The Pharmaceutical Researchers and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA), the trade association for the leading pharmaceutical companies in the United States, hired CG&A to manage media relations for the launch and subsequent rollout of Rx for Illinois (also known as the Partnership for Prescription Assistance), a major health initiative linking uninsured and underinsured Illinoisans with programs providing free or discounted medicines.
	Prior to kicking off the campaign, CG&A recruited organizational partners including the American Lung Association, American Cancer Society Illinois, Mental Health Association and Rainbow PUSH to help support the effort and spread the word about the benefits of the program. In addition, a Web site and hotline, provided by PhRMA, was set up for patients to use to find out which programs they qualify for. CG&A also developed a program brochure, legislative briefing materials and a health fair kiosk to further enhance outreach efforts. CG&A is currently helping raise awareness of the Partnership for Prescription Assistance through outreach in minority communities across Chicago. In addition to participating in neighborhood health fairs, CG&A has worked with members of the Illinois Legislative Latino Caucus to target nonprofit organizations serving the Latino community. CG&A provides program materials to organizations and organizes staff trainings.
	CG&A generated hundreds of stories in newspapers and on TV and radio outlets around the state. CG&A also coordinated numerous community and media briefings and provided local support for PhRMA’s national prescription assistance bus tour when it visited Illinois cities. To date, more than 425,000 Illinoisans have initially qualified for free or discounted medicines through Rx for Illinois, and more than 600,000 residents have either called the hotline or logged on to the Web site.