The rising cost of prescription medicine was on Corinne Clauschee's
mind when she stepped onto the Partnership for Prescription
Assistance's (PPA) big orange bus at Gateway Park on Wednesday
afternoon.
Clauschee, 39, of Kirtland, has two prescriptions that need to be
filled, but doesn't have the money to do so.
"I can't afford medications," said Clauschee, who added she works for
a company that does not offer full medical benefits. "I saw the bus
and I was curious. (The program) is interesting, but I'll give it a
try and see what happens."
Clauschee said she needs allergy medicine for herself and acne
medicine for her son, but the cost is just too high.
"I did pay for it once," she said. "My son's acne medicine was at least $100."
After answering 10 confidential questions, Clauschee was matched to
three programs that could offer her a prescription discount card or
help her get her prescriptions for free. The applications for all
three programs were printed out for Clauschee. All she has to do to
complete the process is fill out the application and get a doctor's
signature.
Getting applications for assistance is easy. People who need help can
call a toll free number or log on to the Internet for applications,
said Grady Forrer, director of communications and public affairs for
the American Pharmaceutical Companies, the group sponsoring PPA's
campaign to provide information about low-cost prescription drugs.
Nearly 2,500 prescription drugs are available through the program.
Drug cards and medication assistance is provided to patrons by
manufacturers.
"This is a national program put on by the American Pharmaceutical
Companies to help people in need," Forrer said. "Each individual
manufacturer has had programs like these but we have found programs
that will help with four to five drugs across the board."
The PPA is traveling the country in a bright orange bus promoting the
program which helps people like Clauschee find cheaper ways to get
their medicine.
"Everyone who is without insurance or between jobs can try to apply,"
said Forrer. "A typical person (we serve) is a single mom with no
insurance and is worried about how to get her kids medicine."
Forrer said since the bus first left the station in April 2005, the
program has helped about 2.5 million people. In Farmington, 228 people
have signed up, with 91 percent of those people being "matched" to a
company.
"We think it's been pretty successful, but we know there are more
people out there," Forrer said.
For more information call (888) 4PPA-NOW o visit www.pparx.org
Labels: No Prescription, Online Pharmacy, Prescription Drugs
# posted by Network @ 12:13 AM
