Delta Regional Medical Center

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Help Is Here Express Comes to DRMC

‘Help Is Here Express’ Bus Tour Comes to Greenville, MS


To Help Patients in Need Access Prescription Medicines

The “Help is Here Express” bus tour will be in Greenville onMonday, February 25, stopping at Delta Regional Medical Center to help uninsured and financially struggling Mississippians access information on programs that provide prescription medicines for free or nearly free. The bus tour is part of the Partnership for Prescription Assistance (PPA) – a nationwide effort sponsored by America’s pharmaceutical research companies – raising awareness of patient assistance programs and the need to effectively address the rising and alarming rates of chronic disease in the United States. Patients can also learn about new medicines in development to fight chronic diseases, such as cancer, heart disease, diabetes, and asthma.


To date, the PPA has helped nearly 5 million patients, including more than 86,000 Mississippians. Since its launch in April 2005, the PPA bus tour has visited all 50 states and more than 1,500 cities to raise awareness about patient assistance programs. The “Help is Here Express” is staffed by trained specialists able to quickly help uninsured patients in need access information on more than 475 patient assistance programs, including nearly 200 programs offered by pharmaceutical companies. When the “Help is Here Express” moves on, patients can visit PPA’s easy-to-use Web site (www.pparx.org) or call the toll-free phone number (1-888-4PPA-NOW) where trained operators field calls in 150 languages.

 WHEN: MONDAY, FEBRUARY 25


10-11 AM


WHERE: DELTA REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER


1400 East Union Street


Greenville, MS


WHO: Partnership for Prescription Assistance-Jeff Gilbert, Director, Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America


“With the number of people affected by chronic disease increasing every year, the PPA and its message of hope is now more relevant than ever,” said Billy Tauzin, President and CEO of the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA).

The Milken Institute along with the Partnership to Fight Chronic Disease (www.fightchronicdisease.org) notes there are more than 1.8 million cases of common chronic diseases in Mississippi, including cancer, diabetes, heart disease, hypertension, stroke, mental disorders, and pulmonary conditions. Those diseases are responsible for seven out of every 10 deaths in the United States, and the Milken Institute research states that more than 250,000 Mississippians have heart disease, 199,000 are affected by diabetes and 127,000 suffer from cancer. Innovative medications and treatments – along with improved access to prescription assistance program information through the PPA— may help to reduce the number of deaths caused by chronic disease every year, according to Partnership to Fight Chronic Disease. Medicines in development by America’s pharmaceutical research companies include 277 lifesaving and life-improving medicines for heart disease and stroke, 646 medicines to treat several types cancer and 95 medicines for diabetes. “The PPA is meant to help people who are uninsured and financially-struggling,” added Tauzin, “for patients in Mississippi suffering from chronic disease, it is especially important for them to know that help is here.”

 



In addition to stopping in Greenville on February 25, the “Help Is Here Express” will bring the Partnership for Prescription Assistance to several other Mississippi cities, including Greenwood, Meridian, Natchez and Jackson that week.


For more information, contact: Abby Horn at (404) 840-0208.

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