HELP IS HERE TOUR BUS

FRANKLIN – Uninsured and financially struggling St. Mary and Iberia Parish residents
can learn how to get free or nearly free prescription medicine on Thursday March 5, from 2 to 3 p.m., at Teche Action Clinic on Weber Street.

The opportunity is through a nationwide effort sponsored by America’s pharmaceutical research companies, called the Partnership for Prescription Assistance, which uses a bus tour called the “Help is Here Express,” to inform persons who face layoffs or a loss of health care benefits, according to spokesman Jeff Trewhitt.

Additionally, persons who visit the bus can also learn about new medicines that fight chronic diseases such as cancer, heart disease, diabetes and asthma.

The bus will be onside in Franklin, at the Teche Action Clinic, 1111 Weber Street.

“To date, the PPA has helped more than 5 million patients, including more than 128,000 Louisianans. Since its launch in April 2005, the PPA bus tour has visited all 50 states and more than 2,500 cities to raise awareness about patient assistance programs,” Trewhitt said.

The “Help is Here Express” is staffed by trained specialists able to quickly help uninsured patients of all ages access information on more than 475 patient assistance programs, including nearly 200 programs offered by pharmaceutical companies.

When the “Help is Here Express” moves on, patients can visit the easy-to-use web site, www.pparx.org or they can call the toll-free phone number (1-888-4PPA-NOW) where trained operators field calls in other languages, including Spanish.

“At a time when national unemployment is the highest in almost two decades, the PPA has become an important lifeline for a growing number of patients,” Trewhitt said.
“Millions of Americans have been added to the jobless rolls over the last several months and there could be a sharp increase in the number of our citizens losing health care benefits.’’ .”

In addition to stopping in Franklin on March 5, the “Help Is Here Express” will bring the Partnership for Prescription Assistance to several other Louisiana cities, including Minden, Bastrop, Columbia, Many, Leesville, Ville Platte, Crowley, Clinton and Bogalusa.