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James L. Holly, M.D. |
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James L. Holly,M.D. |
December 07, 2000 |
Your Life Your Health - The Examiner |
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The recent presidential campaign has highlighted one of the most pressing
problems in healthcare delivery. This problem, like most is good news/bad
news. The problem is access to the drugs needed to treat common and
uncommon illnesses. The good news is that American ingenuity in conjunction
with scientific advancement has developed more excellent medicines than at
any time in the history of man. Conditions which only a few years ago were
uniformly lethal are now either curable or treatable. That's good news.
The bad news is that the development, manufacture and distribution costs for
these drugs are often very, very high. This leads to the availability of
drugs which, because of their cost, are not accessible to everyone who needs
them.
The solution to this problem is complex. Obviously, one solution is the
pooling of risk, which is the foundation of all government-sponsored or
funded programs. The idea is that everyone pays something toward
medications so that those who need them have access at a cost which they can
afford. The problem is that with most government programs safe guards are
either not in place or are difficult to put into place to prevent the
escalation of costs at the expense of the people who are paying the bills.
Also, because government-sponsored and/or funded programs create an
entitlement mentality, people often begin to demand that more and more be
done for them, as they accept less and less responsibility for their own
lives. This leads to those who need medications spending their available
resources on tobacco, alcohol, excessive fatty foods, etc. -- all of which
increase the cost of their healthcare -- while demanding that others pay for
the medications which they need. Sometimes these medications are needed
because of a person's own self-destructive habits.
Public policy in healthcare delivery must never take away personal
responsibility. While public policy must address access to medications,
even of those whose need is created by willful negative behavior, that
policy must never make the recipient a ward of the state -- that is, one who
believes that all of their needs will be or should be met by the government.
While no one in America should have to choose between buying food or
medications, there are choices which should and must be made. For instance,
at Southeast Texas Medical Associates, we have let all of our patients know
that we will not treat any patient who is on a managed care plan who smokes.
We are happy to participate in efforts to decrease the cost of healthcare by
reducing the cost of "going to the doctor," but we are not willing to do
that while patients spend $100 to $500 per month on tobacco products. This
is simply one way in which we require the patient to be responsible for
their own healthcare cost.
How then can people who truly need help get medications? One of the ways is
through Pharmaceutical Manufactures' Indigent Drug Programs. Almost all
pharmaceutical companies have such programs. Most of the time, the
physician must apply to the program on the patient's behalf. But, once
again, the patient can accept the responsibility for making it as easy as is
possible for the physician's office, already overburden with paper work, to
do this for the patient. In this way, the patient can collaborate with the
physician in obtaining the medications which the patient needs and which the
patient cannot afford.
If you need assistance with your medication, discuss that with your
healthcare provider. She/he can often help you with samples which the
pharmaceutical companies generously give to patients. If samples are not
available, you can apply for free medications from the drug company. The
companies listed below have indigent drug programs. Their telephone number,
addresses and some of the medications which they make available on their
program are also listed.
Every company has different forms and different requirements, but remember,
you take responsibility for getting the form, filling it out and then giving
it to your health care provider for signature. It's your responsibility,
assume it, and you will benefit both financially and emotionally.
If you do not quality, or if your drugs are not available through the
company, SETMA has applications for The Medicine Program, P. O. Box 520,
Doniphan, MO 63935-0520 (Phone 1-573-996-7300) where you can make
application to get your medications free. There is a $5 processing fee per
medication which you request through this program. You can get one of these
forms by either dropping by SETMA's office, even if you are not a SETMA
patient, or by calling The Examiner.
Together we can help you acquire the medications which you need. If you
will do your part -- stop unhealthy habits, start healthy ones, take
responsibility for your own health -- your healthcare provider will be more
than happy to help you. And remember, it's Your Life and it's Your Health!
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