During This Holiday Season, Uninsured Patients Face a Huge Challenge With Affordable Medication Access

WASHINGTON, Dec. 8, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Access to insulin and blood thinning medication has become even more difficult for the uninsured as the pharmaceutical company Sanofi announced its plans to cut its distribution ties to free and charitable clinics and charitable pharmacies across the country.  Sanofi has notified safety net providers of the company's plan to suspend its Institutional Patient Assistance Program (IPAP) and severely limit its traditional Patient Assistance Program (PAP).

In a letter dated November 15th, clinics and pharmacies were informed of the dramatic change in this large pharmaceutical company's policies.  The letter specifically stated that these programs were to be ended or scaled back by the end of the year, giving safety net providers very limited time to identify possible alternatives for continuing these medications for the tens of thousands of patients who rely on them.

"The company's sudden shift in limiting pharmaceutical access for those who can not afford their medication came as a huge surprise to us," said Nicole Lamoureux, Executive Director of the National Association of Free Clinics.  "The nation's uninsured rely on these programs in order to remain compliant with their prescribed medication.  At sites across the country, over $10 million worth of Sanofi medications were administered in the last year to our patients."

The insulin Lantus and the blood thinner Lovenox are just two of the medications that will be much harder for the uninsured to access because of the company's change. Neither medication has a $4 equivalent available.  The average monthly cost of Lovenox is $4,000 and the monthly cost of Lantus is $357, making it virtually impossible for the uninsured to afford.

"We have been assured that many patients will have access to medication through the traditional PAP, however, this requires new applications and paperwork, hence the timing does not allow us to smoothly transition our patients to other suitable alternatives," Lamoureux said. "We considered Sanofi a partner in providing access to medication for the uninsured and this announcement is quite disappointing. It is our hope that we will be able to work with Sanofi to develop a program in a timely fashion that will prevent a situation such as this from occurring in the future."

SOURCE National Association of Free Clinics