GSE New Program Offers A Prescription For Health (NAPSA)—There’s good news for the growing number of Americans who do not have insurance Partnership for coverage for prescription medi- cines and other health care services. A program has been created that helps qualifying patients who lack prescription coverage get the medicines they need through the public or private program that’s right for them. The program, called the Partnership for Prescription Assistance, offers a single point of access to more than 275 public andprivate patient assistance programs, including more than 150 programs offered by pharmaceutical companies. Sponsored by a coalition of America’s biopharmaceutical research companies, doctors and other health care providers, pharmacists, patient advocacy organizations, and community groups, its mission is to increase awarenessof these programs and boostenrollmentof those whoareeligible. Patients who do not have prescription coverage and are having trouble affording their medicines can call a toll-free numberto see if they may be eligible for one or more programs. A trained specialist will ask a short series of questions, provide initial feedback and help patients identify the specific programs for which they may qualify. The specialists also make the application process easy by helping patientsfill out the application forms. The call center is Prescription Assistance @ A new program helps patients who lack prescription coverage get the medicines they need by logging on to www.pparx.org or calling 1-888-4PPA-NOW (1-888477-2669). prepared to help patients speaking English, Spanish and more than 15 other languages. Similar information and assistance are available on the Web site. Online users will be prompted to answer a short series of questions and will receive feedback on their potential to qualify for a program. They will also get information about application processes and can begin filling out applications online. Patients with questions about specific programs maybe transferred directly to the company sponsoring that program. Depend- ing on the program, the prescription medicines are either sent to the health care provider’s office or to the patient’s home. Somepatient assistance programs mail a phar- macy card that can be used to get medicines at local pharmacies. To learn more, visit the Web site at www.pparx.org or call 1- 888-4PPA-NOW(1-888-477-2669).
