HEALTH CARE – TWENTY YEARS LATER - NO ONE LISTENED AS PREDICTED

As I have mentioned within many posts on my timeline on Facebook, Google, Google+ and my blogs:  http://blognancydenofio.blogspot.com It was in the early 90’s when people knew things were changing quickly in the health care but our country was in great shape, no one listened then – who is listening now?

CAN WE STAND TALL AND CALL AMERICA THE LAND OF THE FREE? CAN WE STAND TALL KNOWING SOME PEOPLE ARE IN HARMS WAY? 

Within this post, you will hear about Medicare Fraud by Doctors – and Greed - those who lie about your personal health records, but even far more devastating the Pharmaceutical Companies who are pulling the wool over your eyes.  You must read on for your own protection.

(A few months back I mentioned specific issues, now covered extensively by the press – when it first came to be – no one heard the blurb on the news – could it be - elections are creeping closer as we turn the pages of our calendar. Remember – this all began at least twenty years ago when no one would listen.)
 

We know health care is failing for those insured or uninsured, for the poor or the working class.  One thing we know - those we have placed in office are not going without proper care.  They are not waiting weeks for a pre-approval for an expensive test diagnosing perhaps a life threatening illness.  They won’t be turned away at a doctor’s office because they have no insurance or are on Medicare or State run Medicaid.  Then, on the other side of the coin – some doctors receive the Medicare patient with open arms – that is – if they were one of the thousands reported last week, arrested for Medicare fraud. Sure we have good doctors, but the rotten apples spoil the pack.  Over four months ago I posted about Medicare Fraud, and being one of 15,000 people on a conference call concerning Medicare – we were asked what we believed to be the main problem with Medicare and how we would fix it -  80% of those on this call identified doctors charging for visits, services, medical treatment, all these were lies, written up on a Medicare patients record.  It wasn’t until last week when a quick report came on the national news informing the public, so far hundreds of doctors were caught who billed Medicare at the cost of over 459 million dollars.  Why do important matters receive a couple of minutes during an hour news show but we hear over and over about the color of dress worn by a candidates wife, or why one candidate walks better, one speaks better, one has more children etc.  What is wrong with this picture?  I know you know the answer is control. Back to the initial issue - check the timeline or blog – concerning Medicare fraud, this time someone listened but there is more to do – people must become aware of their own health care providers, and ask for a print out of each visit.

This week the news brought back an issue I was extremely concerned over, children with cancer going without medication because our great country,  placed limits on a life saving drug.  Imagine that, children going without life saving caner drugs because the pharmaceutical company limits supply regardless of demand. 

Hard to believe?  Well, it wasn’t only one drug given to children but several and if this is the case, many more – to both the child and adult – those living with cancer or using medication as treatment for ongoing issues.  Those who are doing without the help of familiar, helpful and drugs known to cure cancer are suffering, or dying because of Greed.  Several large pharmaceutical companies will not see an expensive drug fall in price, losing profit due to a patent.  Instead, the drug is now placed into a team of people who find a slight change in its’ compound and they have a new generic. 

If a brand name drug works, and it comes to a time when it can be duplicated as a generic with little change,  enter the world of generics, but now – listed as high priority because of the cost, and needs.  Note: Many generics work fine, but after learning about the cancer curing drugs and drugs I have taken for 20 years, now limited by pharmaceuticals, peddling them as the same, it is false. 

What happens is the time arrived to let the competing companies share on the wealth, while these expensive name brand sought after, needed drugs are left at high costs, not, and I mean not the same drug.  Generics are made by a different companies, slightly changed, and most of all some do not work. 

These companies are cutting back on drugs while they continue to manufacture generics, in some cases which ARE NOT EQUAL, made by DIFFERENT companies – after trying the fourth generation of a drug, and experiencing ongoing – more pronounced side effects, I searched for the name brand – until a pharmacy told me they had some more in their stock.  

The cancer fighting drugs are not new drugs, and they too are going through similar paths of destruction, all about greed on the part of the drug companies.   

Top executives are not thinking of you, only themselves when it comes to profit – they are not thinking of the children in a hospital with parents praying for the drug to keep their child alive.

New generic drugs are taking their place – placing our children and our lives at odds while the Pharmaceutical companies are making more and more, and placing a hold on production, limiting the amount of the brand name drug manufactured each year. 

From my own experience I posted to you the ordeal I continue to go through due to the limit placed on one of my important meds., and so I search one drug store after another, keeping my fingers crossed, one will have enough to get me through this month.

A few months ago I mentioned those drugs both children and adults rely on are being limited – replacing them with generics at the high price. I ask the Pharmaceutical companies, “What do these people do when they no longer have their medication that works, and helps them live a normal life?”

Greed, the main reason the original company who manufactured the brand name now links with two to at least three other companies to make changes to the original brand – normally the brand name would drop down in price, but it doesn’t happen, and the generics are nearly identical in price.

When you know the generics are NOT the same, and do not work for you, you would continue with the brand name or suffer, it would be your loss. 

A patient receives a script from their doctor, it does not say daw.  Only one generic and it was obvious it was not the same drug.  A new script, this time d.a.w., and after the first morning it was easy to understand this drug was doing the opposite of the brand name.  So onto Generic number two, the same, only more side effect, and a different company, finally the third was horrendous, and simply brought me backwards instead of forward, and all this time they kept saying it was the same drug.

I visited several drugstores and talked to many pharmacists who declared they were not the same, and understood the concern.  All the way to the fourth generation of generics, nothing compared or touched on the reason I was taking it in the first place.  The doctor writes a permanent note – do not give such and such generic it causes adverse reactions.  “The manufacturer has made a limited supply of the brand name drug, as it runs out it is substituted with a generic.  You did notice “a” generic.  I had several in my closet because this drug, and when it runs out, they substitute with the generic. 

If a patient has a drug that works, has taken it for years, tried the others, the original drug should not be limited in any way, unless it was proven harmful, which was not the case. Learning along the way - the name brand is now being made by three to four different “large” companies, changing something in each generation of the generic, causing patients adverse reactions, in many cases, and causing more harm than good.  I know, I have been through four generations of generics when the drugs were out of stock and not to be manufactured again until the first of the year. 

I am tired of the closet meetings, closed mouths, secrets, and untold stories.  We vote these government officials into office, they can at least listen to the problems floating around the country, sometimes so severe it causes death, needlessly. 

Go to the top of the list, start with direct cause and reason.  Everyone is  aware of what they spend these days, so point out that this is yet another IMPORTANT part of Health Care, perhaps one of the most important for some to survive.  Ask; why they had to change the medication, especially with generics at near cost of the name brand?   And, remember to ask, being that only the name brand is appropriate for your situation, how can you insure the drug is not going to disappear, leaving many individuals without the right medication?

I am sure in your mind you believe generics are cheaper?  In the past all of that was true but look closely at changes happening with generics which are the most needed, and more expensive.  Recently, while trying four different generic drugs, with continued phone calls to the specialist, and notes written on scripts – explaining why the name brand is needed, I learned the cost of this generic was as expensive as the name brand – right on down to the fourth generation.

If a patient receiving a cancer drug, or a long term use of a drug to stabilize a condition, the cost is higher to begin with, and most will do anything to get the drug they need.  Cost of the drug doesn’t matter, it’s all about living.  That is with the exception of a deductible which placed one drug close to one thousands dollars.  With this come the loss of control once again, regarding health care, pricing, limits, and most of all the quality of life.  Controlling a tried and true drug from children with cancer, and adults with cancer is something to shout about.  Limited quantities for people, who need a certain drug to remain stable, at the same level of performance each day, are something to shout about.  These individuals are suffering while the company sits back and counts their earnings. 

These companies know what they are doing, teaming up to produce more, change it a little, charge the same price, and let the customer at the drug store believe it is a generic, cheaper but does the same thing.  FALSE.  The slight change in the little blue pill with the number xxx, or the green pill with the large S, or the white pill, thinner, and breaks apart in your bottle – in a proven case.

What I have shared, I hope travels around the country and reaches many homes, these are the facts, only a couple right now, but true facts which we all should know about.  I want to protect you and your future.  Be your own advocate and examine your medical records, co pays, or deductibles – Keep a folder – file away any health care reports, even save online news about drugs.  

A generic I can swear too, costs near equal to the brand name, and this happened by trying different meds because the original was out of stock – like a loaf of bread.  You may find out the brand name changed so often its counterparts have different reactions. 

If this is Health Care in America today, imagine Health Care in America tomorrow.  Nothing is perfect, but no one took the time to speak with the voters, the needs of the people.  One drug may seem like a small regulation, but it is several, and it has been going on for as many years without any control.  Would you want to be the person without your medication?

Speak out for your own life and your families.

Sincerely, Nancy Duci Denofio