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Bristol-Myers
Squibb will provide free medications
through statewide
program assisting uninsured
LOUISVILLE,
Ky., July 5, 2002 — Health Kentucky
announced that Bristol-Myers Squibb began
providing 36 of its medications free of
charge to Kentuckians who qualify for free
health care. The free medications are part
of an effort by Health Kentucky to provide
low-income Kentuckians with access to high-quality
health care.
The medications being
made available by Bristol-Myers Squibb include
PravacholÒ (pravastatin sodium), a
cholesterol lowering agent; GlucovanceÒ
(glyburide and metformin hydrochloride)
and Glucophage XRÒ (metformin hydrochloride)
for type 2 diabetes; CoumadinÒ (warfarin
sodium), a blood thinning agent; and TequinÒ
(gatifloxacin), an antibiotic.
"Bristol-Myers
Squibb’s involvement means that Health
Kentucky patients have access to several
36 innovative medications that were unavailable
to them before," said J Scott Judy,
executive vice president for Health Kentucky.
"The company’s generosity will
have a tremendous impact on thousands of
people who might have otherwise gone without
pharmaceutical treatment for their condition."
Bristol-Myers
Squibb joins Health Kentucky’s network
of volunteer health-care providers, which
consists of six other pharmaceutical companies,
more than 3,000 physicians, 140 dentists,
460 pharmacies, all 127 acute-care hospitals
in Kentucky, and every home health agency
and hospice in the state. Health Kentucky
is a private, non-profit organization whose
mission is to arrange access to health care
for uninsured Kentuckians.
Since
1984, Health Kentucky has coordinated access
to free health care for more than 200,000
citizens who live below the poverty level,
do not qualify for government programs and
cannot afford health insurance. Individuals
can call 800-633-8100 to apply to
Health Kentucky, a statewide, non-profit
organization. Once a person is approved,
he or she remains eligible for one year
to visit volunteer doctors, dentists, hospitals,
home health agencies and hospices, and obtain
free prescriptions donated by pharmaceutical
companies. An individual can reapply for
another year of eligibility at the end of
the first year.
For Immediate Release
Contact William P. McElwain, MD
President, Health Kentucky
606-256-2195
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