FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

For Further Information Contact:
Desiree M. Voinche
Manager, Communications and Outreach
voinched@dfmc.org
410-872-9624

Delmarva Foundation Joins Partnership for Prescription Assistance
Nationwide Program Provides Single Point of Access for Patients to Get Medicines

Easton, MD, August 11, 2005 - Delmarva Foundation , Maryland ’s Medicare Quality Improvement Organization, today joined the Partnership for Prescription Assistance of Maryland. This nationwide program brings together biopharmaceutical research companies, health care providers, patient advocacy organizations, and community groups to help qualifying patients who lack prescription coverage get the medicines they need. Through a toll free number or web site, the Partnership for Prescription Assistance offers a single point of access to more than 275 public and private patient assistance programs, including more than 150 programs offered by pharmaceutical companies.

“Many patients are eligible for public or private programs based on their age or income but do not know how or where to look for it. Additionally some patients in need qualify for private programs that offer prescription programs that provide medicines for free or nearly free. We are pleased to partner with this nationwide program to increase the awareness of these options and we hope it will boost enrollment for those who are eligible,” said Maulik S. Joshi, president and CEO, Delmarva Foundation.

In launch programs today at the Yorkwood Community Center in Baltimore and at the Federated Charity Building in Frederick, the Partnership for Prescription Assistance organizers noted the large volume of patients who have been assisted by the program since it began in April. In the first three weeks more than 100,000 patients were matched with appropriate programs- roughly 5,000 per day. In an effort to draw attention to the program they are running a national advertising campaign and conducting grassroots outreach in all 50 states.

“We believe we have a responsibility to not only invent new medicines but to help those in need obtain them,” said Billy Tauzin, president and CEO of the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America in the national press release. “This extraordinary new partnership exemplifies our unwavering commitment to helping America’s uninsured.”

To find out if they qualify, patients can visit www.pparx.org or call toll free 1-888-4PPA-NOW to speak with a trained specialist who can provide application assistance in English, Spanish or more than 150 other languages. Millions of patients have received free or nearly free medicines through these programs and millions more may qualify.

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About Delmarva Foundation
Delmarva Foundation is a national, not-for-profit organization dedicated to improving healthcare quality in over 20 states. Since 1973, Delmarva has assisted in improving care in hospitals, nursing homes, home health agencies, medical practices and health plans. Delmarva performs quality improvement, quality assurance, utilization review, external quality review and Program Safeguard activities. The company's corporate headquarters are located in Easton, Maryland with other offices in Baltimore, Maryland; Washington, DC; Columbia, South Carolina; Tampa, Florida; and Tallahassee, Florida. For more information, please visit Delmarva Foundation on the web at www.delmarvafoundation.org.