Program stops in Uniontown to help low-income with prescription needs
The Help is Here Express national bus tour came to Fayette County Friday, spending a few hours parked at Uniontown Hospital to assist local residents who have trouble paying for their prescriptions. “Access to health care is still a serious issue for Fayette County residents and lack of access to health care usually equates with lack of access to medication,’ said Karen DeiCas, community relations director for Uniontown Hospital, “So we’re pleased to co-sponsor this and bring the bus here.’
The Fayette County Community Health Improvement Partnership (CHIPP) of which Uniontown Hospital is a member supported the visit by the Help is Here Express as did United Way of South Fayette.
Ben Wright, senior vice president of First National Bank of Pennsylvania and campaign chairman for this year’s United Way fund drive, noted the Help is Here Express program provides assistance to low-income, uninsured or under-insured patients.
“It helps people who are falling through the cracks,’ he said. “And those who are not able to come here today can access this assistance on line or by calling.’
DeiCas and Wright spoke as they stood in front of the big, orange Help is Here Express bus, which was parked on Woodlawn Avenue near the Uniontown Hospital Friday from 10 a.m. to noon. On board, trained workers helped local residents who qualified find information on programs that can provide drugs for free, nearly free or at reduced rates.
The Help is Here Express is sponsored by America’s pharmaceutical research companies and is part of the Partnership for Prescription Assistance (PPA), a national effort that has helped more than 2.7 million patients, including more than 132,000 in Pennsylvania. More than 1,300 leading national, state and local organizations are part of the effort.
Emmy-winning syndicated talk show host Montel Williams was named PPA’s national spokesman in January 2006. In addition, nationally recognized Telemundo talk show host and author Mayte Prida leads the PPA’s Hispanic outreach effort.
Mark E. Grayson, deputy vice president of communications and public affairs, for the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America, was at the Uniontown stop and explained the Help is Here Express has been in operation for more than a year and a half, stopping in more than 500 cities in all 50 states.
“The industry has had patient assistance programs for years,’ said Grayson, noting there are more than 475 prescription assistance programs in existence that include 180 programs from pharmaceutical companies.
Grayson stressed, “There are three things to know. This program is for people of all ages. More than 70 percent of the people who qualify are under the age of 65. It’s a free service. And it’s confidential. As soon as they finish the session, the information is wiped clean.’
A press release from Partnership for Prescription Assistance noted, “Over 2,500 different brand-name and generic prescription medicines are available through participating patient assistance programs. In addition, the PPA provides information on nearly 10,0000 free healthcare clinics and has connected more than 45,000 patients with clinics and health care providers in their communities.’
To find out if there are patient assistance programs that may meet their needs, patients should call toll-free 1-888-4PPA-NOW (1-888-477-2669) to speak to a trained specialist or visit the Web site at www.pparx.org.