Is Helping Those In Need 5 (NAPSA)—With millions of uninsured Americans looking for help to pay for their prescription medicines, health care officials are concerned by the potential health problems faced by patients who do not take their prescribed medicines. But a national program sponsored by America’s pharmaceutical research companies is makingit easier for patients without health insurance to have access to the medicine they need. Called the Partnership for Prescription Assistance (PPA), the program’s mission is to increase awareness of patient assistance programs among patients who may be havingdifficulties paying for their medicines. In just two years, the PPA has already helped an estimated 3.5 million uninsured Americans—manyof whom are struggling financially. Through its Web site and toll-free call center, the PPA is a one-stop point of access to more than 475 public and private patient assistance programs, including more than 180 programs directly sponsored by America’s pharmaceutical research companies. The PPA brings together America’s pharmaceutical research companies, doctors, other health care providers, patient advocacy organizations and community groups to help qualifying patients wholack prescription coverage get the medicines they need through the public or private assistance program that’s right for them. As a result, many get the medicine they need for free or nearly free. Said Mary E. Frank, president of the American Academy of Fam- ily Physicians, “Millions of Ameri- cans already benefit from patient assistance programs, but we know that millions more who may be eligible have not yet enrolled.” In just two years, an effort to assist those who lack medical coverage get the medication they need has helped an estimated 3.5 million people. Frank believes that as a result of the pharmaceutical industry’s effort to broaden and simplify assistance programs, physicians will find it easier to help patients get the medications they need. To help increase patient awareness, PPA’s orange Help Is Here Express buses have crisscrossed America, visiting more than 1,200 cities in all 50 states and helping patients find the patient assistance programs right for them. Among the organizations that have joined America’s pharmaceutical research companies in the partnership are the American Academy of Family Physicians, the American Autoimmune Related Diseases Association, the Lupus Foundation of America, the NAACP,the National Alliance for Hispanic Health and the National Medical Association. To contact the Partnership for Prescription Assistance, visit www.pparx.org or call, toll-free, (888) 4PPA-NOW (1-888-4772669). For more information on America’s pharmaceutical research companies, visit www.PhRMA.org.
