Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation announced today that the company will work with Medicare-approved drug discount card sponsors to provide its products free of Novartis charges to low-income Medicare enrollees, after they have exhausted their $600 transitional assistance available from the government.
More than 7.4 million Medicare enrollees will participate in the drug discount card programs, according to the Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Of those, 4.7 million have annual incomes under 135% of the Federal Poverty Level.
These enrollees are eligible for "transitional assistance" until the Medicare prescription drug bill takes effect in 2006. Enrollees who have exhausted their $600 credit will be eligible for Novartis products free. Patients are responsible for any third party charges. We estimate charges to be approximately $5 -- $10 for most products.