Montel Williams will visit city to push plans for needy
Sunday, February 04, 2007
ANNA VELASCONews staff writer
Montel Williams will be in Birmingham on Tuesday to promote a program that helps low-income people without prescription drug coverage get the medicines they need.
The television talk show host will give a press conference at 10 a.m. at Cooper Green Mercy Hospital explaining how Partnership for Prescription Assistance works to get needy people drugs for free, or nearly free. The program's Help Is Here Express bus will be at the hospital at 1515 Sixth Ave. South from 10 a.m. to noon. The bus has computers, telephones and staff to enroll people in one or several of the available 475 patient-assistance programs.
The pharmaceutical industry's national association, Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America, started Partnership for Prescription Assistance in April 2005 as a way to coordinate the country's many assistance programs, including 180 offered by the drug companies. The program simplifies applying to the hundreds of groups into one enrollment process.
Since the program's start, more than 75,000 people in Alabama and 3.3 million nationally have been helped.
Williams became the national spokesman for the effort a year ago. "It works," he said in a telephone interview Friday. "That's why I'm doing it. And I'm going to continue to do it."
As a sufferer of multiple sclerosis, Williams takes $2,500 worth of prescriptions monthly. He knows how important access to medicine is. He got involved after the president of the drug industry's group appeared on one of his shows and challenged Williams to help raise awareness about the program, which comes with no strings attached.
Williams said he is proud that participation has soared since he got on board. He tries to make about two personal appearances a month as the Help Is Here Express travels the country, and he has appeared in commercials.
"For me, this is an incredible opportunity to use my face to get the word out about a program that can save people's lives," Williams said.
Williams said he expects anywhere from 300 to 1,200 people to turn out Tuesday at Cooper Green. On Monday, Williams said, he will shoot some segments in Birmingham for future shows that he has planned about race issues.
Before getting into television, Williams was a special duty intelligence officer in the Navy, specializing in cryptology. He graduated from the Naval Academy. His 2004 autobiography, "Climbing Higher," was a New York Times best-seller and explains his battle with multiple sclerosis. He also has written another best-selling autobiography, "Mountain Get Out of My Way."
People who can't make it to Tuesday's event can get help by going to the Web site at pparx.org, or by calling 888-477-2669.
E-mail: avelasco@bhamnews.com
ANNA VELASCONews staff writer
Montel Williams will be in Birmingham on Tuesday to promote a program that helps low-income people without prescription drug coverage get the medicines they need.
The television talk show host will give a press conference at 10 a.m. at Cooper Green Mercy Hospital explaining how Partnership for Prescription Assistance works to get needy people drugs for free, or nearly free. The program's Help Is Here Express bus will be at the hospital at 1515 Sixth Ave. South from 10 a.m. to noon. The bus has computers, telephones and staff to enroll people in one or several of the available 475 patient-assistance programs.
The pharmaceutical industry's national association, Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America, started Partnership for Prescription Assistance in April 2005 as a way to coordinate the country's many assistance programs, including 180 offered by the drug companies. The program simplifies applying to the hundreds of groups into one enrollment process.
Since the program's start, more than 75,000 people in Alabama and 3.3 million nationally have been helped.
Williams became the national spokesman for the effort a year ago. "It works," he said in a telephone interview Friday. "That's why I'm doing it. And I'm going to continue to do it."
As a sufferer of multiple sclerosis, Williams takes $2,500 worth of prescriptions monthly. He knows how important access to medicine is. He got involved after the president of the drug industry's group appeared on one of his shows and challenged Williams to help raise awareness about the program, which comes with no strings attached.
Williams said he is proud that participation has soared since he got on board. He tries to make about two personal appearances a month as the Help Is Here Express travels the country, and he has appeared in commercials.
"For me, this is an incredible opportunity to use my face to get the word out about a program that can save people's lives," Williams said.
Williams said he expects anywhere from 300 to 1,200 people to turn out Tuesday at Cooper Green. On Monday, Williams said, he will shoot some segments in Birmingham for future shows that he has planned about race issues.
Before getting into television, Williams was a special duty intelligence officer in the Navy, specializing in cryptology. He graduated from the Naval Academy. His 2004 autobiography, "Climbing Higher," was a New York Times best-seller and explains his battle with multiple sclerosis. He also has written another best-selling autobiography, "Mountain Get Out of My Way."
People who can't make it to Tuesday's event can get help by going to the Web site at pparx.org, or by calling 888-477-2669.
E-mail: avelasco@bhamnews.com
posted by robinorr2 @ 3:54 PM
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