As Americans struggle to make ends meet in today’s weak economy, they are forced to make sacrifices. For the lucky ones, this may only mean skipping luxuries like dining out, a new TV or expensive clothes. Unfortunately, too many others are forced to make graver sacrifices: their health and the health of their families. Since the recession began in 2007, nearly 8.4 million American jobs have been lost. Without the help of an employer’s financial contribution to cover medical expenses, countless patients aren’t able to access the health care they need, including their prescription medicines.
Access to quality care is vital to overall health and wellness, and health insurance plays a key role. When people don’t have any or enough health insurance, they are more likely to delay or forgo doctors’ visits, prescription medications and other treatments, even when they have chronic conditions like diabetes and high blood pressure. Without regular access to treatment, these conditions can become debilitating and even life threatening. The perfect storm created by chronic conditions and lack of proper health care hits the African-American community the hardest; more than 48 percent of African-American adults suffer from a chronic disease, and just under one in five are uninsured, according to a 2008 Commonwealth Fund study.
It’s not just adults that are feeling the pain. Uninsured children are 20 percent to 30 percent more likely to lack immunizations, prescription medications, asthma care and basic dental care, according to the Institute of Medicine . Uninsured children are also more likely to miss school due to health problems and to experience preventable hospitalizations.
Understanding the acute need to help the uninsured, five years ago America’s pharmaceutical research and biotechnology companies launched the Partnership for Prescription Assistance (PPA), a nationwide effort to help patients who lack prescription coverage access information about more than 475 available patient assistance programs. The response has been remarkable: Since it began in April 2005, PPA has helped connect more than 6.5 million people to patient assistance programs that provide free or nearly free medicines.
PPA is an important lifeline to patients coping with financial hardship, particularly during this difficult economy. Now more than ever, the services that PPA provides are crucial to the growing number of uninsured and under-insured Americans. That’s why America’s pharmaceutical research and biotechnology companies are launching the next phase of PPA. This new initiative will employ the latest technology in order to expand the ways the program is able to help the people who need assistance the most.
Specifically, the next generation of PPA, called "PPA 2.0," focuses on expanding community partnerships and enhancing PPA’s mobile and online presence to make it even easier to get information about patient assistance programs. In an effort to utilize technology to reach more people in more places, PPA 2.0 will include a text hotline and smart phone application, in addition to the existing toll-free hotline and Web site, to ensure 24/7 access to information about the programs offered through PPA.
No one should have to go without their medicines because they can’t afford them. As our country continues on the long road to economic recovery, programs like PPA are providing real relief for some of America’s most vulnerable patients and those struggling to lead healthy lives after losing their jobs and benefits.
