Montel Williams Bus Helps People With Free Prescriptions

(SAN BERNARDINO, Calif.) – Montel Williams’ “Help is Here Express Bus” will visit LaSalle Medical Associates in San Bernardino Wednesday, May 7 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.

The bus, operated by the Partnership for Prescription Assistance, will stop at LaSalle Medical Associates, 565 N. Mt. Vernon Ave. The bright orange, 45-foot long bus loaded with information and helpful people will park in the lot next to LaSalle’s clinic to enroll people in a program offering free and low-cost prescriptions.

“Millions of patients are already receiving free or nearly free drugs from these programs, but it is clear that millions of other Americans from all over the country -- in cities and rural areas alike – are not taking advantage of the help that is available to them,” said Williams, who regularly addresses critically important societal issues on his television talk show. He is the national spokesman for the Partnership for Prescription Assistance.

The organization’s goal is to educate uninsured and under-insured patients about drug assistance programs. It makes an effort to match patients with programs that appear to meet their needs.

“Montel Williams’ bus goes all over the country to promote prescription assistance,” said Dr. Albert Arteaga, president of LaSalle Medical Associates. “He and the Partnership for Prescription Assistance understand that sometimes, people need help in the form of medicine, and that no one should be denied that help simply because they can’t afford to pay for it.”

The Partnership for Prescription Assistance (toll-free, 1-888-4PPANOW; www.pparx.org) is the only resource providing a single place to find more than 475 patient assistance programs, which include more than 180 programs offered by the pharmaceutical industry, according to www.pphrma.org , a website for the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America.
More than 70 national health care organizations, as well as more than 1,000 local organizations make up the partnership. The national organizations include the American Academy of Family Physicians, the National Urban League, United Way of America, Easter Seals and the National Alliance for Hispanic Health.
.

-end-