6th Apr 2005 06:00
Pfizer Joins National Outreach Effort To Help Patients Access Medicines --- Partnership for Prescription Assistance Unites America's Pharmaceutical Companies, Doctors and Other Health Care Providers, Patient Advocates and Community Groups --- Program Will Include Extensive Outreach Efforts in all 50 States --- Patients Can Call Toll-Free at 1-888-4PPA-NOW (1-888-477-2669) or Visit www.pparx.org NEW YORK, April 6 -- Pfizer Inc today announced its participation in the Partnership for Prescription Assistance, the most comprehensive private-sector outreach effort to date that helps qualifying patients who lack prescription coverage identify and enroll in programs that provide free or reduced-price medicines. The program will lead patients and doctors to a single point of navigation, through a toll-free phone number and user-friendly Web site, to more than 275 public and private patient assistance programs, including more than 150 programs offered by pharmaceutical companies. For those who call, a trained specialist will ask a short series of questions, provide initial feedback, and help patients identify the specific programs for which they may qualify. The specialists also make the application process easy by helping patients fill out the application forms. Similar information and assistance are available on the Web site. "America enjoys the highest-quality healthcare in the world, but as we're painfully aware, far too many people in this country don't have health insurance, or any other way to pay for the care they need. That is why Pfizer and others in the pharmaceutical industry offer programs to help patients get the medicines they need. Over the years, these programs have reached millions of Americans--but clearly more can be done," said Karen Katen, Pfizer vice chairman. "We now know we need to do more to publicize these programs and encourage people to enroll, as well as to make them easier to use. These are some of the issues the PPA is meant to address. Because of the Partnership, even more patients will have ready access to the medicines they need." To boost enrollment of eligible patients in patient assistance programs nationwide, the Partnership for Prescription Assistance is rolling out an extensive grassroots awareness program. Over the next year, the Partnership for Prescription Assistance will work with community leaders to establish chapters in all 50 states. In addition, efforts will be supported by a substantial national broadcast and print advertising campaign. The partnership is supported by more than 50 national organizations including the American Academy of Family Physicians, American Academy of Physician Assistants, American College of Emergency Physicians, NAACP, National Alliance for Hispanic Health, National Alliance for the Mentally Ill, National Association of Chain Drug Stores, National Medical Association, National Urban League, United Way of America, as well as a fast-growing list of state and local organizations. For more than thirty years, Pfizer has maintained a commitment to making its medicines available to patients in need through a variety of access programs. Through Sharing the Care, Pfizer donates its most advanced medicines to low-income, uninsured patients through a network of more than 380 federally-qualified health centers. Through Connection to Care, Pfizer medicines reach patients in need through individual physicians' offices. Last year, Pfizer enhanced its commitment to helping uninsured patients get the Pfizer medicines they need through Pfizer Helpful Answers, which helps America's uninsured-regardless of age or income-access Pfizer medicines for free or at meaningful savings. For more information, visit http://www.pfizerhelpfulanswers.com. To find out if they may qualify for one or more programs, patients can visit a user-friendly Web site (http://www.pparx.org) or call toll-free 1-888-4PPA-NOW (1-888-477-2669) to speak with a trained specialist who can provide application assistance in English, Spanish and approximately 150 other languages. SOURCE Pfizer Inc 04/06/2005 /CONTACT: Jack Cox of Pfizer Inc, +1-212-733-5017/ /Company News On-Call: Pfizer's press releases are available through PR Newswire's Company News On-Call service on PRN's Web Site. Visit http://www.prnewswire.com/comp/688250.html / /Photo: A free corporate logo to accompany this story is available immediately via Wieck Photo Database to any media with telephoto receiver or electronic darkroom, PC or Macintosh, that can accept overhead transmissions. To retrieve a logo, please call 972-392-0888./ /Company News On-Call: http://www.prnewswire.com/comp/688250.html / /Web site: http://www.pfizer.com http://www.pfizerhelpfulanswers.com http://www.pparx.org / (PFE) ENDPFIZER INCRelated Shares:
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