A new drug discount service offered by an HIV advocacy group is offering cut rate -- up to 50 percent off -- pharmaceutical prices to its members. The program is helping to bridge the gap between the prohibitive price of new drugs to treat HIV and the ability of low-income patients to pay for them.

In recent years, drug-buying cooperatives have begun to serve a traditionally neglected consumer niche -- low-income seniors and the uninsured. Existing programs, however, have focused almost exclusively on seniors and few have organized disease-specific patient groups into purchasing co-ops with price negotiating leverage. The BodyPlus program, launched in January, offers major discounts and free delivery for nearly every HIV prescription drug dispensed in the United States. So far, the initiative has been well received by patients -- it is on track to have 2,000 new members by the end of the year.

The BodyPlus grew out of the efforts of a popular HIV/AIDS Web resource site, TheBody.com, to serve its audience. "The Body has 450,000 monthly visitors and 80,000 are HIV-positive and taking antiviral medications, so that represents a pretty significant audience that's interested in saving money on pharmaceuticals," said James Robertson, The Body's business development director.

The annual cost for antiviral medication for an HIV patient can be as high as $10,000 a year. This cost can be financially devastating to patients without health insurance. Recognizing the need for low-cost drug options, The Body negotiated a contract with a pharmacy benefit manager, Express Scripts, which agreed to provide discount pharmaceutical service for The Body's members across the country. "Most insurance companies won't pay for some drugs and will opt for a less expensive therapy. If the patient has failed on some drug and needs a drug that's not on the formulary, this type of program really helps," said John Riley, work services benefits counselor for AIDS Project Los Angeles.

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