Washington, DC, October 3, 2001 - To help address a critical gap in prescription drug coverage, GlaxoSmithKline today unveiled an innovative program to offer savings on its outpatient prescription medicines directly to eligible low-income seniors and the disabled.
The Orange Card, an extension of GlaxoSmithKline's patient assistance program, is designed so participants will realize average savings of 30% off the usual price they pay for outpatient GSK medicines. In some cases, savings may be 40% or greater.1
"The GlaxoSmithKline Orange Card program assists low-income seniors who have no prescription coverage," said Jean-Pierre Garnier, CEO of GlaxoSmithKline. "We support a Medicare prescription drug benefit, but while the issue is still being debated in Congress, GSK wants to provide relief now for America's most needy seniors.
"We spend a great deal of time and effort in developing effective medicines. With the Orange Card, we hope to help participants be able to afford to follow their doctors' prescribed treatment and realize the full value of those medicines through a longer healthier life," Garnier said.
An estimated 80 percent of retirees use a prescription drug every day.2 About 30 percent of seniors do not have any kind of drug coverage.3 Medicare recipients without prescription coverage spend an average of $546 per year for outpatient medicines.4
Garnier said as many as 11 million seniors could be eligible for the Orange Card program. Those eligible are senior citizens age 65 and older and the disabled who are enrolled in Medicare who:
Have annual incomes at or below 300% of the federal poverty level (annual incomes at or below $26,000 single or $35,000 for a couple)5 and
Lack public or private insurance programs or other pharmaceutical benefit programs, such as Medicaid.
"We will continue to work for the passage of a Medicare prescription drug benefit, which will provide the kind of long-term assistance our seniors need and deserve," Garnier said.
GlaxoSmithKline's effort to help seniors most in need was applauded by U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy G. Thompson.
"The GlaxoSmithKline Orange Card is a dynamic, effective and very practical way for seniors to receive significant price reductions," said Secretary Thompson. "The application process is easy, quick and understandable to everyone. This is exactly the kind of approach we need - innovation and competition in the private sector, not counterproductive price controls."
Applying for the GSK Orange Card is free and easy. Applications are available through healthcare providers or by calling a toll-free number: 1-888-ORANGE6. The Orange Card application process begins immediately and participants can begin using the card on January 1, 2002.
Seniors simply present the card with their prescription to their pharmacist to receive the savings on GSK outpatient prescription medicines.
The program will be administered by Express Scripts Specialty Distribution Services, a leading administrator for companies offering prescription drug patient assistance programs.
"Express Scripts is proud to support GlaxoSmithKline in their mission to provide meaningful assistance on prescription medications for Americans who are most in need," said Barrett A. Toan, Express Scripts Chairman and CEO.
All GlaxoSmithKline outpatient products are included in the program. This list includes Advair® (fluticasone propionate and salmeterol inhalation powder), Avandia® (rosiglitazone maleate), Coreg® (carvedilol), Flonase® (fluticasone propionate), Flovent® (fluticasone propionate), Imitrex® (sumatriptan), Lamictal® (lamotrigine), Lanoxin® (digoxin), Paxil® (paroxetine hydrochloride), Requip® (ropinirole hydrochloride), Serevent® (salmeterol xinafoate), Wellbutrin SR® (bupropion hydrochloride), Zofran® tablets (ondansetron hydrochloride) and Zyban® (bupropion hydrochloride SR).
GlaxoSmithKline is one of the world's leading research-based pharmaceutical and healthcare companies.
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1 Orange Card participants will receive direct savings on their purchase of GSK outpatient prescription drugs equal to 25% of our list price to wholesalers (as reported by First DataBank). Participating pharmacies will charge Orange Card holders no more than a negotiated price for outpatient GSK prescription drugs. Because of variations in pharmacy prices, actual savings to Orange Card participants on each prescription will vary. However, GSK expects participants to realize average savings of 30% off the price individuals without prescription drug coverage would usually pay for GSK medicines at their pharmacy. In some cases, savings could be 40% or greater depending on their pharmacy's usual and customary price for the prescribed GSK medicine.
2 The Wall Street Journal, 1998.
3 AARP.
4 Center for Medicare Service/Office of Strategic Planning, 1998.
5 300% of the federal poverty level in Hawaii and Alaska is different and the Orange Card will accommodate these differences.
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