PPA bus stopping at city hospital

By Staff
Melissa Cason, Franklin County Times
The Partnership for Prescription Assistance (PPA) Bus will make a stop in Russellville tomorrow afternoon, bringing with it prescription alternatives for low-income individuals and families.
The PPA program is a nationwide effort sponsored by pharmaceutical research companies to help make brand-name and generic prescription medication affordable for those who do not have insurance and cannot afford prescribed medications.
The PPA bus, called the "Help is here Express," will stop tomorrow at Russellville Hospital at 2 p.m., Regional Director for Materials and Marketing at Russellville Hospital and Lakeland Community Hospital Brad Pounders said.
"There will be staff with PPA on hand to answer questions about prescriptions and also help with on-site access to this program," Pounders said.
He added that the bus will be touring the State of Alabama this week, and Russellville Hospital will be its second stop – the only one in this area.
The "Help is Here" bus tour was launched in May 2005 to help spread the word about PPA. A second bus was added in January 2006 and the two buses have been crossing the country, stopping in cities and towns to raise awareness and help educate uninsured and underinsured patients about prescription assistance programs.
PPA does not provide low cost or free medication. The program gives the public access to 475 public and private assistance programs, including the more than 180 programs offered by pharmaceutical companies, according to program literature.