Provena Covenant Hosts Jerry Mathers and Partnership for Prescription Assistance
03/28/2008
Celebrating its third anniversary this week, the “Help is Here Express” bus tour will be in Champaign/Urbana on Thursday, April 10 along with American TV icon and “Leave It To Beaver” star Jerry Mathers, stopping at Provena Covenant Medical Center from 9:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. to help uninsured and financially-struggling Illinoisans access information on programs that provide prescription medicines for free or nearly free. The bus tour is part of the Partnership for Prescription Assistance (PPA) – a nationwide effort sponsored by America’s pharmaceutical research companies – raising awareness of patient assistance programs and the need to effectively address the rising and alarming rates of chronic disease in the United States. Patients can also learn about new medicines in development to fight chronic diseases such as cancer, heart disease, diabetes and asthma.
Jerry Mathers, who suffers from diabetes and is traveling with the PPA bus to raise awareness of this devastating chronic disease, is an American icon, best known for his portrayal of “Beaver” in the television classic, “Leave It To Beaver.” Currently shown on TV Land and in countries throughout the world, “Leave It To Beaver” has made Jerry Mathers one of the most well known actors in television history. He has also appeared in movies such as Alfred Hitchcock’s “The Trouble With Harry,” and as a starring character in the Tony-winning Broadway musical “Hairspray”.
To date, the PPA has helped nearly 5 million people across America, including more than 430,000 patients in Illinois. Since its launch in April 2005, the PPA bus tour has visited all 50 states and more than 1,500 cities to raise awareness about patient assistance programs. The “Help is Here Express” is staffed by trained specialists able to quickly help uninsured patients in need access information on more than 475 patient assistance programs, including nearly 200 programs offered by pharmaceutical companies. When the “Help is Here Express” moves on, patients can visit PPA’s easy-to-use Web site (www.pparx.org) or call the toll-free phone number (1-888-4PPA-NOW) where trained operators field calls in 150 languages.
WHEN: Thursday, April 10
9:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
WHERE: Provena Covenant Medical Center
1400 West Park
Urbana, IL 61801
WHO:
• Jerry Mathers, Television star in “Leave It To Beaver”
• Ken Johnson, Senior Vice President of Communications & Public Affairs,
Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA)
“With the number of people affected by chronic disease increasing every year, the PPA and its message of hope is now more relevant than ever,” said Ken Johnson, Senior Vice President of the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA).
The Milken Institute along with the Partnership to Fight Chronic Disease (www.fightchronicdisease.org) note there are more than 6.7 million cases of common chronic diseases in Illinois, including cancer, diabetes, heart disease, hypertension, stroke, mental disorders and pulmonary conditions. Those diseases are responsible for seven out of every 10 deaths in the United States, and the Milken Institute research states that more than 851,000 Illinoisans have heart disease, 540,000 are affected by diabetes and 445,000 suffer from cancer. Innovative medications and treatments – along with improved access to prescription assistance program information through the PPA – may help to reduce the number of deaths caused by chronic disease every year, according to Partnership to Fight Chronic Disease. Medicines in development by America’s pharmaceutical research companies include 277 life-saving and life-improving medicines for heart disease and stroke, 646 medicines to treat several types of cancer and 95 medicines for diabetes.
“The PPA is meant to help people who are uninsured and financially-struggling,” added Johnson, “But for patients in Illinois suffering from chronic disease, it is especially important for them to know that help is here.”
In addition to stopping in Champaign/Urbana on April 10, the “Help Is Here Express” will bring the Partnership for Prescription Assistance to several other Illinois cities, including the Quad Cities, Galesburg, Peoria, Bloomington, DeKalb, Rockford, Decatur, Springfield and Quincy.
For more information, contact: Heidi Frederickson hfrederickson@pubaffairsco.com (612-219-2837)
