Pfizer
Drug
Discount
for
Seniors
Attracting
Major
Attention
Pfizer
reported
to
their
stockholders
on
Tuesday,
Jan.
22,
they
are
receiving
2,500
calls
per
hour
from
people
asking
for
details
about
their
Share
Card,
which
allows
low-income
senior
citizens
to
get
their
prescriptions
filled
by
Pfizer
for
$15
per
month.
(Click
to
Pfizer
News
Release
on
the
Share
Card
and
info
on
enrollment)
"The
response
to
the
Share
Card
has
been
overwhelmingly
positive,"
the
company
announced.
"The
media,
state
and
federal
lawmakers,
retail
pharmacy
leaders,
business
leaders,
and
patients
and
their
families
have
praised
the
program
as
a
genuine
health
solution
for
people
who
need
the
most
help."
Since
the
program's
announcement
on
January
15,
the
Share
Card
call
center
has
received
more
than
120,000
inquiries
from
potential
applicants,
their
family
members,
and
friends.
Ten
large
retail
pharmacy
chains
representing
about
14,000
retail
pharmacy
stores
nationwide,
including
Wal-Mart,
CVS,
Target,
and
Eckerds,
have
said
they
will
participate
in
the
program,
Pfizer
said.
The
Pfizer
Share
Card
will
enable
individual
Medicare-eligible
Americans
with
annual
gross
incomes
of
less
than
$18,000
($24,000
for
couples
who
file
joint
tax
returns)
who
lack
prescription-drug
coverage
to
buy
a
30-day
supply
of
any
Pfizer
prescription
medicine
for
a
flat
fee
of
$15
per
product.
"This
program
supplements
our
current
Patient
Assistance
Program
and
Sharing
the
Care
initiative,
under
which
1.4
million
low-income
patients
received
medicines
during
2001.
The
projected
financial
impact
of
this
program
is
included
in
Pfizer's
current
revenue
and
earnings
growth
guidance
for
the
period
2002
through
2004,"
they
told
stockholders.
"As
the
industry
leader,
Pfizer
is
committed
to
improving
health
care
for
low-income
seniors
at
a
time
when
continued
consideration
of
Medicare
reform
has
been
delayed
by
the
events
of
September
11.
Last
week,
we
expanded
our
Pfizer
for
Living
program
to
include
three
new
elements:
a
Pfizer
Share
Card;
a
help
line
to
assist
low-
income
senior
citizens
in
learning
about
other
services
and
benefits
available
in
the
health-care
system;
and
new,
easy-to-read
health
information
on
medical
conditions."
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