Group helps uninsured get needed medication

Unemployment in Cedar Rapids has increased from 4.4 percent to

6.4 percent in a year and the risk of losing health insurance coverage has increased. It is a clear setback for patients in a state plagued by nearly 1.6 million cases of chronic diseases, including heart disease, cancer and diabetes. Failure to take medicines as prescribed because of lost coverage can lead to an urgent need for even more treatment, including debilitating and expensive surgeries and hospitalizations.

Fortunately, help is available. Uninsured and financially struggling patients can turn to the Partnership for Prescription Assistance to identify programs that provide free or nearly free access to more than 2,500 brand-name and generic medications. Sponsored by America's pharmaceutical research and biotechnology companies, the PPA provides a single point of access to 475 assistance programs, including nearly 200 operated by the companies.

The PPA, since April 2005, has helped about 57,000 Iowans and nearly 6 million nationwide find assistance programs.

Patients can call toll-free, 1-(888) 477-2669, or visit www.pparx.org Cedar Rapids residents can also visit the PPA's “Help Is Here Express” bus to talk to its counselors to find out if they may qualify for free or nearly free medicines. The bus will be in Cedar Rapids at Linn Community Care, 1201 Third Ave. SE, from 2 to 4 p.m. Tuesday.

Dr. Paul Antony

Washington

Chief medical

officer

Pharmaceutical

Research

and Manufacturers

of America