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Having a tough time stretching your budget to pay for expensive medications?  A Prescription Drug Patient Assistance Program may help.

• Several drug companies provide prescription medicines at low cost or free of charge to doctors with needy patients.
• Companies that provides this kind of assistance have their own rules to participate.     

America’s pharmaceutical research companies sponsor the Partnership for Prescription Assistance (PPARx). 

• This program helps uninsured and low income Americans.
• It has information about programs that provide prescription medicines free or at a reduced cost. 
• You give a list of your prescription medications, your basic information and your current drug coverage.
• The system can tell you what patient assistance program you may be eligible for, and how to apply.
• There are many different programs and a large number of medications available. 
• You can access the service – free of charge – by visiting the PPARx website at www.pparx.org or by calling 888-4PPA-NOW (888-477-2669).

To apply for one or more of these programs, you must work with your doctor. 

• You need to provide your doctor with information required by each Patient Assistance Program that covers a medicine you need. 
• Your doctor needs to:
  • Sign your application form
  • Add prescription information or an actual prescription
  • And sometimes mailing or faxing the application on your behalf.
• If you meet the program’s requirements, the company will either send the medicine to your doctor’s office or directly to your home.
• Some programs mail you a pharmacy card that you can use to get your free or low cost medicines at your local pharmacy.

There are many programs and each has its own rules for eligibility. 

• Some programs require that a patient's income be below federal poverty guidelines.
• Others determine eligibility on a case-by-case basis. 
• You may find that you are eligible for some programs but not others. 
• You should  ask your doctor to help you apply to all programs that provide assistance for the medicines you take, especially the ones that cost more.
• If PPARx does not have a program for the medicine you need, check with the manufacturer of the drug to see if they have a Patient Assistance Program. 
• You should request an application and information on eligibility requirements
• You need to work with your doctor to file the application and receive the medicine. 

Remember, the PPARx is a free service. 

• There are other companies that offer to connect you to the same programs and charge you money.
• Some of these programs may use the PPARx name. 
• The service offered directly through the Partnership for Prescription Assistance is offered completely free of charge.

For more information go to: www.pparx.org