As our nation continues to grapple with the ongoing economic crisis, millions of Americans from all walks of life are facing many difficult challenges. Although we’ve seen some positive economic signs in recent weeks, the threat of job losses remains real – as does the risk of people losing their health insurance.
During these tough times, many people think health care is an expense they simply cannot afford. They may feel forced to skip normal doctors’ appointments and medications. While understandable, such decisions often can lead to worsening health conditions that can be easily managed with the right medicines and preventative care. This is particularly dangerous for patients who need medication to manage chronic conditions such as diabetes and heart disease, the latter being the number one cause of death among African Americans, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Thankfully, there are government programs available to help those who may have lost their healthcare coverage. Programs such as Medicaid and the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) act as a safety net for the country’s most vulnerable patients. These programs are providing vital help to patients in need, yet many who qualify are not yet taking advantage of these valuable resources. Information is readily available through your local social services department; visit www.hhs.gov to learn more about eligibility and application requirements.
Help is also available through prescription assistance programs. America’s pharmaceutical research and biotechnology companies sponsor the Partnership for Prescription Assistance (PPA). Since its launch in April 2005, PPA has helped connect more than 5.7 million patients across the country to programs that provide free or nearly free medicines. For more information, patients can call 1-888-4PPA-NOW or visit www.pparx.org.
While these programs are outstanding healthcare resources, more must be done to ensure that uninsured and struggling Americans have access to the treatments and care they need. This year, Congress, the Administration and a wide range of stakeholders are working on bringing high-quality, affordable health coverage to all Americans. America’s pharmaceutical research companies support comprehensive healthcare reform and have been working with a diverse groups to find common-sense solutions to America’s health crisis.
For example, we recently teamed with a leading consumers group called Families USA to put forth a proposal that would improve and expand Medicaid to help provide comprehensive healthcare coverage for uninsured Americans with the lowest incomes so that financially struggling individuals and families can receive the health care they need to live longer, healthier lives. Our joint proposal also calls for providing low- and moderate-income Americans above the Medicaid eligibility level with subsidies to help them obtain private insurance coverage in a reformed insurance market. Lastly, we propose that healthcare reform should include a meaningful cap on out-of-pocket expenditures so that families are adequately protected from high out-of-pocket healthcare costs and assure that families are not forced into bankruptcy as a result of a catastrophic illness,
America’s pharmaceutical research and biotechnology companies will continue to work to find a constructive middle ground on healthcare reform until all Americans have access to the health coverage they require and deserve.
