Merck Joins with the Heinz Family Philanthropies, Welvista and Abbott to Announce Solution to Help Patients on State ADAP Waiting Lists for No-Cost HIV Medications

Program set to help the more than 2291 patients in 12 states waiting for HIV treatment

WASHINGTON, July 14 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Merck has joined with the Heinz Family Philanthropies, Welvista and Abbott in a solution that begins to address the needs of patients waiting for access to HIV medications.  

These patients are on waiting lists in 12 states for the AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP), which provides help and no-cost medication for those patients who cannot afford their medication, but do not qualify for Medicaid assistance.  Patients in another 12 states are enduring cost containment strategies for their ADAP medications that include formulary restrictions and tougher income qualification guidelines.

In collaboration with Heinz Family Philanthropies, Merck and Abbott will be  providing Welvista— a nonprofit organization that fills prescriptions for patients who are uninsured and underinsured— with the HIV/AIDS medications that will help patients maintain their independence.  They will also be providing a grant to Welvista for the operation of the overall effort.  No single entity in the partnership will shoulder all of the costs.

Enrollment in the program is virtually automatic for anyone currently certified on an ADAP waiting list and the program will provide direct access to no-cost Abbott HIV medications through Welvista.  Patients who are on ADAP waiting lists and need to access this solution to receive their Abbott medications can request that their state ADAP program contact Welvista on their behalf.  If need exists after one year, the program may be extended.

The Heinz Family Philanthropies, Merck and Welvista created this solution together in response to a call for help from NASTAD (the National Alliance of State and Territorial AIDS Directors) to find ways to clear the waiting lists that are growing across the country  and make enrollment simple for patients.  The ADAP waiting lists have increased exponentially in some areas due to state budget crises and increases in unemployment.

This is a national initiative designed to help patients in any state that has an ADAP waiting list.  Today,  states with ADAP waiting lists include Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Iowa, Kentucky, Montana, North Carolina, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah and Wyoming.

"This new program is an important advance in simplifying patient assistance and an extension of Merck's longstanding commitment to ensuring access to our HIV/AIDS medicines through our SUPPORT Program," said Patrick Davish, executive vice president, Merck Patient Assistance Program Foundation. "Now patients on ADAP waiting lists will have immediate access to their critical medications from several manufacturers through a single source and at no cost."

"Heinz and Welvista have been quietly creating Rx solutions around the United States. Helping those with HIV/AIDS who are in need of immediate medications is critically important to us. We are very proud that Merck has joined with us and Abbott to ensure that every eligible person suffering from HIV/AIDS can gain immediate access to free medications so they never fear they will prematurely enter a long term care facility because they could not get the medicines they need. This solution begins to address this problem and we invite other private sector partners to support this effort to broaden the reach to more patients, "said Jeffrey Lewis, President of the Heinz Family Philanthropies.

"AIDS Drug Assistance Programs across the nation are experiencing the worst funding shortfall in many years.  Through these efforts, eligible clients currently on the waiting list for ADAPs will be able to obtain Merck and Abbott's medications through Welvista," said Ken Trogdon, Chief Executive Officer of Welvista.  "Welvista will be working with states across the nation to become their pharmacy connection in providing these patients with the HIV medications from these two pharmaceutical companies.  It is our hope that other private sector partners will join us to further expand the medication reach to even more patients."

About Welvista

For over 17 years Welvista, a nonprofit organization located in Columbia, South Carolina, has been providing access to prescription medications to the uninsured and underserved throughout South Carolina.  Welvista partners with 12 branded pharmaceutical companies who donate medications and a network of over 3,000 health care providers making them one of the largest mail-order pharmacies for the uninsured in the nation. In 2009, Welvista filled and dispensed more than 135,000 prescriptions to the uninsured valued at over $47 million.  More information can be found at www.welvista.org or by calling 803-933-9183.

About Heinz Family Philanthropies

With offices in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and Washington, D.C., for almost 20 years, the Heinz Family Philanthropies health care programs have been creating real solutions at the city, county, state and now national level.  By using charitable dollars as a venture philanthropy fund, under the leadership of Teresa Heinz, the foundation has successfully launched and implemented Rx solutions across the United States.

SOURCE Heinz Family Philanthropies