600,000 Match With Drug Assistance Programs

The Partnership for Prescription Assistance, launched in April, marked its first 100 days with a progress report: About 600,000 Americans have found routes to no-cost or low-cost pharmaceuticals through the PPA.

"I go to AAFP chapters and talk to family physicians about the PPA, and I hear stories not only about what patients need but now about how patients are being helped through this program," AAFP President Mary Frank, M.D., said July 26 at the National Press Club, where the PPA issued its report.

Since April, about one million Americans have accessed the PPA by phone or on the Internet, and about 600,000 patients have found sources for lower-cost or free drugs. The PPA combines information from about 475 public and private assistance programs, including the assistance programs of about 180 pharmaceutical companies. Who qualifies for PPA help? — those with lower incomes who need any of about 2,500 pharmaceuticals offered through the PPA.

A coalition led by the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America, or PhRMA, created the PPA. The Academy is a founding partner in the endeavor.

"Every day I see patients who can't afford the medicines they need, who are being forced to either not take their medication, stop their medication, share it with someone else or split the pills in half. I have children with asthma who can't afford inhalers," Frank told about 20 reporters at the press event.

The PPA offers patients information not only on prescription assistance available now but also on Medicaid, the State Children's Health Insurance Program and the Medicare Part D drug benefit that people can enroll in starting Nov. 15.

The push is on to reach 6 million more people needing prescription assistance.

An audio news release that aired July 26 before a projected audience of 12 million radio listeners includes this comment from Frank: "The Partnership for Prescription Assistance has helped many of my patients get the medicines they need. This program makes it easier for seniors to get the information that helps them determine how to enroll in a Medicare drug plan."

PhRMA President and CEO Billy Tauzin told reporters at the National Press Club that the PhRMA Board of Directors recently committed the industry to spending tens of millions of additional dollars to raise awareness about patient assistance programs. "We decided if we could help with the paperwork (for prescription assistance), we could help patients and physicians," said Tauzin.

The PPA process: Patients call (888) 4PPA-NOW [477-2669], and PPA staff try to help them get the medicine they need. Patients also can contact the PPA online. Each patient who matches for reduced-cost medicine receives or downloads an application form to take to a health professional for signature and prescription(s). The form and prescription(s) are mailed to the participating program in the PPA, and the health professional or patient soon receives either the medicine or a card to use to get the medicine at a local pharmacy.

But does the plan work in today's culturally diverse society? "I work with a large Eritrean population, and many of them speak only Eritrean. They can access this program in their own language -- they're empowered -- they can help themselves get the medications they need," Frank said, highlighting the fact that PPA staff can help patients in about 150 languages.