Relief available for Arizonans struggling to pay for medications
Banner Health Foundation sharing good news about additional money available for Parkinson’s patients
PHOENIX (March 30, 2010) – When Jim Stewart of Scottsdale was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease at age 41, his family had some tough choices to make.
“Do I pay for electric or do I pay for medications to help me function?” said Stewart. “That is what my family was facing – we had very little income and no insurance. I kept hoping I could find help somewhere.”
Stewart did find the help he needed – thanks to a program for Arizona residents with Parkinson’s disease called Meds Connection, located on the campus of non-profit Banner Good Samaritan Medical Center.
The program, which has helped nearly 200 Arizonans with medication costs in its first year, is celebrating with an announcement that the program has received additional money.
Founders Alan and Sheila Fitzgerald of Phoenix know the stress of Parkinson’s all too well as Sheila has Parkinson’s disease. Her struggle prompted the Fitzgeralds to approach the Banner Health Foundation to come up with a way to help others fighting the disease.
“Our purpose in funding Meds Connection is to bring relief to Parkinson’s patients in our state,” said Mrs. Fitzgerald. “Living with this disease is already stressful, and patients should not have to worry about whether or not they can afford the treatment they need.”
The Meds Connection program is available to anyone diagnosed with Parkinson’s throughout Arizona. Anyone interested in finding out if they are eligible for the program can call Meds Connection at Banner Good Samaritan Medical Center at 1 (866) 995-6432 or by email at BGSMCMedsConnection@bannerhealth.com.
About Banner Health Foundation
Banner Health Foundation, the philanthropic resource for Phoenix-based Banner Health, secures and stewards charitable contributions to advance Banner Health’s mission to make a difference in people’s lives through excellent patient care. Contributions made to the Foundation are invested locally to support health and wellness programs and services in Banner’s nonprofit hospitals and health care facilities throughout Arizona. Established in 1978, Banner Health Foundation is supported by the generosity of individuals, corporations, foundations and thousands of active volunteers. For more information, please visit www.BannerHealth.org/BannerFoundation
About Banner Good Samaritan Medical Center
Banner Good Samaritan Medical Center has been providing medical care to Arizona and the Southwest since 1911. Banner Good Samaritan is owned and operated by Phoenix-based Banner Health, a not-organization. The hospital was named to the 2009-’10 U.S.News & World Report’s “America’s Best Hospitals” list for Gynecology, Heart & Heart Surgery and Kidney Disorders. Banner Good Samaritan has been recognized as a Magnet™ facility by the American Nurses Credentialing Center, the highest honor a hospital can earn for its nursing care and practices, and has been named one of the Best Places to Work in the Valley by The Phoenix Business Journal and BestCompaniesAZ in 2007 and 2008 and one of the “Top 100 Hospitals to Work For” by Nursing Professionals magazine.
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Contact:
Banner Good Samaritan Public Relations
Phone: (602) 839-4411
Media Pager: (602) 250-0383
Twitter: @bannergoodsam
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Meds Connection Program
(602) 839-6733
Banner Health Foundation
(602) 747-4608
