Help available for meeting drug costs

The COVID-19 health crisis has presented many new challenges, and their impacts are being felt widely. Many Illinoisans might be struggling to make ends meet.

For those concerned about their or their families" ability to afford their prescription medications during this time, there are programs that may be able to help.

While America's biopharmaceutical companies are working around the clock to develop a treatment for COVID-19, many companies are also expanding their assistance programs to help millions of Americans with other diseases that need to be treated and who may be struggling to afford their medicines.

PhRMA's Medicine Assistance Tool or MAT, provides access to information and helps connect patients, families and caregivers to programs for which they may be eligible. Finding these programs is as simple as going to www.MAT.org, entering the name of the medication and answering some background questions.

Illinoisans are facing lots of uncertainty these days. MAT may be able to help ease some of the worry about how to access the medicines Americans need most.

America's biopharmaceutical companies know that for their medications to have an impact, they have to be accessible. Working toward a healthier and more certain tomorrow also means helping today.

Stay home. Stay safe. Visit mat.org.

Peter Fotos, Senior Director of State Advocacy

Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America