| THE NAME GAME |
| Who gives general patient support? |
| A: The Avonex Support Line |
800-456-2255 |
8:30 AM - 8 PM, E.T., M-F |
| B: MS Pathways (BetaSeron) |
800-788-1467 |
8 AM - 8 PM, E.T., M-F |
| C: Shared Solutions (Copaxone) |
800-887-8100 |
8 AM - 11 PM, E.T., M-F |
| Who does reimbursement and insurance counseling? |
| A: Support Line for the Avonex Access Program |
| B: MS Pathways OR The Betaseron Foundation |
| C: Reimbursement Services Group of Shared Solutions |
| TO BE ACCEPTED |
| Who determines eligibility for free or reduced price drug? |
| A: Covance Health Economics for the Avonex Access Program |
| B: The Betaseron Foundation |
| C: The Patient Assistance Program at NORD for
Teva Marion Partners |
| Note: The 3 access programs accept referrals by reimbursement counselors.
A search for existing or potential benefits is always made first. |
| Approximate income cutoff |
| A: $60,000/year |
| B: 3 1/2 x the federal poverty level (for
a person in a family of 4, $58,450/year) |
| C: None set |
| A: 1-page form and tax return, reviewed by Covance Health
Economics |
| B: 3-page form and tax return or other income
verification, reviewed by Lash Group |
| C: 6-page form, tax return, 3 months of bank
statements, reviewed by NORD |
| % of completed applications approved |
|
Estimated number of participants |
| A: 99% |
|
A: 5,700 since 1997 |
| B: 91% |
|
A: 8,900 since 1994 |
| C: 99% |
|
A: 2,450 since 1997 |
| THE GOODS |
| What do applicants who qualify receive? |
| A: Partly free to free Avonex |
| B: Free Betaseron |
| C: 25% to 100% of yearly Copaxone free |
| A: By mail from Nova Factor, a direct delivery pharmacy |
| B: At local retail pharmacist |
| C: By mail from Caremark, a direct delivery pharmacy |
| Participation/shipping fees? |
| A: $25 shipping fee for a 3-month supply |
| B: $0 to $25/month determined by The
Foundation, based on income |
| C: $0 to $25/month determined by
Caremark, based on shipping cost |
| THE BIG PICTURE |
| |
| Approximate number of people taking A, B, or C in 1999:
75,800 |
| |
| Approximate number receiving free or subsidized drug since access programs
began: 17,050 |
| |
|
Note: Data in these charts reflect reports by the respective parent pharmaceutical
company and are their responsibility. No independent audit has been conducted. |
|
|
