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PRESCRIPTION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM ROLLS INTO TOWN

By Erin France/OF THE COMMERCIAL STAFF
Thursday, April 16, 2009 1:51 AM CDT

The bus parked in front of the Jefferson County Department of Human Services Wednesday afternoon was not there to transport people; it was there to help them save money on medications.

The Partnership for Prescription Assistance bus was parked in front of the Jefferson County Department of Human Services Wednesday afternoon to offer residents options for lowering medical bills. PINE BLUFF COMMERCIAL/ERIN FRANCE.

The bus’ mantra, ‘Help is Here,’ was printed on the outside. Inside, computer terminals and workers for the Partnership for Prescription Assistance helped residents explore options for lowering costs of prescription drugs.

“Medicine is so expensive,” said Latonia Brown. “I have to pay for that stuff out of pocket.”

Brown said she has chronic bronchitis, severe enough to make her wary about walking the length of the bus.

Some of her medication costs more than $100, but this is the first time she’s heard of a way to lessen that amount, Brown said.

“There have always been patient assistance programs,” said Kate Michael, the director of communications for Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America, the company sponsoring the program.

“Not a lot of people knew they existed,” she said.

Michael said many of the pharmaceutical companies had their own assistance programs, but the PPA program combines those opportunities.

“This is an easier way to do that,” she said.

According to Michael, there are more than 475 programs in the database.

Employees ask clients for information about medications, income level, employment status and other pertinent information, Michael said.

Shaquawanna White, waiting her turn, said she hoped the program could help.

White said she just lost her state insurance program and has epilepsy.

“I take 9 pills a day,” she said.

Brown and White agreed that any relief from their medical bills would help.

Brown explained that she can’t always fill prescriptions her doctor asks her to take.

“I really need it, but it’s so expensive,” she said. “It’s just really depressing sometimes.”

If you missed the bus, there’s also a toll free number at 1-888-4PPA-NOW and a Web site at www.pparx.org.

About 84,000 Arkansans have been assisted by the program, Michael said.

This year, the crowds around the bus have increased, she said.

“We definitely see it,” she said.

The bus stopped in Little Rock Wednesday morning and is scheduled to visit Warren Thursday.

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