By Kristin Rothwell, associate editor
Turn on a television in any city in the United States and you’ll likely see a commercial advertising a prescription medication touted to alleviate a health condition.
Today, almost two-thirds of Americans use medicines—49 percent use prescription drugs and 30 percent use nonprescription drugs, according to the American Heart Association.
However, many Americans who need to use medications are unable to afford the prescriptions they’re given because they do not have health insurance or are underinsured, causing many to either stop filling their prescriptions and/or skip doses to make expensive drugs last longer.
In a study conducted by the National Council on Patient Information and Education, this kind of medication misuse cost the health care system an estimated $177 billion in 2001.
In an effort to help people obtain the prescriptions they need to stay healthy and to cut health care costs, the Partnership for Prescription Assistance (PPA) launched a national program to assist patients to qualify for prescription coverage so they can obtain the medicines they’ve been prescribed to treat their condition(s).
The PPA program targets patients who lack prescription drug coverage and earn less than 200 percent of the federal poverty level, which is approximately $19,000 for an individual or $31,000 for a family of three.
The Pennsylvania State Nurses Association (PSNA), along with 42 other organizations that represent pharmaceutical companies, health care organizations and patient advocacy and community groups, have banded together to support PPA’s efforts.
“As part of our mission, we really are community and patient advocates who want to help patients have access to care,” said Michele P. Campbell, MSN, RNC, executive administrator for the Pennsylvania State Nurses Association. “So many patients don’t take their prescriptions because they can’t afford them…but if they’re medicated, many will be able to stay out of hospitals and emergency rooms. That’s why we’re very supportive of this endeavor.”
Through PPA people can find out if they qualify for assistance with purchasing medications.
To further promote the PPA program, a customized tour bus, better known as the “Help is Here Express,” is touring the country. Recently, the tour bus made a stop in Harrisburg Pennsylvania, where the Pennsylvania State Nurses Association was in attendance to endorse its partnership with PPA.
“It’s a great marketing tool,” said Campbell, who explained that patients can get on the tour bus, fill in their information at one of 10 computer labs or use one of six phone lines for direct access to PPA.
Campbell said the tour bus is not only a lot of fun, but also provides a comfortable setting that is user-friendly for patients.
Additionally, Campbell hopes that by Pennsylvania State Nurses Association endorsing PPA more nurses who are on the frontlines of patient care will remember the PPA program when working with patients who need a medication plan that’s suitable to them health-wise and financially.
“We need to help people be in better compliance with the medication they’re taking,” Campbell said. “There’s a whole snowball effect with that—better treatment, better outcomes and decreased hospitalizations. People want to take care of themselves. We just have to make it possible for them.”
For More Information:
The Partnership for Prescription Assistance program
Phone: (888) 477-2669
Pennsylvania State Nurses Association
Phone: (888) 707-7762 or (717) 657-1222
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