PHRMA

PhRMA Outlines Healthcare Reform Platform

Washington, D.C. (August 26, 2008) — Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) President and CEO Billy Tauzin issued the following statement today regarding uninsured Americans:

“New data from the U.S. Census Bureau indicate that the number of uninsured Americans declined modestly last year but far too many still lack health insurance. To help address this critically important problem, PhRMA has outlined a comprehensive strategy that expands access to healthcare coverage and improves affordability, value and quality.

“PhRMA’s ‘Platform for a Healthy America’ aims to assure that all Americans have access to high-quality, affordable health insurance coverage and includes a series of initiatives to reduce costs and improve quality and value.

“’Platform for a Healthy America’ builds on the existing employer-based system and expands coverage through a public-private approach – with a focus on private health insurance expansions and leveraging such public health insurance programs as Medicaid and SCHIP to extend access to high-quality, affordable health insurance coverage to all Americans.

“PhRMA supports extending coverage to 12 million Americans who could but do not yet receive coverage through Medicaid/SCHIP; providing tax credits to help small and low-wage businesses offer coverage; bolstering state-level coverage efforts; assuring comprehensive benefits, including coverage for generic and brand prescription medications; and preserving consumer choice and enhanced competition through a combination of new group insurance pools and insurance reforms.

“Please visit www.phrma.org to view the full report and executive summary.

“The U.S. healthcare system has clear strengths, but faces sobering challenges. Soaring healthcare costs and premiums are making health insurance coverage unattainable for an increasing number of businesses and families. And systemic quality gaps prevent our healthcare system from achieving its full potential to provide high-quality coverage and care for all Americans.

“While extending access to high-quality, affordable health insurance to all Americans is a critically important first step, more comprehensive health system reforms – such as improving prevention of chronic disease – are necessary to assure long-term sustainability and to improve affordability, quality and value.

“Chronic disease is the No. 1 cause of death and disability in the U.S. Nearly half of Americans suffer from at least one chronic disease. In 2003 alone, more than 162 million cases of cancer, diabetes, hypertension, stroke, mental disorders and pulmonary conditions were reported in the U.S.

“Although many of these conditions could be prevented, the number of Americans suffering from chronic disease continues to rise dramatically. PhRMA has joined more than 40 other partners in the Partnership to Fight Chronic Disease, a national bipartisan coalition working to save lives and reduce healthcare costs through prevention and management of chronic disease.

“What’s more, the staggering number of Americans impacted by chronic disease has made the Partnership for Prescription Assistance (PPA) and its message of hope more relevant than ever.

“The PPA is a nationwide effort sponsored by America’s pharmaceutical research and biotechnology companies to raise awareness of patient assistance programs and the need to halt the alarming rise in chronic disease rates.

“The PPA has helped more than 5 million patients nationwide since its launch in April 2005. A one-stop clearinghouse, the PPA provides information on more than 475 patient assistance programs, including nearly 200 programs sponsored by pharmaceutical companies. Patients can visit PPA’s easy-to-use website (www.pparx.org) or can call the toll-free phone number (1-888-4PPA-NOW) where trained operators field calls in 150 languages.”

The Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) represents the country’s leading pharmaceutical research and biotechnology companies, which are devoted to inventing medicines that allow patients to live longer, healthier, and more productive lives. PhRMA companies are leading the way in the search for new cures. PhRMA members alone invested an estimated $44.5 billion in 2007 in discovering and developing new medicines. Industry-wide research and investment reached a record $58.8 billion in 2007.

PhRMA Internet Address: www.phrma.org

For information on stories of hope and survival, visit: http://sharingmiracles.com/

PhRMA en Español: www.nuestraphrma.org

For information on how innovative medicines save lives, visit: www.innovation.org

For information on the Partnership for Prescription Assistance, visit: www.pparx.org

For information on the danger of imported drugs, visit: www.buysafedrugs.info