Patient Assistance Programs

Following is a summary of our patient assistance programs in the United States. For more information on these programs and for details on our global initiatives, see our access programs chart.

Expanding Access to Abbott Medicines

Patient Assistance Programs offered and supported by Abbott, provide access to Abbott medications, at no cost to patients in financial need. In 2007, more than 113,000 patients were assisted with free Abbott medicines, valued at over $179 million. (Value is estimated based on the Wholesale Acquisition Cost (WAC) of products distributed through these programs in 2007. WAC $ values reported per the Abbott PPD Price Catalog dated November 2, 2007 and does not include prompt pay discounts or other discounts, rebates or reductions in price. The actual price paid by wholesalers and retail price paid by consumers at a pharmacy may vary.)

Eligibility for Most Medications

Financial eligibility is based upon current Federal Poverty Guidelines (FPG) adjusted for household size. If a patient's medication cost is reimbursed by a private or public insurance program (including Medicaid and Medicare Part D plans), the patient will not routinely be accepted into the program. However, Abbott recognizes that extenuating circumstances may exist and encourages any patient to request special consideration if, despite existing prescription insurance coverage, he or she cannot pay for needed medication. All such requests will be considered or reconsidered on a case-by-case basis.

Eligibility for the Abbott Virology Patient Assistance Program

Due to the life-threatening nature of HIV infection, the complexity of overall care, and the critical need for continuity of antiretroviral therapy, the Abbott Virology PAP was designed with several unique attributes. These provisions ensure that patients impacted by HIV have access to Abbott's two protease inhibitors. Eligibility criteria vary by medication.

For more information about this program, call (800) 222-6885 or visit www.helpingpatients.org.

Abbott Diabetes Care Patient Assistance Program

The Abbott Diabetes Care Patient Assistance Program offers assistance on blood glucose testing supplies to low-income patients in the United States. In 2007, nearly 8,000 patients were approved for assistance for supplies at a retail value of nearly $1.5 million.

For more information about this program, visit www.abbottdiabetescare.com.

Abbott Medical Nutrition Product Assistance Program

The Abbott Medical Nutrition Patient Assistance Program offers assistance on medically necessary nutrition products to low-income, uninsured patients in the United States. In 2007, over 3,700 patients received products valued at more than $2.1 million.

For more information about this program, visit www.pparx.org.

Partnership for Prescription Assistance

With the support of Abbott and others in the health care field, the Partnership for Prescription Assistance (PPA) has helped more than three million people in the two years since it was founded. 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 more than 180 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 nearly 85,000 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.

In 2007, PPA matched more than 1.3 million patients with industry patient assistance programs. The program also hosted a series of cross-country visits by the Help is Here Express, featuring Emmy-winning syndicated talk show host and PPA National Spokesperson Montel Williams, who visited all 50 states and more than 500 cities across America to publicize the program.

Patients in need can visit the PPA's easy-to-use Web site (www.pparx.org) or call the toll-free phone number (1-888-4PPA-NOW) where trained operators field calls in more than 150 languages.

Together Rx Access Card

The Together Rx Access, L.L.C. is an initiative to help uninsured Americans gain access to prescription products at significant savings. Using the Together Rx Access Card, eligible patients can also save on prescription medicines and generic products at pharmacy counters.

Through the Together Rx Access Card, the participating companies offer savings on more than 300 brand-name prescription medicines and products, as well as a wide range of generic products, right at pharmacy counters. These products include those used to treat diabetes, hypertension, high cholesterol, cancer, allergy, asthma, arthritis and depression, which are among the most common conditions affecting Americans.

Eligible uninsured individuals can expect to save approximately 25 to 40 percent, and sometimes more, on these prescription products directly from the manufacturers. (Savings may vary depending on the pharmacy's customary pricing for each specific product and the savings program offered by the participating company that makes it. Participating companies independently set the level of savings offered and the products included in the program. Those decisions are subject to change.) Together Rx Access also can help direct individuals to various resources for help on obtaining coverage or products.

In 2007, Together Rx Access enrolled more than 494,000 uninsured patients, who saved over $26 million on medicines. More than 1,338,000 patients have saved over $60 million on medicines through the end of 2007.

For more information about this program, call (800) 444-4106 or visit www.togetherrxaccess.com.

The provision of free medication through Abbott's various patient assistance programs is a philanthropic activity sponsored by Abbott. These programs are considered the payor of last resort.