GlaxoSmithKline announced today the launch of a new Patient Savings Card to help eligible people living with HIV reduce their out-of-pocket medication expenses. Through this new program, patients are eligible to save up to $100 every month for each of their prescriptions involving antiretrovirals (ARVs) produced by GSK, for up to two years.

HIV-positive people are eligible for the new GSK-funded program if they pay any amount of cash for their ARVs, such as insurance co-payments or full-price payments, and their prescriptions are not covered by Medicaid, Medicare, a state AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP) or other government-funded assistance program. Retired people who are Medicare eligible and enrolled in an employer-sponsored health plan or drug benefit plan are not eligible. Additionally, Massachusetts residents are eligible only if they are paying the entire cost of their ARVs themselves.

Although the Patient Savings Card can only be used for ARVs manufactured by GSK—options include Lexiva (fosamprenavir), Epzicom (abacavir plus lamivudine), Ziagen (abacavir), Epivir (lamivudine) and Retrovir (zidovudine)—it can be used to defray the out-of-pocket costs of multiple medications. For example, a person who is taking Norvir-boosted Lexiva plus Epzicom would save up to $100 on his or her co-payments for both prescriptions—up to $200 total. The co-payment associated with the Norvir prescription would not be covered.

Patients can enroll in the program by visiting their doctors and asking for a Patient Savings Card and then presenting it to their local pharmacist along with their prescriptions for eligible GSK ARVs.