http://www.protectpaincare.org/index.html
Pharmacovigilance Biometrics:
A Technological Advancement in the Management of Chronic Pain
Filed under: General Problems
Imagine this 21 century technology being used against 21 century crooks
Posted on September 19, 2014 by Pharmaciststeve
How about the part where it says ” you are NOT to tell anyone you are on pain medication” and “You are NOT to tell anyone you get your prescriptions from Hope Pain Centers” …..yeah that sounds legit…..NOT
i was not aware that this company was operational. It seems that they have been conducting business now for over 4 years.
Seems like this company just legitimizes pill mills [?]
Only ‘therapy’ offered is pain meds, walk-ins accepted, cash only/no insurance [paid UPFRONT] no referrals needed, ‘established relationship’ with certain pharmacies, does any of this sound familiar to those following the FL pill mill game?
*We can’t tell a patient what they will be prescribed before your medical documentation is reviewed and an examination is performed by our physicians. HOWEVER, we can say that our physicians, in accordance with medical guidelines, utilize all different types of narcotics in the pursuit of relieving our patients’ pain. [FAQ] At The Hope Family of Pain Centers, we offer several opiate-based medications that may help to relieve the chronic pain associated with fibromyalgia.
[Basically, you’ll get your dope don’t worry, even for fibromyalgia, headaches, and migraines, ]
-By not taking insurance they can somehow get around HIPPA [?] but you can still file it yourself [?] Hopefully someone can come around and explain exactly how that works.
http://www.wowktv.com/story/26549612/ex-narcotics-officers-screening-pain-clinic-patients?clienttype=mobile
http://spiritofjefferson.com/blog/2014/09/west-virginia-pain-clinics-screening-patients-for-pill-use/
`Protect Pain Care-as used by Hope Pain Center (West Virginia)
IN-STATE PATIENTS
All new in-state patients must pay $275 for their first visit, and $170 for every visit thereafter. Please note that pricing may differ slightly based on clinic location.
OUT-OF-STATE PATIENTS
All new out-of-state patients must pay $330 for their first visit, and $195 for every visit thereafter. Out-of-state patient fees are higher because it is more costly for us to perform our anti-diversion monitoring program when a patient is located in another state. Please note that pricing may differ slightly based on clinic location.
The new patient fee covers the first physician visit, the first drug screen, and the FIRST NARCOTIC AUDIT. We accept all insurances but at this time, we do not bill any insurance. We can offer our patients a fee ticket that you can submit to your private insurance company for reimbursement. By not billing any insurance, we are exempted from Federal HIPAA laws that would forbid us from fighting diversion
effectively by turning over criminal patient information to law enforcement for prosecution. We accept cash, money order, and credit card for new patient visit fees.
*information provided above/below found in the following link:
http://www.hopepaincenters.org/current-patients.html (*info below found in the following link)
-REWARDS if you ‘narc’ on your doctor or fellow pain patients (not making this up)
*One of the greatest resources in the battle of prescription drug abuse is our tip that lead PPPFD field auditors to uncover prescription drug abuse and diversion. Therefore, rewards are offered for information that leads to the arrest of any patient, doctor, or staff member that is engaged in any illegal activity.
PATIENT TIPS LEADING TO AN ARREST
-$500
TIPS LEADING TO THE ARREST OF A DOCTOR OR STAFF MEMBER ENGAGED IN ILLEGAL ACTIVITY
-$5000
*history of addiction does not, in most instances, disqualify one for opiate treatment of pain, but starting or continuing a program for recovery is a must.
Unless-
It is required that new patients have never been treated at a methadone or suboxone treatment center for addiction
Of interest-
Walk-In appts accepted, extra medication 2-3 days worth for emergencies, and a guaranteed taper (instead of usual dropping you flat) look like good enticements…
http://www.ama-assn.org/ama/pub/physician-resources/solutions-managing-your-practice/coding-billing-insurance/hipaahealth-insurance-portability-accountability-act/frequently-asked-questions.page
Looks like they don’t take disabled patients. Using Medicare closes the exemption loophole for HIPPA. [see above link]
First off let me say that this post is w/out a doubt the scariest piece that i have read in all the time I have been following the issue of regulating pain management and the opioid ‘epidemic’. . Thank you for posting it Steve.
I cannot believe there are not AT LEAST a dozen posts here as the ramifications of something like this taking hold are unbelievable. HiPPA, the 4th amendment, heck just basic common dignity and respect would be expected to be given up by the patient to ensure their basic ‘right’ to humane treatment.
IF (or when, shutter) presented with such an outlandish scheme in their doctors office or pharmacy, I’m guessing that 80% of the sheep would sign it w/out even reading past the initial mission statement.
The part that stuck out to me the most as unbelievably invasive was the stipulation of PPPFD’s ‘system’ about IN-HOME visits. In case anyone missed it, it is located here http://www.protectpaincare.org/pharmacists.html about halfway down the page under COMMUNITY PROTECTION. PPPFD would have narcotics detectives (not real ones, more like security guard/rent-a-cop types) enter a patient’s HOME to conduct a pill count!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! If that weren’t bad enough it goes on to say they will be used to conduct surveillance in the community and investigate community ‘tips’ regarding diversion.
Giving them the benefit of the doubt and using their figure of 20 million people abusing Rx ‘narcotics’ and the figure being bandiied about by many reformers regarding OD figures (16,000-20,000 per yr). It seems one would have almost as good of a chance of hitting the lottery as being a victim of prescription overdose. Even if the figure were 100,000 per year that would be no call for such an invasive program such as this. When added to immigration regs,the war on terror, other drug war operations, etc the liberties and civil rights fought long and hard for could make the Bill of Rights a scrap of paper lost to history.only to be seen when visiting the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History. Scary stuff indeed.
We could just cut to the chase, save alot of money, and hassles by one simple act. Just have disabled citizens or anyone else needing opioid medications, carve out a large X on their foreheads, You know just like the Manson Family did during the Tate-Labianca trial. Of course the way this country is going, former or current MF members would most likely file suit for stealing their idea!
PPPFD would be given the authority to blacklist any patient preventing them access to any scheduled medication form participating pharmacies. I am not the biggest fan of addicts but anyone can see that they could require a controlled medication at some point in time. I have read about and watched several lectures given about how PM doctors (or any physician for that matter) can treat such ‘high-risk’ patients using technology (and common sense) that is already currently available. Blacklisting citizens is going a bit far IMO. Even if they deserved to suffer, instituting such actions is inhumane and legit patients could be affected just by basic human errors.
HUMAN ERRORS:
Don’t believe errors are significant and/or rarely happen (and dont affect your treatment decisions)? Simply request copies of your medical records and read through them, you cant be refused it is your right to them.. If for no other reason you can take them w/ you to your doctor visits (or the pharmacy). They come in handy when your records are not forwarded ahead of a referral (about a 50/50 proposition at best).
At any rate, one would most likely be surprised at what is found in them. One doctor used DSM and other diagnostic codes in my records ( I went over all my records when I applied for SSDI/disability). Curious as to what they meant I looked them up. One had me labled as an addict due to my use of methadone DESPITE the fact that we had discussed my PM treatment and use of this medication for PAIN. Something as simple as this could make it almost impossible for someone to receive adequate treatment for pain, anxiety, depression, etc, etc.
In another doctor’s consult notes he had me refusing to take an EMG/nerve conduction test. What really happened? Half way through the testing it became too painful to complete so after discussing this w/ the nurse administering the test we agreed to stop and she commented that it was not all that unusual. Here again the ramifications can be quite bad as REFUSAL of needed procedures could list a patient as NON-COMPLIANT and again put them at risk of losing their access to pain treatment and other needed Tx regimens. (After 3 attempts I was finally able to finish my neuro testing and it helped explane why I had knumbness, pain, tingling, and lack of coordination in my arms and hands.
There are so many errors in my records that at times it appears they are concerning some other person totally unknown to me. A patient can amend their records (like access, it is their right) but most likely not information once it is gathered by LE or groups such as this one. Once an ‘audit’ is conducted good luck trying to change your status (high/med/low risk) or even access to certain medications.
Anyway the point is this, the more information gathered, the closer a patient is examined by non-medical ‘experts’ the chance for continued access to reliable and proven treatment are diminished. To say nothing of the indignity of it all or the rights and liberties they expect one to relinquish in order to obtain relief.
I believe it was Ben Franklin who said the following:
“Those who would give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety.”
http://www.beloitdailynews.com/opinion/big-brother-is-watching/article_1cea24ca-43ef-11e4-80fd-7be6c6768b05.html
Coonhound
So is this only for chronic pain parient or do you forsee amphetamines also? Do to my sons and my husbands schedules, I drop them off and pick them up. So how would that work if only the caregiver was able to provide the info? I see anything with HIPPA going out the window the more infonmarion is shared. And I heard the Aca site still is not secure. An extremely slipperly slope this administration has created I believe no w0ay to go back. (PS the 2 24 pharmacies in town are out of network and until I find work…..every penny counts!)