Neulasta FIRST STEP Program

Who Is Eligible

Patient Co-pay Card Registration
   - Frequently Asked Questions

Health Care Provider Enrollment
   and Card Activation
   - Frequently Asked Questions

Important Safety Information

Contact Us

Program Overview

Amgen is committed to helping provide comprehensive access for appropriate patients who may benefit from Neulasta® treatment. The Neulasta FIRST STEP™ Program is intended to provide assistance to eligible low-income patients who need help meeting their Neulasta® co-insurance or co-payment requirement.

Eligible patients who enroll can register a Neulasta FIRST STEP™ MasterCard®, and use it to help meet their Neulasta® co-insurance or co-payment requirement. During the first cycle of a new chemotherapy regimen, Amgen will pay an eligible patient’s entire Neulasta® co-insurance or co-payment requirement. For all subsequent chemotherapy cycles, Amgen will pay the Neulasta® co-insurance or co-payment amount in excess of an eligible patient’s required portion of $50 per cycle. If the patient’s co-insurance or co-payment exceeds $650 for a Neulasta® injection, the balance in excess of $650 will be applied to the Neulasta FIRST STEP™ MasterCard® once the patient’s Explanation of Benefits (EOB) form is processed by the program. Once that form has been processed, the clinic's/institution's simply needs to swipe the card at the patient’s next visit to receive payment for amounts due. Once activated, the Neulasta FIRST STEP™ MasterCard® will be valid for a patient’s entire course of chemotherapy provided he or she enrolls and receives his/her first injection of Neulasta® requiring co-insurance or co-payment before December 31, 2010.

Ongoing eligibility in the program is contingent on submission of the EOB form that documents the patient’s first injection of Neulasta® covered by the program. The EOB must be submitted within 30 days of that first injection. Failure to timely submit the required EOB may result in program ineligibility. By participating in this program, clinics/institutions agree to periodic audits related to administration of this program by Amgen.

The Neulasta FIRST STEP™ Program only applies to patients receiving Neulasta® in a physician’s clinic or institution that is billed under the patient’s medical benefit. This program does not cover insurance deductibles or costs associated with the patient visit. This program also does not cover co-insurance or co-payments for Neulasta® purchased at a specialty or retail pharmacy and then administered at a physician’s clinic or institution. Lastly, a physician’s clinic or institution must first be enrolled before a patient can participate in this program.

Important Program Information

Amgen reserves the right to deny payment under the Neulasta FIRST STEP™ Program to anyone deemed ineligible in accordance with the stated criteria. Providers may be obligated under their contracts with payers to disclose acceptance of funds provided through this card for products dispensed to their patients. Providers must not seek reimbursement from any third-party payer for any amount provided by the Neulasta FIRST STEP™ MasterCard. Providers may not advertise or otherwise use this card as a means of promoting their services or Amgen products. This offer is void where prohibited by law. Patients enrolled in Medicare, Medicaid or any other federally funded healthcare program are ineligible for program benefits. Amgen reserves the right to revise or terminate this program, in whole or in part, without notice, at any time.

By using this card, the user acknowledges that the Neulasta FIRST STEP™ Program covers a portion of the patient's co-payment requirement associated with Neulasta® received and administered at a participatng doctor’s office or hospital. It does not cover other costs associated with the patient's visit or the cost of Neulasta® purchased at a pharmacy and then administered at the doctor’s office or hospital, or when the doctor’s office or hospital has not enrolled to participate in this program.

Indication and Important Safety Information

Neulasta® (pegfilgrastim) is prescribed to reduce the risk of infection (initially marked by fever) in patients with some tumors receiving strong chemotherapy that decreases the number of infection-fighting white blood cells.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION
Ruptured spleen (including fatal cases) and a serious lung problem called acute respiratory distress syndrome have been reported. Call your doctor or seek emergency care right away if you have abdominal or shoulder tip pain, shortness of breath, trouble breathing, or a fast rate of breathing. In rare cases, serious allergic reactions can occur, causing shortness of breath, wheezing, dizziness, swelling around the mouth or eyes, fast pulse, sweating, and hives. Sometimes these symptoms could come back within days after stopping treatment for the allergic reaction. If you start to have any of these symptoms, call your doctor or seek emergency care right away. Sickle cell crises have been reported.

In a clinical study, mild to moderate bone pain occurred in 31% of the patients taking Neulasta® and in 26% of the patients taking a placebo injection. In most cases, bone pain was controlled with a non-narcotic pain reliever, such as acetaminophen. Other common side effects reported by patients in the study taking either Neulasta® or placebo were consistent with the underlying cancer diagnosis and its treatment with chemotherapy, with the exception of bone pain.

If you have any questions about this information, be sure to discuss them with your doctor. You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088.

Please see Prescribing Information and Patient Product Information