Patient Assistance Programs

Following is a summary of patient assistance programs in the United States. For more information on these programs and for details on our global initiatives, see Abbott's Access Programs Summary.

The Abbott Patient Assistance Foundation

The mission of the Abbott Patient Assistance Foundation is to enhance patient lives by providing Abbott products to individuals facing financial difficulties who cannot access needed treatment through meaningful coverage. Eligibility criteria vary by product. For more information, call (800) 222-6885 or visit www.abbottpatientassistancefoundation.org

Expanding Access to Abbott Medicines

The Abbott Patient Assistance Foundation programs offered and supported by Abbott, provide access to Abbott medications, at no cost to patients in financial need. In 2008, more than 120,000 patients were assisted with free Abbott medicines, valued at over $240 million. (Value is estimated based on the Wholesale Acquisition Cost (WAC) of products distributed through these programs in 2008. WAC $ values reported per the Abbott PPD Price Catalog 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 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 may generally not be eligible for assistance through the Abbott Patient Assistance Foundation. However, The Abbott Patient Assistance Foundation recognizes that extenuating circumstances may exist and encourages any patient to request consideration for an exception 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 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 Patient Assistance Foundation, Virology PAP was designed with several unique attributes. These provisions ensure that patients impacted by HIV have access to Abbott's two protease inhibitors.

Diabetes Care Patient Assistance Program

The Abbott Patient Assistance Foundation Diabetes Care Patient Assistance Program offers assistance on blood glucose testing supplies to low-income patients in the United States. In 2008, nearly 23,000 patients were approved for assistance for supplies at a retail value of nearly $10 million.

Medical Nutrition Product Assistance Program

The Abbott Patient Assistance Foundation Medical Nutrition Patient Assistance Program offers supplemental assistance on medically necessary nutrition products to low-income, uninsured patients in the United States. In 2008, over 8,000 patients received products valued at more than $4.8 million.

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 five million people 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 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 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 2008, 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® 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 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. More than 300 brand-name prescription products are included in the Program. Savings are also available on thousands of generics. The Card is accepted at the majority of pharmacies nationwide and in Puerto Rico.

*Each cardholder's savings depend on such factors as the particular drug purchased, amount purchased, and the pharmacy where purchased. Participating companies independently set the level of savings offered and the products included in the Program. Those decisions are subject to change.

In 2008, 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.