Nevirapine Patient Assistance Program: Model for Better
Administration?  November 22, 2002   The new Boehringer
Ingelheim patient assistance program for nevirapine for U.S.
residents may be an improvement over other programs, in that it
streamlines the paperwork and administration. A patient applies
once for a year -- by sending a one-page application plus proof
of income. A new foundation set up by Boehringer Ingelheim
promises a response in two days. Then the patient picks up the
drug four times per year at the doctor's office. At the end of
the year the patient can apply again for the next year -- and
will be sent a reminder to do so.  It seems that the doctor
doesn't have to do burdensome paperwork for this program -- only
write the prescription, and hold the medicine package for the
patient four times per year. This should prevent a major problem
for medical staffs, and open the program to more people in
public clinics.  However, the income eligibility level for
nevirapine is calculated differently than