INDIANAPOLIS, April 11, 2006 (PRIMEZONE) -- Montel Williams, an Emmy-winning syndicated talk show host, author and motivational speaker, will be in Indianapolis Thursday with the "Help is Here Express," a traveling education center making its way across the country to raise awareness and educate the public about the Partnership for Prescription Assistance, a growing national program to help eligible patients access prescription medicines.
The "Help is Here Express" is making stops across Indiana April 12 through 14 to offer help to anyone who is having trouble affording their prescription medicines. Since its launch last April, the PPA program -- sponsored by America's pharmaceutical research companies working with doctors, pharmacists, healthcare providers and community groups -- has matched nearly 2 million patients nationally, and more than 64,000 in Indiana. Additionally since March 2005, Rx for Indiana (the state chapter of PPA) has directed more than 124,000 Hoosiers to programs that offer free or discounted medicines.
"The Partnership for Prescription Assistance is changing thousands of lives every day," said PhRMA President and CEO Billy Tauzin. "No one's helped by a medicine that sits on the shelf and is out of reach financially. The Partnership for Prescription Assistance is matching Hoosiers who are uninsured or underinsured to patient assistance programs that may help them get the medicines they need for free or nearly free. We will keep coming back to Indiana as long as there are people who need our help."
The Indiana schedule is as follows:
April 12 -- 10 a.m. to noon, Fort Wayne Urban League,
2135 S. Hanna St., Fort Wayne, IN
April 13 -- 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., The Caring Place, corner of 22nd St.
and College Ave., Indianapolis, IN
April 14 -- 10 a.m. to noon, Evansville Vanderburgh Public Library,
200 SE Martin Luther King, Jr., St., Evansville, IN
Through its toll-free number -- (888) 4PPA-NOW -- and user-friendly Web site (www.PPARX.org), the Partnership for Prescription Assistance provides a single point of access to more than 475 public and private patient assistance programs, including more than 180 offered by pharmaceutical companies. The "Help is Here Express" is equipped with computer terminals and phones to make it easy for patients to learn about the assistance programs on site.
"Millions of patients are already receiving free or nearly free drugs from these programs, but it is clear that millions of other Americans from all over the country -- in cities and rural areas alike -- are not taking advantage of the help that is available to them," said Williams, who regularly addresses critically important societal issues on his show.
"The PPA is a concerted and effective effort to reach those who still need help. And I'm going to do everything I can to get the word out. As a patient who must cope every day with the effects of multiple sclerosis, I understand only too well the importance of having access to the medicine you need," said Williams.
More than 70 national groups, including the American Academy of Family Physicians, Easter Seals, National Alliance for Hispanic Health, National Urban League, United Way of America, as well as a fast-growing list of state and local organizations, are working with America's pharmaceutical companies to spread the word about the program.
To find out if there are patient assistance programs that may meet their needs, patients should call toll-free (888) 4PPA-NOW to speak with a trained specialist or visit www.PPARX.org.
EDITOR'S NOTE: Electronic images are available, upon request. Please call Erin Pipkin or Katherine Coble at (317) 631-6400.