CAMDEN, N.J., July 27 /PRNewswire/ -- Two of the nation’s premier private health care companies today announced a four-month pilot program with CAMcare, a federally qualified health center, to address health care inequality in one of the nation’s most economically challenged communities.
In an effort to improve health care access for thousands of financially challenged Camden residents, Medco Health Solutions, Inc. , the nation’s leading pharmacy benefit manager and AstraZeneca, one of the world’s leading pharmaceutical companies, will provide many of the city’s uninsured residents with free prescription medications to treat some of the most common and costly health conditions.
Through the CAMcare Prescription Drug Program, eligible Camden-area residents can receive a free 60-day supply of certain generic and brand prescription medications for the treatment of asthma, diabetes, high blood pressure (hypertension) and heart disease (cardiovascular disease), which make up the largest drivers of health care costs in the state. Through October 15, CAMcare will help patients enroll in the CAMcare Prescription Drug Program, while simultaneously processing their eligibility for manufacturer prescription assistance programs facilitated by PDA USA, a private non-profit organization.
“Thanks to Medco and AstraZeneca this program will help make it easier for our patients without health care and prescription drug coverage to receive critically needed medications in the short term, while providing the opportunity for CAMcare to help them enroll in drug assistance programs so they can continue to receive these medicines for as long as they’re needed,” said Mark K. Bryant, CAMcare president and CEO.
Generic drugs for the program are being donated by Medco and brand-name AstraZeneca drugs are being supplied by AstraZeneca. Medco will dispense all medications through its award-winning automated mail order pharmacies. Patients taking AstraZeneca medicines also will receive help applying for the AstraZeneca Patient Assistance Program, through which they may continue to receive these brand medicines at no cost after the CAMcare pilot concludes.
“Medco is proud to take a leadership role in this innovative pilot to cover the uninsured,” said Pamela T. Miller, Esq., vice president of market development for Medco. “Medco’s advanced drug utilization review will track CAMcare patients participating in the pilot for potential drug interactions, gather medical history and compliance to their medications - all valuable tools for assessing a population at risk and for developing proactive health policy for the state.”
In addition to offering free medications and facilitating the Patient Assistance Program application process, the pilot will focus on the potential link between improved access to medicines and patient compliance to their physician’s recommended treatment regimen. The pilot also will explore any potential correlation of rates of charity care at local emergency rooms for patients and these four target morbidities.
“This valuable program not only brings Camden-area residents direct access to the medications they so desperately need, but also works to bridge the health care gap for our uninsured citizens,” said Mayor Gwendolyn A. Faison. “I urge you to spread the word on this important program so that together, we can bring about a healthier community.”
Camden Patient Demographics
Diabetes, hypertension, heart disease and asthma have plagued the Camden area, with nearly 27 percent of residents using medications to treat hypertension; 20 percent taking drugs to treat high cholesterol, 12 percent on asthma medications and 7 percent using diabetes medications. Diabetes alone continues to present a challenging public health issue for the whole state; one in 20 people in New Jersey have been diagnosed with the condition and health care spending in the state related to diabetes is estimated at almost $6 billion.
Program Eligibility
Requirements to take part in this prescription drug coverage program include: Camden-area residency without health insurance; a diagnosis of asthma, diabetes, high blood pressure or heart disease; and an annual household income at or below $24,500 for a single individual, $33,000 for a couple and $50,000 for a family of four. Two legal forms of identification, proof of address and proof of identification are also required.
CAMcare services approximately 8,000 uninsured patients, 3,000 of whom have been diagnosed with one or more of these four targeted conditions.
To learn more or to schedule an appointment to apply for the program, call Ella Murphy or Diane Bassett at CAMcare at (856) 541-8217.
About CAMcare
CAMcare has been a trusted name in health care from the people of Southern New Jersey since 1978. Our commitment to providing the highest quality care has helped us grow to become one of the largest primary care providers in the area. We offer 4 convenient locations to provide easy access to the care you need. Because your health care needs go beyond the direct care provided facilities, CAMcare has many affiliations in our community which promote the integration of health services for all ages. Patients come to CAMcare because they will receive the best medical care, respect and compassion by our highly qualified medical team.
About Medco
Medco Health Solutions, Inc. is the nation’s leading pharmacy benefit manager based on its 2005 total net revenues of nearly $38 billion. Medco’s prescription drug benefit programs are designed to drive down the cost of pharmacy health care for private and public employers, health plans, labor unions and government agencies of all sizes, and for individuals served by the Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Program. Medco’s technologically advanced mail-order pharmacies and award-winning Internet pharmacy have been recognized for setting new industry benchmarks for pharmacy dispensing quality. Medco serves the needs of patients with complex conditions requiring sophisticated treatment through its specialty pharmacy operation, which became the nation’s largest with the 2005 acquisition of Accredo Health, Incorporated. Medco is the highest-ranked pharmacy benefit manager on the 2006 Fortune 500 list. On the Net: http://www.medco.com.
This press release contains “forward-looking statements” as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements involve risks and uncertainties that may cause results to differ materially from those set forth in the statements. No forward-looking statement can be guaranteed, and actual results may differ materially from those projected. We undertake no obligation to publicly update any forward- looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise. Forward-looking statements in this press release should be evaluated together with the risks and uncertainties that affect our business, particularly those mentioned in the Risk Factors section of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
About AstraZeneca PLC
AstraZeneca is a major international health care business engaged in the research, development, manufacture and marketing of prescription pharmaceuticals and the supply of health care services. It is one of the world’s leading pharmaceutical companies with health care sales of $23.95 billion and leading positions in sales of gastrointestinal, cardiovascular, neuroscience, respiratory, oncology and infection products. In the United States, AstraZeneca is a $10.77 billion health care business with more than 12,000 employees. In 2005, AstraZeneca provided nearly $765 million in savings to uninsured patients throughout the US and Puerto Rico. AstraZeneca is listed in the Dow Jones Sustainability Index (Global) as well as the FTSE4Good Index. For more information about AstraZeneca, please visit: http://www.astrazeneca-us.com.
About PDA USA
PDA USA is a software solutions company specializing in health care for the needy initiatives. PDA has developed a program, which allows patient advocates using the database to input patient data and download directly to their site the forms required for access to the free prescription programs of the manufacturers. PDA maintains a secure encrypted database which allows for efficient renewals and tracking; patient management to facilitate patients receiving the medications they need; and as a reference to available programs and medications for those patients. One of the most significant features of the PDA system is that the hospital/clinic/health center does not need any new hardware or software to implement - just log onto the Internet with your secure user name and password and you are functioning. The Heinz Family Foundation has been instrumental in the development of the program and their continued support of our project objectives.
CAMcare Health Corporation
CONTACT: Cynthia Primas-Taylor, CAMcare Health Corp., +1-856-583-2400; orSoraya Rodriquez-Balzac, Medco Health Solutions, Inc., +1-201-269-6552; orCarla Burigatto, AstraZeneca, +1-302-886-5953
