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Pfizer Patient Assistance Program Distributed More than $1.4 Million Worth of Free Medicines to Nearly 4,000 Patients of Michigan's Community Health Centers Last Year
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DETROIT , Aug. 12 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- CHASS Center, Inc. today announced that it will join with Pfizer, Inc. to celebrate National Health Center Week 2008. Special invited guest Congresswoman Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick (D-MI) is scheduled to help recognize Michigan-based "health care heroes," such as those on staff at CHASS Center--one of Michigan's 149 Community Health Centers that provide uninsured, underserved and low-income people with access to quality primary care services--and at Henry Ford Medical Group, a CHASS Center health care partner.
With hundreds of events hosted at Community Health Centers across the country from August 10 through 16, National Health Center Week focuses America's attention on the vital but often underappreciated role that health care professionals, policymakers, and volunteers play in their communities. Health centers have a significant impact on our national health care system, saving between $9.9 billion and $17.6 billion each year by helping patients avoid emergency rooms and make better use of preventive services.
This year's National Health Center Week theme, "America's Health Centers: Home of America's Health Care Heroes," honors the men and women who dedicate their lives to caring for patients who rely on community-based health services. Today's event will acknowledge the vital role and significant contributions of three of Detroit's many health care providers devoted to improving the health and welfare of the more than 1 million uninsured Michigan residents: Nancy Schlichting, CEO, Henry Ford Health System; Dr. Susan Schooley, Chair, Henry Ford Health System Department of Family Medicine; and, Dr. Felix Valbuena, Jr., Medical Director, CHASS.
"I applaud the efforts of health care leaders who are committed to strengthening families by increasing the accessibility and quality of health care," said Congresswoman Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick (MI-13). "I am proud to celebrate the accomplishments of Ms. Schlichting, Dr. Schooley and Dr. Valbuena, and to support this partnership between the CHASS Center and Pfizer. By working together, we can create a healthier, safer and more productive Michigan."
Pfizer supports Community Health Centers like CHASS Center through one of its patient assistance programs called Sharing the Care(TM), which was launched in 1993 to make Pfizer medicines available for free to eligible health center patients. Through Sharing the Care, Pfizer partners with more than 450 health centers in 49 states. In just the past five years, Pfizer has provided nearly 9.6 million prescriptions, valued at more than $780 million, to more than 2.4 million Community Health Center patients.
"Due to rising health insurance premiums and an increasing number of employers dropping health benefits, more and more of our colleagues, friends and neighbors are turning to community health services for care," said Ricardo Guzman, CEO, CHASS Center. "Since our partnership began more than a decade ago, Pfizer has proven to be a committed ally in our efforts to make better health an attainable goal for Detroit's residents who, through no fault of their own, may not otherwise get the care they need, when they need it."
Today's event will take place at 11:00 a.m. EDT at CHASS Center, Inc., located at 5635 West Fort Street in Southwest Detroit. The event is free and the public is encouraged to attend. For more information, visit www.healthcenterweek.org, or contact CHASS Center by visiting www.chasscenter.org or by calling
