The Partnership for Prescription Assistance (PPA)

For many New Yorkers, access to necessary medications is limited. In an effort to improve access to medications and overall patient health, America’s biopharmaceutical research companies created the Partnership for Prescription Assistance (PPA) in 2005. The PPA is a great way to help patients, specifically those uninsured and financially struggling, get the medications they need by connecting them with the assistance program that’s right for them.

The PPA offers a single point of access to information on more than 475 public and private patient assistance programs and gives patients access to prescription medicines for free or nearly free. The PPA is free, easy for patients to use, and can be accessed online or by telephone. It can also be an avenue that patients use to contact government programs such as Medicare and Medicaid, and provides information on about 10,000 free health care clinics.

Since its launch in 2005, the PPA assisted 9.5 million Americans in joining assistance programs that may meet their needs. In New York alone, 151,904 patients were matched with prescription assistance programs through PPARx.org and 265,571 through the call line, 888 4 PPA Now. Since 2005, 72% of all New Yorkers who used the PPA found assistance programs they qualify for.

In March 2015, 40% of New Yorkers who used PPARx.org to connect them with prescription assistance programs found assistance programs they were eligible for. That same month, 64% of New Yorkers who used the call line to connect them with prescription assistance programs found assistance programs they were eligible for.

Too see if you qualify for any assistance programs, visit PPARx.org or call 888 4 PPA Now.

Jaime Venditti, State Coordinator, New York Health Works