provides
detailed instructions on how to apply for benefits. It is designed to
help older Americans, their families, caregivers, and community
organizations determine quickly and easily what benefits they qualify
for and how to claim them. To find savings faster on prescription
drugs users can click on BenefitsCheckUpRx and access nearly 1,500
medications including generics.
This launch comes at a time when the
national health care agenda is increasingly focused on the need for
access to safe and effective prescription drugs for older Americans
with Medicare, but an estimated 41 million people in the U.S. lack any
type of health insurance and there are millions more whose health
insurance doesn't cover prescription drugs. The problem is growing.
This year, it is predicted that every day 5,580 Americans will lose
their health insurance.
"Medical science continues to put
forth aggressive treatments for chronic disease, yet limited access to
prescription drugs by our nation's seniors remains an obstacle to
quality health care," said Robert Butler, M.D., President of the
International Longevity Center - USA. "I am happy to see the
healthcare industry paying more attention to the financial needs of
seniors with innovative programs that provide direct-to-patient
low-cost access to prescription drugs."
Patient enrollment into the SAVE
Program is as easy as asking for and receiving a SAVE Card at no cost
from their physician or pharmacist. The individual need only present
the card and prescription to the pharmacist at the point-of-sale to
benefit from these significant cost savings for 12 monthly fills. In
particular, a 30-day supply of the drug can be purchased for only $49
without any fees, paperwork or age/income requirements.
"Too often people are forced to make
tough decisions when they cannot afford their regularly priced
medications at the local pharmacy," said Congressman Peter Deutsch.
"Programs like SAVE provide the well-tolerated and effective
cholesterol-lowering medication that people need at the low-cost they
deserve."
A brochure containing the SAVE Card
has been provided to physicians and pharmacists around the country to
ensure that a broad spectrum of patients have access to the program.
Patients can direct questions about the SAVE Program to their
physician or pharmacist or call the SAVE Program toll-free number at
888-SAVE-888. In addition, the NCOA encourages patients to access its
web site
www.ncoa.org until the SAVE Program is officially posted on
BenefitsCheckUp in the coming weeks.
About Cholesterol and Statins
According to the American Heart
Association more than 41 million Americans have high cholesterol, a
key risk factor for heart disease. Cholesterol is a fatty substance
that is a normal component of the cells of the body. Cholesterol is
carried through the blood by particles known as lipoproteins, which
are classified by their densities. The cholesterol in low-density
lipoprotein (LDL-C) is called the "bad" cholesterol, and high levels
of LDL-C increase the risk for coronary heart disease. Cholesterol in
high-density lipoprotein (HDL-C) is called the "good" cholesterol, and
high levels of HDL-C decrease the risk for heart attack.
The most effective and widely tested
cholesterol drugs are called statins, which block the formation of
cholesterol in the liver and increase the production of the receptors
on liver cells that clean the bad cholesterol from the blood. Five of
these drugs are available in the United States: lovastatin,
pravastatin, simvastatin, fluvastatin, and atorvastatin.
Extended-release lovastatin is the statin most recently approved by
the FDA. Statins can reduce LDL-C by about 20 percent to 45 percent,
depending on the dosage and drug.
About NCOA
Founded in 1950, The National Council
on the Aging is the nation's first charitable organization dedicated
to promoting the dignity, independence, well-being, and contributions
of older Americans. NCOA serves as a national voice and powerful
advocate on behalf of older Americans. NCOA is an innovator,
developing programs such as BenefitsCheckUp, Foster Grandparents and
Family Friends. NCOA is an activator, working with its thousands of
community organization members nationwide to provide needed services
to older people. For more information on NCOA, visit
www.ncoa.org. |
