Partnership for Prescription Assistance

Situation:

State and federal legislators have increasingly targeted the pharmaceutical industry for artificial price controls based on European and Canadian models. PhRMA, the trade association representing America’s pharmaceutical companies, sought to protect the solvency of manufacturers engaged in the high-risk/high-return business of drug research and development.

Resolution:

Public Affairs Company worked with PhRMA to raise awareness and accessibility to hundreds of already-existing and newly-emerging patient assistance programs. Groundbreaking successes with a series of state pilot platforms sparked the formation of the Partnership for Prescription Assistance (PPA), a nationwide industry initiative that offers patients one-stop access to thousands of free and discounted medications. From 2005 to 2007, Public Affairs Company conducted earned media events in over six hundred cities, involving 11 state PPA organizations and partnerships with over 400 state and local voluntary health, social service and professional associations. Numerous Congressmen, state legislators and local leaders have endorsed and urged their constituents to take advantage of this program. Entering 2008, nearly 5 million patients have qualified for free medications – free of government intervention.