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Monday, February 08, 2010
Help with drug costs may be a call way
By Matt Andazola
Journal Staff Writer
If you've lost your job or your prescription drug coverage has been scaled back, there are about 475 programs in the United States through which you may be able to get your medication free or nearly free.
Connecting to the programs — some run by states or cities, others by drug companies or other private organizations — is now significantly easier, thanks to the Partnership for Prescription Assistance.
The partnership, a program of the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America, works as a sort of "clearing house" for the prescription drug programs, connecting patients to resources that can help them attain their medications, says PhRMA spokeswoman Pamela Squires.
The partnership is free to use — just call 1-888-477-2669 or visit the Web site at www.pparx.org.
If you call, Squires says an operator will ask you a series of questions about your personal information (name, income, insurance or lack of insurance) and specific details about the medications you take.
It's best to have the medication bottles in front of you when you make the call.
When you're done, the operator will run the information through a database and mail you application papers for programs that fit your needs.
The whole process takes about 10 minutes, Squires says.
After you apply, the time until you receive benefits varies by program, she says.
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