The Partnership for Prescription Assistance (PPA) is a United States

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

 patient-assistance program clearinghouse that designed to help low-income patients apply for free or reduced-priced prescription drugs.

History

In August 2006 the Partnership for Prescription Assistance announced that it had matched at least 2.5 million patients with patient assistance programs. "The Partnership for Prescription Assistance is making significant strides to reach the millions of people who desperately need help accessing their prescription medicines. said Billy Tauzin

Billy Tauzin

Wilbert Joseph Tauzin II , usually known as Billy Tauzin, American lobbyist and politician of Cajun descent, was President and CEO of PhRMA, a pharmaceutical company lobby group...

, then president and CEO of the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America

Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America

Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America , founded in 1958, is a trade group representing the pharmaceutical research and biopharmaceutical companies in the United States. PhRMA's stated mission is advocacy for public policies that encourage the discovery of new medicines for patients...

 (PhRMA).

Bus tours

Since 2005 the Partnership for Prescription Assistance has conducted national "Help is Here Express" bus tours to educate the public and get them signed up for assistance. The busses travel to all 50 states and more than 1,500 cities educating people about the roughly 475 low-income drug assistance programs that work with the Partnership for Prescription Assistance. The bright orange and green buses have 10 computers, cell phones, and program representatives ready to help potential clietns. Those interested in help answer 10 questions, and the process takes about 10 minutes.

Partners

More than 50 national groups such as the American Academy of Family Physicians

American Academy of Family Physicians

The American Academy of Family Physicians was founded in 1947 to promote the science and art of family medicine. It is one of the largest medical organizations in the United States, with over 100,000 members...

, the American Cancer Society

American Cancer Society

The American Cancer Society is the "nationwide community-based voluntary health organization" dedicated, in their own words, "to eliminating cancer as a major health problem by preventing cancer, saving lives, and diminishing suffering from cancer, through research, education, advocacy, and...

, the American Academy of Physician Assistants

American Academy of Physician Assistants

The American Academy of Physician Assistants is the largest professional organization of physician assistants in the United States of America. It was founded in 1968 and currently has approximately 39,000 members in all 50 states, District of Columbia, US Virgin Islands and Northern Marianas...

, the American College of Emergency Physicians

American College of Emergency Physicians

The American College of Emergency Physicians is the first and largest professional organization of emergency medicine physicians in the United States. It was founded in 1968 and is now headquartered in Irving, Texas. As of 2009 ACEP has over 28,000 physician members.The college exists to support...

, the NAACP, the National Alliance for Hispanic Health

National Alliance for Hispanic Health

National Alliance for Hispanic Health is a nonprofit organization dedicated to improve the health and well being of American Hispanics by providing health care information, emphasizing cultural competence and culturally proficient programs...

, the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill, the National Association of Chain Drug Stores, the National Medical Association

National Medical Association

The National Medical Association is the largest and oldest national organization representing African American physicians and their patients in the United States...

, the National Urban League

National Urban League

The National Urban League , formerly known as the National League on Urban Conditions Among Negroes, is a nonpartisan civil rights organization based in New York City that advocates on behalf of African Americans and against racial discrimination in the United States. It is the oldest and largest...

, and the United Way of America have worked to promote the programs offered by the Partnership for Prescription Assistance.

Programs

The Partnership for Prescription Assistance offers a single point of contact for roughly 275 public and private patient assistance programs, including about 150 programs offered by pharmaceutical companies. People can save anywhere from $25 to a thousand dollars every month with these programs. In general, those with income at or below twice the poverty line qualify for assistance. The Partnership for Prescription Assistance encourages anyone falling near that range to apply, because every program is different and there is a good chance that they will qualify for assistance. Once the required information is submitted, applications to the appropriate programs are printed out on behalf of the patient, taken to a doctor for a signature and sent to the Partnership for Prescription Assistance. Then, two to three weeks later, the medications are delivered directly to the patient or to the doctor's office for pickup.