Patient Assistance Programs

Since the launch of the Partnership for Prescription Assistance program in April 2005, over 5 million patients have been matched with programs that provide free or nearly free medicines.

Discovery of new medicines has helped save and improve the lives of millions of people, and breakthroughs on the horizon promise even more. However, not all Americans have affordable access to the medicines they need. Millions lack prescription drug coverage but don't qualify for government-funded access to medicines, such as Medicare, Medicaid, and the State Children's Health Insurance Programs.

Responding to this challenge, a national coalition has launched the largest-ever private-sector program to help patients who lack prescription drug coverage get the medicines they need. The Partnership for Prescription Assistance offers a single point of access to more than 475 public and private patient assistance programs, including more than 180 programs offered by pharmaceutical companies. Patients will also receive information on government programs for which they may qualify.

As the only resource that brings together nearly all existing patient assistance programs, the Partnership for Prescription Assistance provides a central navigation system that helps patients get access to needed medicines.

Hundreds of national, state, and local organizations are working with America's pharmaceutical companies to spread the word about the program. There are PPA chapters now in all 50 states and and more than 1,500 cities, and the program has a bus, the "Help is Here Express," that is touring the country helping match people to programs that may give them assistance.

Patients who need help paying for their prescription medicines or would like to learn more about the program should call toll-free at 1-888-4PPANOW (1-888-477-2669) or visit www.pparx.org. By offering this central source of information, it is hoped that millions of patients will gain access to the programs that will provide them with needed medicines.

For more information, please visit www.pparx.org.