New Patient Choice Card Makes It Easier For Canadians To Save On Brand Name Medications

Introducing the Merck MyChoice™ Card

TORONTO, Oct. 7, 2013 /CNW/ - Innovators of the Canadian patient choice assistance card program, RxHelp™, today announced a new card that will help thousands of Canadian patients prescribed certain Merck prescription medications stay on their preferred brands.  The new Merck MyChoice™ card covers up to the cost difference between fourteen leading Merck brand prescription medicines and the generic version right at the pharmacy counter.

Without the use of a patient choice card like the Merck MyChoice™ card, Canadians may have their prescriptions filled with a generic version of the brand name medicine originally prescribed by their doctor.  However, now patients with prescriptions for Andriol^®, Cosopt^®, Elocom^®, Maxalt^®, Maxalt^® RPD, Marvelon^®, Nasonex^®, Propecia^®, Proscar^®, Sinemet^®, Sinemet^® CR, Singulair^®, Timoptic^® XE, Trusopt^® are eligible to use the Merck MyChoice™ card.

Patients understand the importance of maintaining consistency in the brand of medication they take in order to achieve the best treatment outcomes. The Merck MyChoice™ card helps patients maintain an active role in their healthcare and allows them the choice to have their prescription filled with the brand name medication prescribed by their doctor.

Whether it be a woman choosing to stay on Marvelon^® for her family planning needs or an allergy or migraine sufferer wanting to remain on brand name Singulair^®, Nasonex^® or Maxalt^® -- The Merck MyChoice™ card is the new card helping patients who choose to stay on their brand name medication.

"RxHelp™ is pleased to have introduced patient choice programs to Canadian patients," says Craig Martin, President, RxHelp.ca.  "Programs like the Merck MyChoice™ Program supports patients' choice to continue on their brand name medications.  We are proud to be offering the Merck MyChoice™ Card and are excited about what this one card means for Canadian patients, physicians and pharmacists alike.  Staying on brand name doesn't have to cost you more."

What are the benefits of the Merck MyChoice™ card?

• Patients:  The Merck MyChoice™ card makes it easier for patients on multiple Merck brands to remain on their preferred brand name medications
• Pharmacists: The card makes it easier for pharmacists as they only need one card to use for the participating Merck brands, per patient
• Physicians: Will find it easier as they only need to store and hand out one consolidated card

How does it work?
Patients present a valid prescription for a Merck brand available on this program, along with the Merck MyChoice™ Card to their pharmacist and ask for their brand name medicine to be dispensed.  The Merck MyChoice™ card will pay up to the difference between the amount the patient would otherwise have to pay at the pharmacy for the Merck medication, and the amount the patient would have to pay for the generic.  The Merck MyChoice™ Card and other RxHelp Patient Choice cards can be used at any Canadian pharmacy.

Cards are free and can also be downloaded to a smart phone or printed as a PDF from www.RxHelp.ca.  Cards can also be ordered by calling 1-866-RxHelp4 (1-866-794-3574).   Cards are free of charge; there are no hidden fees, no monthly charges and patient privacy is protected.

About RxHelp™

RxHelp.ca is a patient-centric service offered by leading Canadian research-based pharmaceutical companies and managed by Toronto-headquartered Cameron Stewart LifeScience.  Founded in 2006, Cameron Stewart LifeScience is a communications and consulting firm that specializes in healthcare and pharmaceutical marketing and is an industry leader in patient choice/assistance programs.

The RxHelp™ Patient Choice card allows consumers to remain on their brand name medicines at little or no additional cost over the generic version. A patient must have a valid prescription from their doctor, present it along with a corresponding RxHelp™ Patient Choice card to their pharmacist and request to remain on their brand.  A complete list of all medications offered on the RxHelp™ card can be found at www.RxHelp.

SOURCE: RxHelp

For more information on RxHelp™ or to coordinate an interview, please contact:

Jennifer Runza
beSPEAK Communications
[email protected]
416-319-0014