Montel Williams, Growing Healthcare Partnership Bring National Bus Tour to Memphis

Montel Williams, Growing Healthcare Partnership Bring National Bus Tour to Memphis

'Help is Here Express' in Tennessee to Help Educate People About Prescription Assistance Programs; Nearly 2.5 Million Nationally Already Benefiting From Program

MEMPHIS, Tenn., July 6 /PRNewswire/ -- Montel Williams, an Emmy-winning syndicated talk show host, author and motivational speaker, will be in Memphis today with the "Help is Here Express," a traveling education center making its way across the country to raise awareness and educate people about the Partnership for Prescription Assistance, a growing national program to help eligible patients access prescription medicines.

The "Help is Here Express" is making a stop in Memphis at the National Civil Rights Museum from 10 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. to offer help to anyone who is having trouble affording their prescription medicine. There will be a news conference at 10:30 a.m. Since its launch in April 2005, the program -- sponsored by America's pharmaceutical research companies working with doctors, pharmacists, health care providers and community groups -- has matched nearly 2.5 million patients nationally, and more than 140,000 right here in Tennessee.

"The Partnership for Prescription Assistance is changing thousands of lives every day," said Karen Katen, Vice Chairman of Pfizer Inc and President, Pfizer Human Health. "No one is helped by a medicine that sits on the shelf and is out of reach financially. The Partnership for Prescription Assistance is matching the people of Tennessee 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 Tennessee as long as there are people who need affordable access to our medicines."

Through its toll-free number (1-888-4PPA-NOW) and user-friendly website (http://www.pparx.org/), the Partnership for Prescription Assistance is the only program that provides a single point of access to more than 475 public and private patient assistance programs, including more than 180 programs 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. 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 and the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) to spread the word about the program.

"NAMI Memphis is excited about the Partnership for Prescription Assistance program and the help it offers to the millions of people who cannot afford their prescription medicines," said Brad Cobb, executive director of the Memphis branch of the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill. "I encourage anyone who is having trouble paying for their medicines to call the toll-free number and find out if you may qualify for one of the hundreds of assistance programs offered by the Partnership for Prescription Assistance."

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 with a trained specialist or visit http://www.pparx.org/.

Call today 1-888-4PPA-NOW (1-888-477-2669) or visit http://www.pparx.org/.

Source: Partnership for Prescription Assistance

CONTACT: Elaine Gansz Bobo of PhRMA, +1-202-835-3460

Web site: http://www.pparx.org/

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