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Our Priorities > Enhancing Access Patient Assistance Programs

Providing Low-Cost Medicines to Patients in Need

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U.S. Patient Assistance

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International Health Care Assistance

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Medically Necessary Nutrition Products Provided

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Through patient assistance programs, we offer our products for free or at reduced prices for people with low incomes. In 2011, the Abbott Patient Assistance Foundation provided free medications valued at more than $577 million to more than 207,000 patients. The program also provided supplemental assistance for medically necessary nutrition products to nearly 36,000 patients.

The Abbott Patient Assistance Foundation offers free medicines, nutrition and diabetes products to U.S. patients with financial difficulties. We participate in similar programs around the world.

We participate in — and donate supplies to — government health care programs, both in the United States and internationally, that provide discounted medicines for the most underserved.

Through specific patient assistance programs, we offer our products for free or at reduced prices for people with low incomes who do not qualify for government assistance. In the United States, many of our patient assistance programs are run through the Abbott Patient Assistance Foundation. In 2011, the Abbott Patient Assistance Foundation provided free medications valued at more than $576 million to more than 170,000 patients. The program also provided supplemental assistance for medically necessary nutrition products to nearly 34,000 patients.

Abbott also participates in government health care programs, such as those in the United States and Russia, that provide discounted medicines for the most underserved in the countries.

Assistance for HIV Patients on State Waiting Lists

In May 2010, Abbott joined forces with the Heinz Family Philanthropies and Welvista, a nonprofit organization that provides access to prescription medications, to help address the needs of patients on waiting lists for free HIV medications in 12 U.S. states. These patients are eligible for the U.S. government’s AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP), which is designed to help patients who cannot afford their medication but do not qualify for Medicaid assistance. However, state budget cuts have forced some eligible patients to join waiting lists until additional funding becomes available. Anyone certified on an ADAP waiting list can receive direct access to no-cost Abbott HIV medications through Welvista. This solution was developed by the three organizations in response to a call for help from the National Alliance of State and Territorial AIDS Directors, which was seeking innovative ways to clear the ADAP waiting lists and make enrollment simple for patients. Since the program’s launch, six additional manufacturers of anti-retroviral medications have joined.

Partnership for Prescription Assistance

With the support of Abbott and others in the health care field, the Partnership for Prescription Assistance (PPA) has helped connect more than 6.8 million people with patient assistance programs that may meet their needs. Founded in 2005, the PPA brings together America’s pharmaceutical companies, physicians, other health care providers, patient advocacy organizations and community groups to help patients get access to the medicines they need through more than 475 patient assistance programs, including nearly 200 programs offered by pharmaceutical companies.

More than 2,500 brand-name and generic prescription medicines are available through participating patient assistance programs. In addition, the PPA provides information on nearly 10,000 free health care clinics and has connected more than 250,000 patients with clinics and health care providers in their communities.

Also, more than 1,300 national and local organizations, including the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill, the National Urban League, Easter Seals and the National Alliance for Hispanic Health, have partnered with America’s pharmaceutical research companies to help spread the word about the PPA.

Together Rx Access Card

The Together Rx Access Card, sponsored by Abbott and many of the nation’s leading pharmaceutical companies, helps hardworking Americans and their families gain access to immediate and meaningful savings on prescriptions right at their neighborhood pharmacy. Most cardholders save 25 percent to 40 percent on brand-name prescription products. Medicines in the program include those used to treat high cholesterol, diabetes, depression, asthma and many other common conditions. Savings are also available on thousands of generics. Nearly 2.6 million cardholders have enrolled in the program since its launch, and patients using the card have saved more than $134 million.