Helping Uninsured Americans Get the Medicines They Need

WASHINGTON, April 15 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- As recently noted in the Queens Chronicle, a nationwide partnership, consisting of more than 475 public and private assistance programs, is helping qualified patients save money on their medicines.

Since its launch in April 2005, the Partnership for Prescription Assistance (PPA) has helped connect more than 6.2 million people to patient assistance programs that may meet their needs. The PPA is sponsored by America's pharmaceutical research and biotechnology companies and nearly 200 of the assistance programs are provided by pharmaceutical companies.

Former Leave It To Beaver star Jerry Mathers knows first-hand how important it is for patients to have access to medicines. Mathers, who has diabetes, said "the most important thing anyone suffering from a chronic disease can do for their family and themselves is to stay healthy, and that means having access to the medicines you need … As someone who has suffered from diabetes for years, I think it is important for patients to know all the resources available to them so they can manage their conditions and stay healthy."

Through PPA, eligible patients have access to more than 2,500 brand-name and generic prescription medicines. In addition, there's information on more than 10,000 free health care clinics in America. In fact, the program has connected more than 287,000 patients with free health clinics.

Uninsured and financially struggling patients can call (888) 4-PPA-NOW to talk to a trained operator or access the easy-to-use Web site, www.pparx.org.

For more information on what America's pharmaceutical research companies are doing to help make medicines available to all patients, visit the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) website.

SOURCE Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America