Written by
Dear Dr. Rowe,
Thank you for informing us of this impending legislation. I am very concerned about some of the legislative, regulatory, and insurance company policy directions that health care is taking:
—Some states limit the number of doctor visits a person on Medicare can have in one year, which is discriminatory against people with chronic illnesses and the elderly, who are the exact people on Medicare. I have read where the national Medicare program is considering adopting this principle as part of its grant program to the states.
—Some insurance companies will only pay for generic drugs, whether or not a generic drug exists. People with chronic conditions should be able to take the latest, most effective medications for their illness, which are not available as generics for several years after they go on the market, and some pharmaceutical companies have petitioned to extend the timeline for some of their new drugs.
—Some drug companies require a person to take certain medications prior to the approval of the medication prescribed by his or her doctor.
—The FDA has adopted a new process for monitoring all prescriptions of opiates for pain management. This, in addition to legislation in some areas that prohibit or limit the use of these strong, and often most effective, pain medications can cause, either by legislation or intimidation, a gross under-treatment or complete lack of treatment for people in pain.
I am sure there are many more efforts such as these underway, or will be in the future, that threaten the effective treatment of pain. These are the reasons why I became a volunteer with the Power Over Pain Action Network, a program of the American Pain Foundation, and why I urge everyone reading this to check out their website at www.painfoundation.org and see what you too can do to advocate for legislation and policies that support effective pain management. One positive legislative possibility is the National Pain Care Policy Act, which I have written about before, and which you can find out more information about at the Foundation's website.
We need health care reform, and I applaud President Obama's efforts, but I fear that we will end up with reform for reform sake and the guiding principle will be financial and not people. I hope that patients are part of the discussion, and not only wealthy patients who don't have to worry about the cost or accessibility of quality care.
Thank you for bringing this New York State effort to our attention. I think war is a very good analogy. I feel like I should don body armor whenever I have to deal with my insurance company, can't get a prescription filled, need a referral or pre-certification, or any other action I must take related to acquiring good medical care. I wish I could look toward the future of health care with optimism but right now I am concerned.
Hi Denise
Not only was i moved to share back a post to Karen Lee Richards(who by the way i stumbled on to by an internet search for pain relief)and Mr Will Rowe Who added the fuel to my quest for relief,and most of all Backless in oke(still thinking of you and still praying for Ya)Needless to say i was deeply moved by yours you sumed it up so nicely,and i reached into my box of notes got some new notebooks out so i could finally get cracking on whats what in my own state,and get some letters out that should have been sent out,but most of all i got to get to the web site you posted and Karen,after a few months i stumbled on to this site and for once well truth be told this is the secound time
i finally see some light at the end of my tunnel,as i stated in my earlier post after a long stay in the hospital and the help of ms jenny brown my nurse,i finally got my doctor moveing and shaken,my pain is now at an tolerable state,well 85%cause i still get some days that give me the royal blues,this site has been the most informational site ive found since ive been searchinh for help(thank you lord for microsoft internet explorer up date to my browser,i was useing goggle before today for years and when microsoft updated my browser today, it gave me an search engine called bing.and im loven it)so im off to go search those sites you gave me and Karen,even though im as tired as and bear and just as crankey just about now cause its the 4th and at noon im to begin cooking(pray i dont fall face first in grill
but i fired up so son will have to attend to the grill got all my side dishes done so he can handle that cause i got to get to them wed addys well god bless you have an wonderfull 4th and again thank you so much for your post
sincerely
msmablack
Surely PETA wouldnt let an animal suffer as some of us do?
My last day of work was July 28, 2008. Not a month after my insurance co. dropped me of course because of pre-existing conditions. I filed for Medicaid-Disability, not Social Security Disability(I have filed, but not to confuse the 2), and of course was denied. So I filed for an appeal, I finally got it May 29,2009. Now awaiting results, so that whole time I was scraping to see Pain Management Dr., and pay for 4 medications, all out of pocket.
This mind you, when I was diagnosed w/ Degenerative Disc Disease, 3 bulging discs, my L5-S1, almost gone, end-plate changes at this level also, bilateral forminal narrowing, not to mention a few other degenerative problems, in JUNE 2008.
Are you kidding me? I still have no coverage, I'm talking I wanted was bottom of the barrel coverage to help with bills. Now I have to walk with cane, wife makes right at 20,000 a year, we also have a 6 yr. old, so no Disability, no coverage for me. How can this be fair?
One look at my MRI, and you dont have to be a radiologist to see the damage to my L5-S1, but it came to my attention that Medicaid does not even look at your MRI, just have to hope radiologist made seem as if you were paralyzed!
It has been 2 weeks with no word yet from appeal, so looks like I have to pack up and move my family, in with, hopefully another family member, because we cant pay rent and my bills.
All of this just to try to get Medicaid Disability, did I mention I took a lawyer w/ me, and 2 letters from Pain Dr. practically begging Medicaid to help me, along with a questionnaire he filled out for my lawyer, where she asked a series of questions about limitations, lifting, pushing, pulling, bending, lifting, etc.... which he answered I could not do, he stated I can barely do daily activities, wife has to help me do everything! Dr. also stated could be possible life-long, so that should cover their 12 month policy!
Sorry for ranting, but my gosh, how much more evidence do they need, so I'm hoping for the best, just hard to believe, they would let a human suffer in so many ways.
Thanks for listening and this site, my prayers to all suffering!
At least if you where an animal you would get some compasion and be put out of your misery!
I`m 58, in constant pain and the only reason I don`t end it myself is because I have to take care of and help my Mother(84), who hurts just as bad or worse than I do.
I just really wish there was some compassion out there. I`m lucky, I have a Dr. who is compassionate. But he has to deal with the DEA and government, also...
we can send our doctors all over the world, to help others,but we canet get decent help here in the united states with out a fight,we have paid years in health coverage ,and when you get sick guess what it dont cover either the right doctor you need,or your medications,so you take what little money you do have and pay for the doctor yourself and your meds and in no time you have no more money saved,and you make a choice spend money on the doctor"s next vist or pay for the over priced meds ,go with out for sure by doing so with out food ,paying an bill,get kicked out of your home cause you canet pay the rent move to a really bad place,and still are going with out food or proper clothes for the winter,or heat during the winter or air condition in the summer during an heat wave,and still after moveing you are still faced with maybe buy half my meds pay half the bills,go with out meds and pay bills shall i go on you can see were this is going out of the USA,people if and when you can get out an vote on health care issues if you canet and it can be sent to you do so no one can here us if we dont speak out and most times even if they do hear we still get nothing but dont give up one day and hopefully soon some one will,please keep hope alive,so we can live one day pain free or just be able to tolerate what pain we do have so we can live.good luck god bless
I HAVE HAD A SPINAL CORD STIMULATOR IMPLANTED IN ME FOR NEARLY 20 YEAR'S. DR. BURCHIEL AT OHSU INPORTLAND OREGON IMPLANTED IT AND I HAVE USED IT DAILY FOR MANY YEAR'S. I DO NOT KNOW WHAT I WOULD DO IF I DIDN'T HAVE THE STIMULATOR. IT DEFINITELY RELIEVES THE PAIN CAUSED BY MY ON THE JOB BACK INJURY!! MY STIMULATOR HAS BECOME ONE OF MY BEST FRIEND'S. IT IS WITH ME ALWAYS!
The government of the USA is the one who made it a war! And that`s what they call it! So do not at all feel bad about it...
What I feel bad about is not being able to get the medical treatment that I should get, because I`m just shoved into a group call "drug users". My pain is real and I would love to be able to give it to some one else for a day! That would cure the problem for sure!
Featuring Content From:
By using this service, you accept our Terms of Use. Please read them. The consumer health information on is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment for any medical conditions. You should promptly seek professional medical care if you have any concern about your health, and you should always consult your physician before starting a fitness regimen. Copyright © 2012 Remedy Health Media, LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Your comments and analogies are right on point. Though I have yet to find that magic pill or treatment I have run the gamut of treatments over a 21 month period. A double fusion surgery just 3 weeks ago is where all these treatments and attempts at a cure have lead me. However, without having tried everything I cannot help but think I would see only one solution to end my pain and torment. Need I say what that solution would be. Having said that any legislated access that would limit the possible resolution of a person's pain by any means possible I believe would be kin to cruel and unusual punishment. Might I add punishment for something most people would not wish upon their worst enemy. Regardless, what works for some people does not always work for others. That is the nature of the physicians everyday experience. What they take as the Gospel today may be considered as "The Dark Ages" tomorrow. All most injured and ill want is just to return to who they were and the life they had pre-injury and before their pain began. Legislating their ability to do so would only limit their options and the way they look at themselves everyday in the mirror.
most everything we have has come from and long drawn out battle with the goverment we were all not born with gold spoons so we have to rely on the goverment for help and if it dont help me today belive this it will help some one soon,as you see i didnt end my sentence with tomorrow, cause nothing get,s done that quick when dealing with the goverment or private organations,and i know the pain i have today hurts so if i have to be in pain i dont want it to be invain i want it to help some one else,cause some one did something some were before today to get us were we are at today,and i have and saying i love to share i dont belive in hanging myself i belive in hanging in there,cause if i dont get help today someone soon will,and if we dont belive there will for sure be no tomorrow,dont know you but i love you and my prayers will go out to you that one day very soon you will be free and be alive to feel that you are, god bless you