House Concurrent Resolution 4

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION COMMENDING THE TOGETHER RX ACCESS PROGRAM AND ENCOURAGING MISSISSIPPI'S LEGISLATORS TO EDUCATE CONSTITUENTS ABOUT THE PROGRAM.

WHEREAS, more than 418,900 Mississippians, totaling 17 percent of the state's population do not have health insurance; and

WHEREAS, these uninsured Mississippians have limited access to proper health care; and

WHEREAS, Mississippians deserve to have access to the medications they need in order to care for their health; and

WHEREAS, in January 2005, the Together RX Access Card Program was launched by 10 pharmaceutical companies to help low-income, uninsured individuals gain access to prescription medicines and products at savings of 25-40 percent; and

WHEREAS, this free, easy-to-use Together RX Access Card is offered by the following pharmaceutical companies: AstraZeneca, Glaxo Smith Kline, Abbott, Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, Johnson & Johnson, Novartis, Pfizer, Sanofi-Aventis Group, Takeda and TAP Pharmaceutical Products, Inc.; and

WHEREAS, greater awareness of the Together RX Access Card would facilitate program enrollment and help serve the needs of those uninsured Mississippi families:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE SENATE CONCURRING THEREIN, That we do hereby commend the Together RX Access Card Program and the pharmaceutical companies that have joined in this initiative for their efforts to help uninsured Mississippi residents gain better access to prescription products.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That each member of the Mississippi Legislature strive to educate his or her constituents about the program by distributing enrollment materials, the web address of www.TogtherRXAccess.com, and the number 1-800-444-4106.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be furnished to the Office of the Governor, Executive Director of the Division of Medicaid, Executive Director of the Mississippi Department of Health and be made available to the Capitol Press Corps.