Pfizer plans discount medicines program for uninsured

[cal04]

Pfizer to Launch Comprehensive Initiative Expanding Access to Prescription Medicines for Millions of Americans

America's 43 million uninsured to have access to Pfizer medicines free or at significant savings Working families making less than $45,000 to save an average 37 percent on Pfizer medicines; Pfizer also expands existing programs providing free medicines to families making under $31,000 Pfizer's "Helpful Answers" receives endorsements from more than 40 medical, patient, and civic groups; bi-partisan support from government officials, including Secretary Thompson and New York's Senator Clinton and Governor Pataki CEO McKinnell says initiative provides "choice, simplicity and expanded access"



http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/040707/nyw050_1.html

[Laughing Mirror]

1. This is a press release from Pfizer

To be read advisedly.

[CharlesGroce]

2. Ming the Merciless

is being generous today.

[HuckleB]

3. As a nurse practitioner, I say, thanks and big whoop.

Yeah, this helps since there is no other option for many. However, these programs are the worst form of bureaucracy in existence. For the free medicines, health care providers must spend up to three plus hours filling out forms so a patient can get three months of medicine. There is no form of compensation for the health care provider for this time, so they either do it as volunteer time or raise their regular rates.

Unfortunately, providers don't typically serve a cross-section of economic classes, so those who serve neighborhoods where more folks are uninsured face this harsh reality (spend every night filling out forms so that, maybe, two of the patients you saw that day will get the medication they need, or go home and take care of your own family and feel like a failure as a physician, nurse practitioner, physician's assistant or nurse), while those in other areas face no such issue.

This is no answer to the long-term problem.

[LeftHander]

4. Drug Pushers....

Drug Pushers? Pharma?

What is the difference?

Here have it at half off.....once you are hooked we got you for life.

It seems like they won't stop until every single person alive carries around a tupperware daily pill organizer and takes fifteen different drugs twice a day.


Magic Bullet America.

Why work at being healthy when I can just take a pill to fix my cholesterol then take another to get a hard-on, take another to make me sleep, take another to wake me up, take another to relieve the swelling from the first pill, take another pill that allows the anti-swelling pill to work with the blood pressure pill, another pill to make me pee, another pill to replace the stuff I lose because I am peeing too much, another pill to make me poop, another pill to make me happy.....another pill to thin my blood to prevent clotting that results from taking the pill that helps me poop....

[SoCalDem]

5. I saw a piece about this on CNN, and it "may" help, BUT

the example they gave was a drug that normally cost $78 a month was reduced to $53 a month.. That's for ONE drug.. Lots of poor older folks are on SEVERAL (bad idea, but who's gonna tell a doctor "no thanks".)and if their SS check is only $500 a month, they can't afford ANY drugs...cheaper or not..:(

[Tellurian]

6. Oh-- is it, LET THEM EAT CAKE TIME?

Bulloney!

We should be able to order prescriptions from anywhere on the planet!

Prescription companies have been gouging people for years. They throw us a few crumbs and we're supposed to be thrilled?