Partnership for Prescription Assistance Kicks Off New Effort to Connect Uninsured Children to Health Care Programs

Initiative launches on YMCA Healthy Kids® Day, April 14; New Web site to help millions of children and their families who are uninsured

Washington, D.C. (April 13, 2007)– America’s pharmaceutical research companies, YMCA of the USA and Easter Seals joined forces today to help uninsured children across the country access the health care they need. These organizations are calling for the reauthorization of the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) and raise awareness of other public and private patient assistance programs available through the Partnership for Prescription Assistance (PPA).

To make it easier for parents and others to learn about assistance programs for children, the PPA – an effort sponsored by America’s pharmaceutical research companies to help low-income, uninsured and underinsured Americans access prescription medicines – has created a single point of access through a user-friendly Web site (http://kids.pparx.org). Parents, guardians and others can visit this Web site to find public and private programs that may provide help for their children.

"There is no more personal or important issue to a parent than making sure their children are healthy. Unfortunately for low-income or uninsured parents, this can be particularly difficult because of the lack of affordable health coverage. That's why America's pharmaceutical companies want to make finding help faster and easier for those who need it," said Billy Tauzin, president and CEO of the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America. "By keeping children healthy at a young age, it is easier to prevent chronic disease, manage conditions like asthma so kids can stay in school and out of the emergency room, improve health and reduce overall health care costs. Through this effort with our partners, we hope to educate people about SCHIP and other public and private programs available to children."

This initiative is kicking off Saturday, April 14, in coordination with YMCA Healthy Kids® Day - the nation’s largest health day for children. An estimated 550,000 children and families will visit more than 1,700 YMCAs nationwide for the 16th Annual YMCA Healthy Kids® Day, where fun, engaging and creative activities encourage children and families to develop healthy habits and "Put Play In Your Day." YMCA Healthy Kids® Day is part of YMCA Activate America™, a nationwide initiative designed to help children and adults adopt and sustain a healthy lifestyle. PhRMA, Easter Seals and other community partners will enhance these efforts at several locations nationwide by providing parents and guardians with information on public and private assistance programs available to help children in need.

"We are proud to be engaged in this new effort to help children who do not have health coverage," said Neil Nicoll, president and CEO of YMCA of the USA. "As the nation’s largest provider of child care and afterschool programs, the YMCA serves more than 9.5 million children every year and we are well aware that too many youth today are not getting the care they deserve and need. We are committed to working with the PPA and America’s pharmaceutical research companies to spread the word about public and private programs available to assist children with their health care needs."

Through the PPA, parents and others can access more than 475 public and private patient assistance programs, many of which provide medicines for free or nearly free. While children may be eligible for many of them, there are more than 40 programs specifically addressing children’s needs.

"The health and well-being of America's children is compromised by inadequate access to health insurance and care," said James E. Williams, Jr., president and chief executive officer, Easter Seals, Inc. "This effort is an important first step in closing health information and access gaps by helping families to better understand available assistance, options and opportunities promoting child health. By working together, we can help ensure that all children, including children with autism and other disabilities, have access to the health care that they need today in order to live stronger, healthier lives tomorrow."

To find out if there are patient assistance programs that may meet a child’s needs, parents, guardians and others should call 1-888-4PPA-NOW or visit http://kids.pparx.org. To learn more about Healthy Kids Day, please contact the YMCA at www.ymca.net. To learn about Easter Seals services for children with autism and other disabilities, visit www.easterseals.com.

About PhRMA

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 $43 billion in 2006 in discovering and developing new medicines. Industry-wide research and investment reached a record $55.2 billion in 2006.

About YMCA of the USA

YMCA of the USA is the national resource office for the nation’s 2,617 YMCAs, which serve more than 20.2 million people each year, including 9.5 million children, uniting men, women and children of all ages, faiths, backgrounds, abilities and income levels. From urban areas to small towns, YMCAs are collectively the nation’s largest not-for-profit provider of child care and afterschool programs, serving nearly 10,000 diverse communities and neighborhoods across the U.S. A place for people to belong, YMCAs have proudly served America’s communities for nearly 160 years by building healthy spirit, mind and body for all. Visit www.ymca.net to find your local YMCA.

About Easter Seals

Easter Seals is the leading non-profit provider of services for individuals with autism, developmental disabilities, physical and mental disabilities, and other special needs. For more than 85 years, we have been offering help and hope to children and adults living with disabilities, and to the families who love them. Through therapy, training, education and support services, Easter Seals creates life-changing solutions so that people with disabilities can live, learn, work and play in their communities. Support children and adults with disabilities at www.easterseals.com.