The Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America, through its Partnership for Prescription Assistance (PPA), is expanding its educational efforts today aimed at making uninsured Americans aware of programs that are available to help them better afford their prescription medicines and finding healthcare services in their community.
?Studies vary but tens of millions of Americans lack health insurance. The numbers are staggering and the impact on American families in terms of both health and financial security is why access to insurance coverage is one of the most pressing policy matters facing the U.S. Congress, governors and state legislatures across the country,? said Billy Tauzin, president and CEO of the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA).
PhRMA is debuting its 2007 national advertising campaign today featuring television talk show host Montel Williams. The campaign is aimed at reaching those who lack health coverage and informing them of the assistance available through the Partnership for Prescription Assistance. Since April 2005, the PPA has helped more than 3.2 million uninsured and low-income Americans find programs that provide prescription medicines for free or nearly free. The PPA, sponsored by America?s pharmaceutical research companies, is the largest private-sector effort connecting low-income, uninsured and underinsured patients to more than 475 public and private patient assistance programs, including more than 180 programs offered by pharmaceutical companies.
?In addition, the PPA provides information on nearly 10,000 free healthcare clinics and has connected more than 100,000 patients with clinics and health care providers in their communities,? said Tauzin.
?Patients should not go without the medicines they need. We are committed to working with policymakers across the country to develop real-world public policy solutions to help the uninsured find coverage to protect their health and their families,? said Tauzin.
The PPA is conducting an intensive outreach campaign aimed at patients and healthcare providers to inform them of the prescription assistance and information on free health clinics through its ?Help is Here Express? national bus tour. The ?Help is Here Express? buses are criss-crossing the country and to date, the buses have visited all 50 states and more than 1,000 cities across America.