Back to PSPA Home

The Partnership for Prescription Assistance of Pennsylvania

The Partnership for Prescription Assistance is a nationwide program bringing together America’s biopharmaceutical research companies, health care providers, patient advocacy organizations, and community groups to help qualifying patients who lack prescription coverage get the medicines they need through the public or private program that’s right for them.

The Partnership for Prescription Assistance of Pennsylvania is the state chapter of this unprecedented nationwide initiative.
Through a toll free number and user-friendly Web site, the Partnership for Prescription Assistance offers a single point of access to more than 275 public and private patient assistance programs, including more than 150 programs offered by pharmaceutical companies.

Many patients are eligible for public programs based on their age or income. Some patients in need qualify for private programs that offer prescription medicines for free or nearly free. The mission of the Partnership for Prescription Assistance is to increase awareness of these programs and boost enrollment of those who are eligible.

What the Partnership for Prescription Assistance of Pennsylvania Offers
Help for Those in Need
Many people have difficulty affording health care, including prescription medicines. Though qualifications vary by program, a number of patient assistance programs provide help to patients who lack prescription drug coverage and earn less than 200% of the federal poverty level (approximately $19,000 for an individual or $31,000 for a family of three). [Qualifications vary by program. Income levels vary by state]
• More than 29 million people in the United States make less than 200% of the federal poverty level and are uninsured.
• In Pennsylvania, more than 850,000 people make less than 200% of the federal poverty level and are uninsured.

Access to Medicines for Those Who Qualify
Patients will be directed to the public or private program that’s right for them. The Partnership for Prescription Assistance of Pennsylvania helps patients who lack prescription drug coverage:
• Enroll in more than 150 company patient assistance programs
• Access more than 1,200 medicines for free or nearly free
• Learn how to contact government programs for which they may qualify, such as Medicaid, Medicare, or the State Children’s Health Insurance Program

Easy Enrollment
Finding the right program can be complicated. That’s why this initiative is making the process much easier for patients by offering:
• A single toll-free number: 1-888-4PPA-NOW (1-888-477-2669) and Web site www.pparx.org
• Information about all available programs
• Trained specialists to help identify programs and help fill out forms.
• Assistance at the call center in English and Spanish – and more than 150 other languages.

Partnership for Prescription Assistance Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is the Partnership for Prescription Assistance?
A: The Partnership for Prescription Assistance is a nationwide program bringing together America’s biopharmaceutical research companies, doctors, other health care providers, patient advocacy organizations, and community groups to help qualifying patients who lack prescription coverage get the medicines they need through the public or private program that’s right for them.

Through a toll free number and user-friendly Web site, the Partnership for Prescription Assistance offers a single point of access to more than 275 public and private patient assistance programs, including more than 150 programs offered by pharmaceutical companies.

Many patients are eligible for public programs based on their age or income. Some patients in need qualify for private programs that offer prescription medicines for free or nearly free. The mission of the Partnership for Prescription Assistance is to increase awareness of these programs and boost enrollment of those who are eligible.

Q: Who are the partners in the Partnership for Prescription Assistance?
A: America’s biopharmaceutical research companies have partnered with doctors, other heath care providers, patient advocacy organizations, and community groups to launch the Partnership for Prescription Assistance. The list of partners is growing and already includes well-known national organizations and a fast-growing list of state-based partners.

Q: How does the Partnership for Prescription Assistance relate to the Partnership for Prescription Assistance of Pennsylvania?
A: The Partnership for Prescription Assistance of Pennsylvania is the state-based chapter of the nationwide program. The initiative is being brought to all 50 states, and has the support of partners at both the national and state level. Every state is different and we want to find the best way to reach people who need help in every state. That’s why our local partners here in Pennsylvania are taking the lead in introducing the Partnership for Prescription Assistance to the citizens of Pennsylvania.

Q: Why was the Partnership for Prescription Assistance of Pennsylvania created?
A: A growing number of patients in Pennsylvania do not have insurance coverage for prescription medicines and other health care services. In order to boost awareness and enrollment in existing patient assistance programs, America’s biopharmaceutical research companies and doctors, other health care providers, patient advocacy organizations, and community groups who help eligible patients enroll in patient assistance programs decided that much more is needed to be done.

Q: Why do patients in Pennsylvania need the Partnership for Prescription Assistance?
A: Many people lack health insurance coverage and have trouble affording the prescription medicines and health care services they need. In Pennsylvania, more than 850,000 people make less than 200% of the federal poverty level and are uninsured. The Partnership for Prescription Assistance is dedicated to helping patients like these receive the prescription medicines they need through the private or public program that’s right for them.

Q: Who qualifies for assistance?
A: Many people in Pennsylvania are already benefiting from patient assistant programs – but we know there are so many more who could be helped. Each patient assistance program available through the Partnership for Prescription Assistance has its own eligibility information about application processes and can begin filling out applications online.

Q: What happens next if a patient appears to qualify for one or more assistance programs?
A: A patient who may qualify will receive information about application processes and appropriate applications by mail. The applications will show the information the patient provided on the phone. Web site visitors can print out their applications after providing information online. The patient must provide any remaining required information and bring the forms to his or her doctor’s office. The doctor must sign the form and provide specific prescription information (or simply attach the prescriptions themselves). Depending on the program, either the patient or the doctor should mail the forms to the company sponsoring the specific program.

Q: How long does it take for qualified patients to receive their medicines?
A: Although each patient assistance program has its own timeline, the companies involved in the Partnership for Prescription Assistance are committed to getting medicines to eligible patients as quickly as possible. Patients may contact the organization sponsoring a specific patient assistance program to ask when they will receive their medicines. Trained specialists at the Partnership for Prescription Assistance call center may provide patients with program-specific contact information and, in some cases, may transfer patients directly to the company sponsoring a particular program.

Q: How should patients expect to receive their medicines?
A: Depending on the program, the prescription medicines are either sent to the health care provider’s office or to the patient’s home. Some patient assistance programs mail a pharmacy card to patients. Patients can use these cards to get their medicines at local pharmacies.

Q: How long can patients expect to get free or nearly free medication from programs available through the Partnership for Prescription Assistance?
A: Each specific patient assistance program accessed through the Partnership for Prescription Assistance has its own enrollment renewal requirements. The specifics of each program will be included in the information packet sent to the patient in the mail. Many programs require patients to reapply periodically.

Q: Can Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries qualify?
A: Each patient assistance program has its own eligibility criteria. Some programs provide prescription assistance for Medicare beneficiaries who do not have full prescription drug benefits. People who are enrolled in other publicly and privately sponsored programs that include prescription coverage may not be eligible for assistance. There are some instances in which Medicaid beneficiaries may be eligible for certain patient assistance programs.

Q. How does this relate to the new Medicare drug discount card?
A. Medicare-eligible patients who call or visit the Web site are provided information on how they can apply for the interim Medicare-Approved Drug Discount Card that is the first phase in the implementation of the new drug benefit for Medicare beneficiaries.

Q. What happens when the full Medicare drug benefit becomes available?
A. Later in 2005, as enrollment begins for the new Medicare prescription drug benefit, the Partnership for Prescription Assistance of Pennsylvania plans to provide Medicare-eligible patients who call or visit the Web site with information on how they can apply for this new benefit, which is available to all 40 million Medicare beneficiaries.

Q: Are non-citizens eligible?
A: Each patient assistance program has its own eligibility criteria. In addition to prescription benefits status, household income, and household size, some programs may ask for citizenship status. All responses to these questions are completely confidential.

Q: What role do health care providers play in the Partnership for Prescription Assistance of Pennsylvania?
A: Doctors and other health care professionals play a crucial role in spreading the word that qualifying patients who lack prescription coverage can get the medicines they need though the public or private program that’s right for them.
Doctors and other health care providers may also be responsible for signing patient application forms, adding prescription information or an actual prescription, and, depending on the program, potentially mailing or faxing the application to the sponsoring company on the patient’s behalf.

Q: How does the Partnership for Prescription Assistance spread the word about the program in Pennsylvania?
A: The Partnership for Prescription Assistance is sponsoring an unprecedented campaign to get the message out to patients who may be eligible. This effort includes local events in states across the country; national television, radio and print advertising; and state-specific brochures and posters that educate patients about the program.

Q: How long will this program last?
A: The Partnership for Prescription Assistance is an ongoing, nationwide initiative that is committed to helping qualifying patients who lack prescription coverage get the medicines they need through the public or private program that’s right for them.

Q: How many people living in Pennsylvania are eligible?
A: Each patient assistance program has its own eligibility criteria. The Partnership for Prescription Assistance encourages people who do not have prescription drug coverage and are having trouble paying for their medicines to call 1-888-4PPA-NOW (1-888-477-2669) or visit www.pparx.org to see if they may be eligible for one or more programs. (Note: there are some instances in which Medicaid beneficiaries may be eligible for certain patient assistance programs.)

More than 850,000 people in Pennsylvania are uninsured and below 200% of the federal poverty level. Many of these people may qualify for prescription assistance.

200% Federal Poverty Level Income Allocation by Household Size

Back to PSPA Home