SAN DIEGO, Sept. 18, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- MedVantx, Inc., the company that created first ever controlled access to samples of generic prescription medications in US physician offices, today announced the release of the first ever generic atorvastatin (generic form of Lipitor) samples in US physician offices. Effective immediately, more than 3,500 physicians participating in the MedVantx network in eight states will be able to offer free to their patients, access to initial therapy (30-day samples) of atorvastatin at the point of care, as well as the option to order prescription refills through an integrated home delivery platform, all via the Company's MedStart Connect program. The program is a new tool to help physicians transition to accountable care and medical home delivery models, and provides convenience and affordability without ever having to go to a pharmacy.
Atorvastatin is a statin drug used in the treatment of high cholesterol. In 2011, Lipitor, the branded version of atorvastatin, was the highest grossing prescription medication in the US, with more than 45 million prescriptions. An estimated one in every six adults has high cholesterol, according to the Atlanta-based Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Approximately every 34 seconds in the US, someone has a heart attack and 80% of those people have high cholesterol.
"Since the inception of the MedStart Connect program, over 3.2M US consumers have obtained access to over 70 million days of free initial therapy samples of generic medications via our platform at the point of care," stated Susan Hogue, RPh, MPM, Vice President of Managed Care Networks and Clinical Services at MedVantx. "Studies have suggested that as many as 28% of initial prescription medications used in the treatment of high cholesterol never get filled (often defined as primary non-adherence). We believe that creating access to free initial therapy samples at the point of care and integrating home delivery of ongoing statin therapy will have a huge impact on primary and ongoing medication adherence rates, since cost and convenient access to pharmaceutical care are frequently the leading barriers to getting appropriate treatment," added Ms. Hogue.
Dr. Robert Dela Gente, a practicing family physician, and a member of the MedVantx Clinical Advisory Board commented, "We are thrilled to be able to offer free samples of generic atorvastatin to our patients. By doing so, we know patients will actually leave the office with the medication in hand. And, because it is affordable, they will be more likely to continue taking it. Our patients love this sample program."
Through its proprietary automated MedStartTM Connect program, MedVantx collaborates with physicians, health plans, employers and manufacturers to provide consumers access to generic, brand and over-the- counter medication samples in physician offices. MedVantx automates the traditional sampling process, captures sampling data, provides drug educational information and supports ongoing primary and secondary adherence management. The Company also provides consumers with access to cost-effective home delivery as well as fully transparent mail order services to employer groups and health plans.
About MedVantx, Inc.
MedVantx is an innovative consumer medication management and delivery company committed to streamlining access, reducing costs and providing helpful information to benefit patients, physicians, health plans, employers and manufacturers. The MedStart™ Connect program provides for a fully-automated, integrated, point-of-care to consumer home delivery channel focused on increasing the quality and cost effectiveness of the last non-managed pharmaceutical channel – the physician office sample closet. MedStart Connect includes free initial therapy samples of prescription and over-the-counter medication at the point of care, a consumer helpline providing drug information, adherence management services, and convenient consumer home delivery through its mail order pharmacy. The national MedVantx network has served over 3.5 million consumers through an integrated network including health plans, manufacturers and more than 3,500 prescribers.
Lipitor is a registered trademark of Pfizer Inc.
MedVantx Contact:
J.D. Haldeman
(858) 964-1497
JD.Haldeman@MedVantx.com
Atorvastatin is a statin drug used in the treatment of high cholesterol. In 2011, Lipitor, the branded version of atorvastatin, was the highest grossing prescription medication in the US, with more than 45 million prescriptions. An estimated one in every six adults has high cholesterol, according to the Atlanta-based Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Approximately every 34 seconds in the US, someone has a heart attack and 80% of those people have high cholesterol.
"Since the inception of the MedStart Connect program, over 3.2M US consumers have obtained access to over 70 million days of free initial therapy samples of generic medications via our platform at the point of care," stated Susan Hogue, RPh, MPM, Vice President of Managed Care Networks and Clinical Services at MedVantx. "Studies have suggested that as many as 28% of initial prescription medications used in the treatment of high cholesterol never get filled (often defined as primary non-adherence). We believe that creating access to free initial therapy samples at the point of care and integrating home delivery of ongoing statin therapy will have a huge impact on primary and ongoing medication adherence rates, since cost and convenient access to pharmaceutical care are frequently the leading barriers to getting appropriate treatment," added Ms. Hogue.
Dr. Robert Dela Gente, a practicing family physician, and a member of the MedVantx Clinical Advisory Board commented, "We are thrilled to be able to offer free samples of generic atorvastatin to our patients. By doing so, we know patients will actually leave the office with the medication in hand. And, because it is affordable, they will be more likely to continue taking it. Our patients love this sample program."
Through its proprietary automated MedStartTM Connect program, MedVantx collaborates with physicians, health plans, employers and manufacturers to provide consumers access to generic, brand and over-the- counter medication samples in physician offices. MedVantx automates the traditional sampling process, captures sampling data, provides drug educational information and supports ongoing primary and secondary adherence management. The Company also provides consumers with access to cost-effective home delivery as well as fully transparent mail order services to employer groups and health plans.
About MedVantx, Inc.
MedVantx is an innovative consumer medication management and delivery company committed to streamlining access, reducing costs and providing helpful information to benefit patients, physicians, health plans, employers and manufacturers. The MedStart™ Connect program provides for a fully-automated, integrated, point-of-care to consumer home delivery channel focused on increasing the quality and cost effectiveness of the last non-managed pharmaceutical channel – the physician office sample closet. MedStart Connect includes free initial therapy samples of prescription and over-the-counter medication at the point of care, a consumer helpline providing drug information, adherence management services, and convenient consumer home delivery through its mail order pharmacy. The national MedVantx network has served over 3.5 million consumers through an integrated network including health plans, manufacturers and more than 3,500 prescribers.
Lipitor is a registered trademark of Pfizer Inc.
MedVantx Contact:
J.D. Haldeman
(858) 964-1497
JD.Haldeman@MedVantx.com
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