The Help Is Here Express made a stop at the Wyoming/McDowell Campus of Southern West Virginia Community and Technical College on January 26 to offer assistance to anyone needing help paying for their medications. Chris Carroll is shown explaining the application process to West Virginia House of Delegates member Richard Browning. Also pictured is Director of Campus Operations for the Wyoming/McDowell Campus David Lord and Director For Development Ron Lemon, both helped organize the visit.

Pineville, WV – The “Help is Here Express” national bus tour stopped at the Wyoming/McDowell Campus of Southern West Virginia Community and Technical College on January 26 to help people who are having trouble affording their prescription medicines. West Virginia House of Delegates member Richard Browning attended and received a tutorial on the program.

“There is a great need for better access to affordable medications in Wyoming County and throughout the state,” Delegate Browning said. “I would encourage those who have trouble paying for their medications to get in touch with the Partnership for Prescription Assistance, either by going online or calling the toll free phone number. It takes approximately 10-15 minutes and you may find out you qualify for one of the many programs covered under this effort.”

The “Help is Here Express” is part of the Partnership for Prescription Assistance (PPA), a national effort that has helped more than 3.2 million patients, including more than 70,000 in West Virginia, find programs that provide prescription medicines for free or nearly free. The program was created to help low-income, uninsured or under-insured patients access more than 475 patient assistance programs, including more than 180 programs offered by pharmaceutical companies. Patients can access the program by visiting www.pparx.org or by calling 1-888-4PPA-NOW (1-888-477-2669).

Southern West Virginia Community and Technical College has partnered with the program to bring the “Help is Here Express” to their three campuses.

"We are proud to be the catalyst for such a worthwhile program as the Partnership for Prescription Assistance. Hosting the Help Is Here Express fulfills a part of the college's education mission. We understand the needs of the people we serve in southern West Virginia and what a better way to help them than to offer assistance with paying for medications," said Cindy Crigger, communications director for Southern.

For more than a year, the bus tour -- sponsored by America’s pharmaceutical research companies -- has visited all 50 states and more than 500 cities to raise awareness about patient assistance programs.

For more information, contact: Bryan Brown, (304) 546-5500.