[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 43 (Thursday, April 6, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E529]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            PROCLAIMING APRIL 5, 2006 PATIENT ASSISTANCE DAY

                                 ______
                                 

                     HON. CHARLES W. BOUSTANY, JR.

                              of louisiana

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, April 5, 2006

  Mr. BOUSTANY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to talk about a program that 
I have brought to my district many of times to help my constituents 
access affordable drugs.
  The Partnership for Prescription Assistance (PPA) is a national 
clearinghouse that links uninsured and underinsured people to patient 
assistant programs that offer drugs for free or nearly free. America's 
pharmaceutical research companies, along with 1,300 community and 
patient organizations launched the PPA in April 2005 and have since 
helped almost 2 million patients, including over 48,000 in my home 
state of Louisiana.
  Today, the PPA commemorates its 1-year anniversary (April 5, 2006), 
and with that celebration, the first annual Patient Assistance Day.
  Mr. Speaker, I want to recognize this significant achievement of the 
PPA in addressing the uninsured issue by meeting a real need of 
patients everywhere. I applaud the efforts of biopharmaceutical 
research companies, health care providers, patient advocacy 
organizations, and community groups all across the United States. The 
PPA has visited the 7th Congressional District to provide information 
at many of my town hall meetings, as well as other health events. The 
response to their presence has been overwhelming. I am committed to 
helping my constituents and all Americans in need access life-saving 
medicines. In that spirit, I ask my colleagues to join me today in 
proclaiming'' April 5, Patient Assistance Day. Surely, millions more 
stand to benefit from this program and we should do our part in helping 
to connect patients in need.
  I also submit for the Record a success story about the PPA's effort 
in Southwest Louisiana.

             [From the Southwest Daily News, Feb. 15, 2006]

                          (By Mary Ann Dutton)

       Help is Here Express is a traveling education center 
     sponsored by America's Pharmaceutical Research Companies, in 
     partnership with the Calcasieu Community Clinic and the 
     Louisiana Partnership for Children and Families. The bright 
     orange bus rolled into Sulphur on Tuesday to educate 
     uninsured and underinsured patients about prescription 
     assistance. Originally scheduled to be at Sulphur City Hall 
     from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m., the staff said they would stay 
     until everyone was helped.
       Help is Here Express is part of the Partnership for 
     Prescription Assistance, a growing national program that 
     brings prescription assistance to the uninsured and 
     underinsured. According to Partners for Prescription 
     Assistance (PPA) Consultant Cheron Brylski, the PPA was 
     birthed by former Louisiana Congressman Billy Tauzin. While 
     battling cancer, Tauzin realized that he would not have 
     survived without the drugs used in his treatment. 
     Understanding that many cancer patients are unable to afford 
     the drugs that could help them, Tauzin made it a personal 
     goal to get an assistance program started.
       ``The Partnership for Prescription Assistance is changing 
     thousands of lives everyday,'' said PhRMA President and CEO 
     Tauzin. ``No one is helped by a medicine that sits on the 
     shelf and is out of reach financially. The Partnership for 
     Prescription Assistance is matching the people of Louisiana 
     who are uninsured or underinsured to patient assistance 
     programs that may help them get the medicines they need for 
     free or nearly free. We will keep coming back to Louisiana as 
     long as there are people who need our help.''
       The Help is Here Express was developed as a way to take the 
     Partnership for Prescription Assistance program on the road, 
     bringing help directly to the people who need it most. In 
     Louisiana alone there have been 26,218 searches and 16,842 
     matches through the use of the computer terminals and mobile 
     telephones on the bus.
       Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America 
     spokesman Jeff Trewhitt said the Help is Here Express offers 
     help to anyone who is having trouble affording their 
     prescription medicine. Since its launch last April in Baton 
     Rouge, the program has matched more than 1.3 million patients 
     nationally, and more than 44,000 right here in Louisiana.
       ``There are millions of patients who qualify for assistance 
     and don't know about the program,'' said Trewhitt. ``There 
     are 475 patient assistance plans so we are bringing our 
     education program to reach and inform the masses.''
       If you were unable to visit the Help is Here Express 
     yesterday, the same services are available by telephone or on 
     the internet. ``Many prefer the privacy of their own home,'' 
     said Trewhitt. ``This is possible by calling 1-888-4PPA-NOW 
     (1-888-477-2669) or the user-friendly website 
     www.pparxla.org.'' Trewhitt suggested that applicants have 
     the names of current medicines available when calling.
       An interesting tidbit shared by Trewhitt is that the Help 
     is Here Express bus used to be the touring bus of country 
     singers Brooks and Dunn.
       The Help is Here Express is scheduled to be in Lafayette at 
     the Acadiana Outreach Center, 2125 S. Buchanan Street on Feb. 
     16th at 9:30 a.m.

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