Boehringer Ingelheim Cares Foundation Launches New Patient Assistance Program Portal

RIDGEFIELD, Conn., April 2, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Boehringer Ingelheim Cares Foundation today announced the launch of its new website for its Patient Assistance Program (PAP) – a program that provides Boehringer Ingelheim medicines free of charge to eligible uninsured or underinsured patients who cannot afford them. The web portal will make the PAP easier to navigate and offer new features to benefit patients and physicians alike.

The easy-to-use portal – www.bipatientassistance.com -- features benefits for both patients and their healthcare providers, including streamlining the process of applying for, ordering, and tracking shipments of pharmaceutical products that the Foundation gives to eligible patients in the United States.

"Our new portal is a clear step forward in Boehringer Ingelheim Cares Foundation's strategic plan to make more health for more people," said Lilly Ackley, President, Boehringer Ingelheim Cares Foundation. Last year, BI Cares provided more than 170,000 prescriptions free of charge to approximately 63,000 eligible patients as a key component of its Corporate Social Responsibility.

The new portal adds an enhanced level of customer service, allowing people to track medications and better manage their health. As always, patients and physicians have the option to call with questions and fax their prescriptions.

The portal was launched in response to BI's desire to improve customer service, make its products even more accessible to those in need, and give patients and doctors more control over the process. Its launch aligns with the Foundation's strategic goal to improve access to healthcare for the underserved.

The new web portal allows patients to fill out an application online and to complete the pre-screening for potential eligibility. Patients can order online, track a prescription's status and shipping date, and sign up for prescription renewal reminders. In addition, most products can now be shipped directly to the patient, avoiding the need to be picked up at their doctor's office.

The portal also makes it easier for physicians to interact, giving them easy online access to information. In a few clicks, physicians can access a screen listing their patients on the program, the medicines they receive, and the status of their prescriptions, making it quicker and more convenient to track their patients' medications.

The PAP is one of the four core programs of Boehringer Ingelheim Cares Foundation. The other programs include the Product Donation Program, Financial Contributions Program, and Employee Volunteer Program. Through these programs, Boehringer Ingelheim provides more health in local U.S. communities and around the world.

About Boehringer Ingelheim

The Boehringer Ingelheim group is one of the world's 20 leading pharmaceutical companies. Headquartered in Ingelheim, Germany, it operates globally with 145 affiliates and more than 44,000 employees. Since it was founded in 1885, the family-owned company has been committed to researching, developing, manufacturing and marketing novel medications of high therapeutic value for human and veterinary medicine.

As a central element of its culture, Boehringer Ingelheim has a demonstrated commitment to corporate social responsibility. Involvement in social projects, caring for employees and their families, and providing equal opportunities for all employees form the foundation of the global operations. Mutual cooperation and respect, as well as environmental protection and sustainability are intrinsic factors in all of Boehringer Ingelheim's endeavors.

In 2011, Boehringer Ingelheim achieved net sales of about $17.1 billion (13.2 billion euro). R&D expenditure in the business area Prescription Medicines corresponds to 23.5% of its net sales.

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To view our online Giving Report, visit http://givingreport.us.boehringer-ingelheim.com.

SOURCE Boehringer Ingelheim