Paying high copays for any of GSK's HIV meds?

[Peter Staley]

See this news release...

GlaxoSmithKline Announces New Program to Provide Financial Assistance for Eligible HIV Patients in the U.S.
 
Program Reduces Out-of-Pocket Expense Burden for Eligible Patients on GSK HIV Medications

Research Triangle Park, November 11, 2008 – GlaxoSmithKline [NYSE: GSK] announced today the launch of a new Patient Savings Card designed to help eligible patients improve compliance with their HIV regimens by reducing their out-of-pocket expenses for GSK HIV medications.  Through this new program, patients are eligible to save up to $100 each month – for each of their GSK HIV medicines – for up to two years following first use.
 
GSK has worked closely with leaders in the HIV Community, with the Fair Pricing Coalition among these, to improve access to HIV medicines since the beginning of the epidemic.  Recently the community has voiced a significant need among those patients in the non-government program segment, who may find paying their out-of-pocket costs an increasing challenge to adhering to their drug regimen.
 
Patients can enroll in the program by visiting their doctor and asking for a Patient Savings Card from GSK.  They can take the Patient Savings Card to their local pharmacist along with their prescription for eligible GSK HIV medications, including LEXIVA® (fosamprenavir calcium), EPZICOM® (abacavir sulfate + lamivudine), COMBIVIR® (lamivudine + zidovudine), TRIZIVIR® (abacavir sulfate + lamivudine + zidovudine), EPIVIR® (lamivudine), ZIAGEN® (abacavir sulfate), and/or RETROVIR® (zidovudine).
 
“GSK is aware of the burden that medication costs can have on patients.  We believe this program will help reduce the out-of-pocket costs for patients and will hopefully make it easier for them to adhere to their drug regimens,” said Pete Hare, Vice President, HIV Division at GlaxoSmithKline.  “As a company that has been working on the forefront of HIV for over twenty years, we are committed to ensuring that patients have access to the medicines they need to fight this disease.”
 
GSK has also launched a companion website to the Patient Savings Card -  www.mysupportcard.com - where patients can learn more about the program, find answers to questions they may have, determine eligibility regulations and use the “Tell a friend” feature to help other HIV patients learn more about how they can reduce their out-of-pocket expenses for their GSK HIV medications.
 
Individuals eligible for the program include patients who are paying out-of-pocket costs and whose prescriptions are not covered by Medicaid, Medicare, ADAP or any other Federal or State assistance program.  Individuals who are Medicare eligible and enrolled in an employer-sponsored health plan or prescription drug benefit program for retirees are not eligible for the Patient Savings Card.  Massachusetts residents are eligible only if their prescription for their GSK medicine is not covered by any insurance or assistance program (that is, they are paying the entire cost of the prescription themselves).  Eligible individuals must have a valid, current prescription for one or more of the following GlaxoSmithKline medicines:  LEXIVA (fosamprenavir calcium), EPZICOM (abacavir sulfate + lamivudine), COMBIVIR (lamivudine + zidovudine), TRIZIVIR (abacavir sulfate + lamivudine + zidovudine), EPIVIR (lamivudine), ZIAGEN (abacavir sulfate), and/or RETROVIR (zidovudine).  For patients already enrolled in the LEXIVA Patient Support Program, this new program will replace the existing program for LEXIVA.  See the “Eligibility Rules and Regulations” section of the Patient Savings Card for more information.

For more information visit www.mysupportcard.com or you may contact the GlaxoSmithKline Customer Response Center Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. ET, at 1-888-825-5249.

[randym431]

This is big news for many and I feel its being missed.
If you're on meds like EPZICOM, and you pay a co-pay, you can save with this card
GSK is offering. This should be passed on and posted in off topic and treatment forums also,
to get everyones attention.
You can also get some free Lipitor if you doctor puts you on that drug.
https://www.lipitor.com/offers/30-day_trial.jsp

Lipitor also once offered a card to save $10 a month, for a year, off your lipitor co-pays but I can not find that link on their site...?
Guess it pays to check the websites of these various drugs we take, to see if they offer some savings.

[randym431]

A follow up...
This is going to be "one of those things", Im afraid.
Their "savings card" must be had thru the GSK rep by the doctor.
My doctor said he nor the GSK rep ever heard of such a program.
So the merry-go-round begins...   

[allopathicholistic]

A follow up...
This is going to be "one of those things", Im afraid.
Their "savings card" must be had thru the GSK rep by the doctor.
My doctor said he nor the GSK rep ever heard of such a program.
So the merry-go-round begins...   

Perhaps. I feel patients who think this gesture by GSK is paltry/insufficient to please voice their concerns to an ASO and not to GSK directly if possible. The last thing anyone or any entity wants to hear after extending generosity is to hear criticism or anger. So talk to someone in an ASO and hear what they have to say first.

[newbernswiss]

Thank you Peter for posting this information, I got my 2 cards yesterday for my partner and me.  It saves us some much needed dollars.  It's nice to get a break when you have private insurance.

[J.R.E.]

Peter,

Thanks for posting this info. I will look into it further. I'm going to call my doctors office, during the week, and see what knowledge he has on this. Any savings is good. and My Epzicom is on that list.


Ray

[Peter Staley]

Even better news -- Gilead is launching a similar program in response to GSK's move.  So everyone on Truvada and Atripla should be getting some copay help as well.

Here's what we know about the program thus far:

1. Program cards are currently available through physicians or healthcare providers; They are working on updates to the Viread.com Website and will advise as soon as that information is posted to the site.

2. No income eligibility or other requirements.

3. Will cover your copays over $50, up to additional $200.

4. Program currently only for one year, ends Sep 04, 2009.

I'll post a separate thread once Gilead does it's formal launch with a webpage and toll-free phone number.

Peter

[J.R.E.]

I just came back from my Doctor's office, and spoke with one of his office staff. I gave them a copy of this press release.This staff member did not seem to be aware of this, but told me that the doctor could/may already be aware of this card program through GSK.

I then went home and called the 1-888-825-5249 tel. number and spoke with a live person. They had informed me that the doctor himself will have to get in touch with his GSK representative. At that time the representative will give the cards to him for distribution to those that qualify. I called my doctors office back and gave them that information.

So, there going to check into it and get back in touch with me.



Ray

[J.R.E.]

Also forgot to mention , I think this is one of those times where I am going to have to really follow through on this, if I don't hear back.  Sounds like this could fall through the cracks to easily ! I have a great doctor, but his staff never seems to rest !! Busy, busy, busy. Paperwork up the...

Ray

[newbernswiss]

Today I used my GSK patient savings card for my partner and me at the pharmacy. Had no problem with the pharmacist accepting the card. Got my co-pays deducted. It was truly nice to not have to pay for my HIV medications for once in my life since I've been shelling out the co-pays for the last 18 years.  Again thanks Peter for passing this information along to us here on the forum.  Without you posting this I may have never known about this program.

[randym431]

Im in the same situ as Ray.
Doctor office never heard of this.
Then the "rep" confirmed... finally... and will send the office the discount cards.
I dont know... I'd think or hope or wish any ID doctor & rep would be one step ahead
on these issues. They should be informing me, not me them.
Kinda scary when you wonder what other ID hiv medical issues they are clueless on.
What the haaayyyy, do we have to do EVERYTHING for them?
Whats that $150 + co-pay per office visit going for, a new plasma tv???      

[J.R.E.]

Just wanted to bring this thread back up again, to remind people that if you are eligible, you should contact your doctor, and get this card, if you haven't done so.


I received my card today, at the Doctor's office. I went immediately to Walgreen's, After my appointment,  and spoke with my pharmacist.  He is familiar with GSK discount card. He put the card number into the computer, and told me that when I get my prescription filled on Feb 1st, to make sure to show the card, so that my out of pocket savings goes into effect. He also told me that he hasn't experienced any problems with the card being used.
 

This is quite a savings. At $50.00 per month for Epzicom, this will save me ( out of pocket) $600.00 per year ( for a maximum two year period).


Ray