A Worland mom walked off the orange bus with a plan to pay for the $400-a-month diabetes drugs her son needs.

She had about four applications for prescription assistance programs for which she and her 19-year-old son would most likely be eligible.

"She was just crying," said Pamela Squires, spokeswoman for The Partnership for Prescription Assistance. "She had been looking for so long and she was overwhelmed by the help she found."

The past several years the mother had searched online for helpful programs, Squires said about the woman she met Wednesday.

"No one is more motivated than a mother," Squires said, "but she was never able to find a way."

It is difficult for one person to find all the prescription assistance programs available, Squires said.

Pharmaceutical companies banded together to form The Partnership for Prescription Assistance, a clearinghouse of more than 475 prescription assistance programs that offer medicine for free or a discount.

About 200 of these programs come from the pharmaceutical companies while others come from state agencies, municipalities or nonprofits. About 40 of them are specifically geared toward children, Squires said.

The mom accessed the "Help is Here Express" Wednesday in Worland.

People visit the bus and answer about 10 questions, and then a computer on site will print application forms for the assistance programs for which they are most likely eligible.

For a person who has six different medications, there might be four programs the person will need to apply to for help, Squires said.

About 11,000 Wyomingites have accessed the clearinghouse and 84 percent of them were matched with programs, she said.

The bus has been in Wyoming since Monday and will make the trek to Casper today.

Squires said she has been surprised by the consistency with which people have visited the bus in the state because of Wyoming's low unemployment rate.

"I have been astounded by how many people lose jobs, and you ask them, 'Oh, did you lose your insurance too?' They tell you, 'We didn't have it even when we were working,'" Squires said.

The bus has helped more people this year because of the country's economic situation, Squires said.

People need to bring a list of their current medications, because many of the programs are drug-specific.

Contact health reporter Allison Rupp at (307) 266-0534 or allison.rupp@trib.com

Breakout

Where the Partnership for Prescription Assistance bus will be:

Casper - 10 to 11 a.m. Thursday at the corner of Wolcott and Collins Streets

Rawlins - 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. Thursday at Memorial Hospital of Carbon County

Laramie - 10 to 11 a.m. Friday at the Epson Center for Seniors

Cheyenne - 2 to 3 p.m. Friday at the Cheyenne Health and Wellness Center

People can also visit www.pparx.org or call 1-888-4PPA-NOW.