AstraZeneca and Carolina Family Health Centers, Inc. Provide Medicines to North Carolina's Uninsured

WILMINGTON, Del., May 19 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- AstraZeneca (NYSE: AZN) announced today that the company is collaborating with the Carolina Family Health Centers, Inc., to provide its medicines at no cost to qualifying patients. Patients referred to the center will only be required to pay a nominal dispensing fee to receive their AstraZeneca prescriptions at health center pharmacies.

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"True progress in healthcare can only be made through better, deeper connections and collaboration," said Jennifer McGovern, Director, Patient Assistance Programs, AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP. "By working together with Carolina Family Health Centers, Inc. we can improve access to AstraZeneca medicines for patients in North Carolina and reach our shared goal -- improved health."

In order to sufficiently meet the needs of patients, the centers -- located in Edgecombe, Nash and Wilson Counties of Eastern North Carolina -- provide integrated health services including medical, dental, and pharmacy care. Additionally, extensive efforts are made to keep these services affordable to all patients. In 2009, Carolina Family Health Centers, Inc. provided services to over 19,000 people, seventy percent of which are uninsured.

"At Carolina Family Health Centers, Inc. we are dedicated to providing quality health care to all of our patients and our partnership with AstraZeneca enables us to bring critically needed medicines to the people who rely on the centers' service," said Dee Johnson, Executive Director, Carolina Family Health Centers, Inc.

North Carolina State Rep. Jean Farmer-Butterfield of Wilson said in a statement, "I commend Carolina Family Health Center and AstraZeneca for partnering to help meet the needs of families in my district in these difficult economic times."

State Sen. S. Clark Jenkins of Tarboro said, "I wish to thank Carolina Family Health Centers and AstraZeneca for providing medications to those in my district that are in need."

"I would like to thank AstraZeneca for their commitment to help provide medication to families in my district who depend on the Carolina Family Health Center for service," said State Rep. Joe Tolson of Pinetops.

State Sen. A. B. Swindell of Nashville said, "I am so pleased and appreciative that AstraZeneca has partnered with Carolina Family Health Centers in both Wilson and Elm City to assist folks in need."

In 2009, AstraZeneca provided $48.4 million in savings to more than 32,600 patients in North Carolina. Nationally, the company helped 507,475 patients save $679.6 million on their medicines.

The AZ&Me™ Prescription Savings program for healthcare facilities provides medicines free of charge to community free clinics, community health centers, hospitals and other qualifying facilities that serve the uninsured. The program is available to non-profit organizations that have a licensed outpatient pharmacy or dispensary on site and meet other program criteria. Patients are eligible for AstraZeneca medicines through this program if they do not have prescription drug coverage and have a household income at or below $30,000 for an individual, or $60,000 for a family of four.

With this program, AstraZeneca builds on its more than 30 year history of patient assistance.

To learn if your organization qualifies for the AZ&Me™ Prescription Savings program for healthcare facilities, please call 1-866-325-8198. Program specialists are available Monday through Friday between the hours of 9:00 AM and 5:00 PM EDT.

Prescription savings programs are available regardless of which medications your doctors prescribe. To find out more about the more than 475 savings programs covering 2,500 medications, please visit www.pparx.org or call 1-888-4PPA-NOW (1-888-477-2669).

About AstraZeneca

AstraZeneca is a global, innovation-driven biopharmaceutical business with a primary focus on the discovery, development and commercialization of prescription medicines.  As a leader in gastrointestinal, cardiovascular, neuroscience, respiratory and inflammation, oncology and infectious disease medicines, AstraZeneca generated global revenues of $32.8 billion in 2009. In the United States, AstraZeneca is a $14.8 billion healthcare business.

For more information about AstraZeneca in the US or our AZ&Me™ Prescription Savings programs, please visit: www.astrazeneca-us.com or call 1-800-AZandMe (292-6363). 

SOURCE AstraZeneca