Epileptic girl sues Sessions to legalize medical marijuana nationwide

Posted on November 10, 2017 by Pharmaciststeve

Epileptic girl sues Sessions to legalize medical marijuana nationwide

https://www.rt.com/usa/409529-girl-sues-sessions-medical-marijuana/

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Epileptic girl sues Sessions to legalize medical marijuana nationwide
© Nir Elias / Reuters
A 12-year-old girl suffering from epilepsy is suing Attorney General Jeff Sessions in order to legalize marijuana for medicinal purposes on a federal level. A motion by the US government to dismiss her case has been denied.

Alexis Bortell, 12, was joined by four other plaintiffs in her lawsuit, filed in US District Court in the Southern District of New York on July 24, according to court documents. Other defendants named in the case are the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Acting Director of the DEA Chuck Rosenberg and the US government.

© Jaime Saldarriaga Marijuana smokers have more sex, researchers discover

Bortell has suffered from epilepsy since she was a little girl, and treatments in her home state of Texas failed to relieve her suffering. But then, a pediatrician advised her family that they could take advantage of an out-of-state option to treat the epilepsy with medical marijuana, according to KDVR.

The family decided to use the treatment, but had to move from Texas to Colorado, where the practice is legal. They began administering the child a strain of cannabis oil called Haleigh’s Hope soon after moving. A drop of liquid THC – the chemical compound found in cannabis that produces a high – was given to Bortell once in the morning and once at night.

Since beginning her THC treatment, Bortell has been seizure-free for two and a half years. “As the seizures got worse, we had to move to Colorado to get cannabis because it’s illegal in Texas,” Bortell said, KDVR reported.

While describing the difference between past treatment proposals and her current use of a THC liquid, Bortell said: “I’d say it’s a lot better than brain surgery.”

At issue in the case, is a federal prohibition on marijuana that prevents Bortell from returning home to Texas to continue with her treatment.

“I would like to be able to visit my grandparents without risking being taken to a foster home,” Bortell said about her joint lawsuit against Sessions, KDVR reported.

Despite the fact that 29 states have legalized the practice of administering medical marijuana to patients, cannabis remains a Schedule I narcotic under federal US law.

A Schedule I determination means that a drug has “no currently accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse.” Other schedule one drugs include heroin, LSD, ecstasy (MDMA), methaqualone and peyote.

The other plaintiffs joining Bortell in the lawsuit are: another child, a military veteran, a marijuana advocacy group and former NFL player Marvin Washington.

READ MORE: Legalize cannabis now or face mental health crisis, warns drug think-tank

During his confirmation hearings, Sessions indicated he would “review and evaluate” the Cole Memorandum, which states that the federal government will not interfere in states’ decisions to legalize and regulate the sale of marijuana to adults, Business Insider reported.

Sessions also stated at the time that he would commit to enforcing federal laws regarding marijuana which declare the plant illegal.

In September, the attorney general dismissed ideas to legalize use of the plant in the US.

“I’ve never felt that we should legalize marijuana,” Sessions said, Forbes reported. “It doesn’t strike me that the country would be better if it’s being sold on every street corner. We do know that legalization results in greater use.”

However, his boss, President Donald Trump, took a much different stance on prosecuting businesses and individuals in the area of medical marijuana when he was campaigning.

Trump promised to “make medical marijuana widely available to patients, and allow states to decide if they want to fully legalize pot or not,” the Washington Times reported.

Aside from the presidential election, marijuana was among the biggest issues voters in several states decided on in 2016. Marijuana policy continues to be hotly debated, as poll numbers show growing support for legalization.

READ MORE: Toke the good with the bad: Marijuana saves lives & alters brains, studies show

According to a recent Gallup poll, 51 percent of Republicans favor marijuana decriminalization, and 64 percent of all Americans are in favor of legalization.

It remains to be seen what impact this development will have in 2018 or 2020, when Trump plans to run for re-election. Trump supporter, and former adviser Roger Stone, has said Sessions’ agenda on marijuana threatens to disrupt Trump’s grassroots coalition. However, Sessions has been a staunch supporter of Trump’s anti-immigration agenda, one of the issues that propelled Trump to the presidency in 2016.

In September, the House Rules Committee blocked a pro-medical marijuana amendment that had been included, since 2014, in the government’s annual spending bill by Representative Dana Rohrabacher (D-California), according to Marijuana Business Daily.

 
 

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:Pharmacist: I’M NOT COMFORTABLE — because pt is DISABLED OLDER MAN ?

Posted on November 10, 2017 by Pharmaciststeve

To whom it may concern, I am a disabled man. I’ve been prescribed_methadone 10 mg. Oraly every 6 hours for my chronic pain from University of miami heathsystem pain management 

WHICH IS VERY WELL KNOWN. I HAVE PROBLEMS WITH MOBILITY THEREFORE I’VE CHOSEN TO HAVE MY PRESCRIPTION FILLED AT THE CVS PHARMACY ON 5695 SW 8ST MIAMI FLORIDA 33134 CLOSEST TO MY HOME. THEY HAVE BEEN DELAYING THE FILLING OF MY PRESCRIPTION FOR SOME TIME NOW. FIRST THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY DON’T HAVE IT IN STOCK, THEN THEY TOLD ME TO COME BACK THE NEXT DAY FOR IT, WHEN I WENT THE NEXT THEY TOLD ME AGAIN THAT THEY DON’T HAVE IT, AND HAD ME COMING BACK TIME AND TIME AGAIN. I’VE COMPLAINED TO THEIR CORPORATE OFFICE AND A SUPPOSED MANAGER MR. ERIC MARTINEZ; I CONTACTED THAT CVS AND TOLD THEM TO FILL THE PRESCRIPTION AND THEN TOLD ME TO GO BACK THE NEXT DAY THAT IT WOULD BE FILLED AND READY FOR ME TO PICK UP. WHEN I WENT TO PICK IT UP THE PHARMACIST MR. ERIC MARTINEZ(MANAGER) FINALLY TOLD ME THAT HE REFUSED TO FILL IT BECAUSE HE FELT UNCOMFORTABLE WITH THAT PRESCRIPTION. SINCE I AM A DISABLED OLDER MAN AND ONE OF MY DISABILITIES IS BEING ABLE TO VERBALLY COMMUNICATE IN AN EDUCATED FASHION AS TO THE STANDARDS OF A REGULAR HUMAN BEING.I FEEL THAT THE PHARMACIST SEES ME AS A LOWER CLASS INDIVIDUAL. NEVER THE LESS I AM VERY EDUCATED AND FEEL TREMENDOUSLY INSULTED BY THE WAY THE PHARMACIST AND THEIR UPPER MANAGEMENT HAVE TREATED ME. I FEEL THIS IS DISCRIMINATORY AND SHOULD BE RECTIFIED IMMEDIATELY. BY NOW, SINCE I’VE HAD TO WAIT SO LONG, I AM IN EXTREME PAIN AND I DON’T KNOW WHAT THE CONSEQUENCES OF THAT MIGHT BE. I WILL MOST CERTAINLY APPRECIATE THE CONSIDERATION AND REALIZE THE SERIOUSNESS OF MY SITUATION AND HOPEFULLY RESOLVE THIS MATTER IN A POSITIVE MANNER.I CONTACTED THE CENTRAL OFFICE MANEGER ON 11/8/2017,11/6/2017AND A FEW TIMES BEFORE. THANK YOU

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Pharmacies, PBMs, insurers call for opioid prescription policy changes

Posted on November 10, 2017 by Pharmaciststeve

Pharmacies, PBMs, insurers call for opioid prescription policy changes

http://www.modernhealthcare.com/article/20171108/NEWS/171109886

Drug prescribers throughout the country should establish a seven-day supply limit for initial opioid prescriptions, and they should be written electronically to slow the abuse of the addictive painkillers, a group of pharmacies, pharmacy benefit managers and health plans wrote in a letter to President Donald Trump Wednesday.

The group pledged to support the federal government and states in clamping down on behaviors that have allowed opioid abuse to swell into a national epidemic.

In addition to the prescription limitations and electronic prescribing, the group recommended exploring opioid treatment alternatives, lowering dosages as well as the number of extended-release pills prescribed, imposing closer oversight 0n prescription drug-monitoring data, expanding drug disposal programs, and bolstering community-backed medication-assisted treatment programs.

The recommendations align with the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s updated guidelines for prescribing the pain medication issued in August, which also include closer monitoring of high-risk patients and treatment that safely weans patients off opioids.

“We stand committed to engage in a public-private partnership and to work in the most collaborative fashion across the healthcare system to help solve the national healthcare crisis of opioid abuse,” the companies wrote in the letter to Trump.

In September, Express Scripts—one of the letter’s co-authors—expanded its program that limits new opioid users to seven-day prescriptions, even if the doctor orders differ. The pilot program launched in 2016 reduced hospitalizations and emergency room visits by about 40%, the St. Louis-based PBM’s executives said. Cigna also said that it would stop covering prescriptions for OxyContin next year. But providers pushed back, arguing that doctors should have the ultimate say in treatment plans.

Pharmacies, insurers and drug distributors have expanded their drug disposal collection programs and funneled more money toward community health centers that provide addiction recovery services. Critics contend that it was too little, too late.

Distributors and pharmacies have been the targets of lawsuits that claim they didn’t do their due diligence in weeding out suspicious prescriptions. A number of states have also gone after drug manufacturers and their alleged dubious marketing tactics.

Prescribing opioids for chronic long-term pain invites unscrupulous practices, said Paul Hanly Jr. of the law firm Simmons Hanly Conroy.

“The indications for these drugs should be narrowed,” he told Modern Healthcare in September.

The integrated system Intermountain Healthcare pledged to lower the number of opioid prescriptions it doles out by 40% next year. It also has expanded its drug-monitoring program, which better equips physicians with real-time data on prescribing and distribution trends.

A study published in JAMA Tuesday found that a combination of ibuprofen and acetaminophen can be a viable alternative to opioid treatments.

Still, much improvement is needed along the pharmaceutical supply chain, experts said. While most of the prescribing and order processing is electronic, there are still handwritten prescriptions, said Justin Schneider, vice president of clinical operations, pharmacy, cardiology, stroke and supply chain at Sinai Health System in Chicago.

“We need to see much more e-prescribing,” he said.

As the number of opioid prescriptions has tripled over three decades in the U.S., which accounts for 80% of global opioid use, overdoses now claim about 91 lives a day. This has crippled communities across the country and costs the U.S. more than $78 billion a year, according to the letter.

More opioids were prescribed when they were widely marketed for a variety of uses and manufacturers downplayed their addictive nature. The Drug Enforcement Administration also significantly raised its quota for opioids like oxycodone in an effort to meet greater demand, limit the quantities of drug ingredients and eliminate diversion from “legitimate channels of trade.”

While the DEA has recently reduced its production quota of opioids by 25% or more last year, that isn’t enough, public officials said.

While the article’s title states : Pharmacies, PBMs, insurers call for opioid prescription policy changes

I did not see any mention of any pharmacies (chains or independents) that are named… did they just add “pharmacies” to the article title just to make it sound like there are more entities calling for reduced prescribing ?

Don’t you just love it when attorneys are coming out GIVING MEDICAL ADVICE Prescribing opioids for chronic long-term pain invites unscrupulous practices, said Paul Hanly Jr. of the law firm Simmons Hanly Conroy.

As I read the article, the only ones coming out for lower opiate dosing is from the INSURANCE INDUSTRY ( health insurers & PBM’s) who stand to make money on fewer opiates being prescribed… as if they have convinced themselves that few prescribed… would mean fewer people who will become addicted to some substance… forget the 45 million alcoholics and 35 million Nicotine addicts… and.. all the illegal opiates that are being sent into our country from Mexico, China and who knows where.  Maybe all those 100+ million chronic pain pts will just STOP HURTING… because they can’t get opiates to treat their pain.

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A big payoff: Little-known Medicare lawsuit may bring help to millions

Posted on November 10, 2017 by Pharmaciststeve

A big payoff: Little-known Medicare lawsuit may bring help to millions

http://www.unionleader.com/silver-linings/A-big-payoff-Little-known-Medicare-lawsuit-_may-bring-help-to-millions-11072017

Dick Spero of Salem is an 80-year-old who wears an impish smile on his face, a cross on his chest, and a vest holding a life-saving device that keeps blood pumping through his heart 24 hours a day.

The LVAD, an artificial heart of sorts, has been keeping Spero alive for four years. But two years ago, it nearly killed him when it threw a clot to his brain, causing three debilitating strokes. There was a tear to his brain when the clot was removed. His wife, Nora, described him as “just a little better than a vegetable.”

Doctors told Nora it would be a year of recuperation, but the year came and went, and he wasn’t getting any better.

“I couldn’t even hold a phone,” Dick said.

Today, Dick is walking without assistance, pedaling at a Level 6 on the exercise bike, and pulling 30-pound weights with his arms on a resistance machine at Rehab 365 in Salem, where he has been receiving physical and occupational therapy since July.

Nora credits his progress to his physical and occupational therapists, his spirit, and a blind woman in Vermont suffering from ALS by the name of Glenda Jimmo.

– – – – – – – – – – – –

Four years ago, Glenda Jimmo took Medicare to federal court to demand the government insurance program pay providers for skilled maintenance care and therapy that would keep her condition from progressing and deteriorating. Jimmo’s lawyers argued Medicare was only reimbursing providers to the point where her condition either stabliized or she stopped improving.

In other words, she would have to worsen, suffer and be rehospitalized to retrigger the Medicare reimbursements. Without those reimbursements, no providers would provide the skilled care she needed to help stave off the progression of the disease. 

Medicare settled the case, arguing it always paid for maintenance and preventative care; providers just weren’t documenting it right. As part of the settlement, the agency agreed to better educate providers about the availability of reimbursements within a year of the 2013 settlement. That didn’t happen until this past August.

“There are so many millions of patients this can help. It’s just mind-boggling,” said Renee Noel Keimig, director of partnership services at Rehab 365. “And it’s not limited to any conditions.” 

Jimmo was backed by an alliance of Vermont Legal Aid, the Center for Medicare Advocacy, and dozens of associations representing such conditions as multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s, and ALS. 

Keimig said this settlement could cost Medicare “hundreds of millions, if not billions,” but it will save the government money in the long run. She said ongoing therapy will keep people from costly rehospitalizations and they will be living healthier.

– – – – – – – – – – – –

Keimig thinks back to one of her clients who met his goals, his condition plateaued, and he was done with his therapy. However, the man did not leave his house so therapy was his only socialization, and he wasn’t motivated to do the work outside the facility.

“He was a perfect person for this,” she said. “It would have made perfect sense.”

Kim Monette, the vice president of Rehab 365’s clinical and outpatient services, said they have been working with its therapists and employees on how to document these types of cases to ensure they receive the Medicare reimbursement. In 2017, they have not received one denial.

“We’re not afraid to treat these patients and fight Medicare if we were ever in an appeals process,” Monette said.

Both Monette and Keimig said there is still a reluctance by providers to offer this skilled maintenance and therapy out of fear Medicare will deny the reimbursement. Monette said if Medicare denies a reimbursement, providers have no recourse to get paid for their services.

“It’s a huge risk for companies,” she said.

Keimig said the slow response by Medicare to educate providers is not helping patients.

“If organizations have been slow in getting the education, how does a consumer find out about this?” she said. “There are so many patients that can apply for this. It helps the consumer if they know it’s a thing and to fight for continued service from a provider.”

– – – – – – – – – – – –

Dick Spero of Salem works with physical therapist Kim Monette in Salem on Oct. 27. (DAVID LANE/UNION LEADER)

That’s what Nora Spero did. She said Dick spent months at other therapists and never made any progress. She said they were all about documenting goals, not about helping Dick get back on his feet.

“A lot of these other places went by the numbers,” she said. “Other rehabs just turned him down.”

She said if it weren’t for the Jimmo case and the therapy he’s getting now at Rehab 365, Dick would only back slide.

“We now have hope for a reasonably normal life,” she said. “If we had been here a year ago, we’d be dancing by now.”

Reporter Gretchen Grosky would like to hear from readers about issues related to aging. She can be reached at ggrosky@unionleader.com or w206-7739. See more at www.unionleader.com/aging.

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Reportedly… pharmacy medication errors are UP 450% – wonder why ?

Posted on November 9, 2017 by Pharmaciststeve

Pharmacists fight back: Age discrimination lawsuits in retail pharmacy

http://drugtopics.modernmedicine.com/drug-topics/news/pharmacists-are-talking-age-discrimination-lawsuits-retail-pharmacy?page=0,0

The other day Drug Topics published an article that asked, “Are CVS’ metrics unfairly eliminating older pharmacists?” That’s what four former CVS pharmacists think.They are now suing the retail giant in U.S. District Court in South Carolina.

 Drug Topics has received several comments about this article from readers, and so did The Cynical Pharmacist, a well-known pharmacy blogger and Drug Topics contributor, when he posted a comment from a Drug Topics reader that evoked a strong reaction from his readers.

Here’s a sample of what your fellow pharms are saying:

At Facebook.com/TheCynicalPharmacist

See also: Are CVS’ metrics unfairly eliminating older pharmacists?

Bad sign for pharmacy

“The funny thing about company spokesmen is they don’t deal in reality. That’s the only way one can explain this:

“‘A CVS spokesman, Michael DeAngelis, said the allegations have no merit and that CVS intends to vigorously defend against them. “Like other companies, we measure the quality and effectiveness of the services we provide to ensure we are meeting our customers’ expectations and helping them to achieve the best possible health outcomes,” DeAngelis said. “Our systems are designed to help our pharmacists manage and prioritize their work to best serve their patients.’”’

“Vigorously defend? 
Services we provide? Like accurate prescription filling over speed and convenience?

“This is a bad sign for pharmacy from the Company that Values Shareholders.”

13 hours without a break

“South Carolina has a 2:1 tech:pharmacist ratio, with state-certified techs not counting against the ratio. And yet, the demand of my store tells me I need 5-6 techs at peak hours. See the problem/illegality of this one, CVS? (Especially when the one pharmacist is working 13 hours without a break, on top of that.)”

All about the metrics

“CVS is all about using the metrics to make sure you are on point. They use it for tech hours and punishing workers when sales and quotas aren’t met.”

Unachievable metrics

“So glad I bailed! My priority was the right Rx to the right patient, and answer questions they had. Their priority was just unachievable metrics, unless you happened to be a low-volume store or donated your own free time.”

Basic human rights violated

“If I think even just a little about what retail pharmacists have to suffer, I get extremely sad. I used to work retail and for one of the better companies. It was awful that basic human rights, such as using the bathroom and eating, are violated under the guise of the salary we earn.

“We earn the salary because of our knowledge, qualifications, and education. Our salaries are not given as trade for our personal and physical humiliation. The emotional distress of choosing between giving quality care and meeting company expectations is real.”

Defeated and invalidated

“It’s unfortunate that now I’m planning to pursue legal consultation due to my improper termination. And I was awarded the Distinguished Young Pharmacist award with the ‪New Jersey Pharmacists Association (NJPhA) last year. I’ve never felt more defeated and invalidated.”

See also: Metrics: How not to practice pharmacy

Failure to drive business results

“I can present the write-ups that led to the termination of my partner (who was about 60) and me (nearly 40). The write-ups specifically say, and I quote, ‘on performance warning for failing to exhibit the ability to deliver and drive various business results. Some of which include PCI (AO, NSPU) KPM and Service targets.’ This write-up was copied and pasted by my DM three times. I was explicitly told to my face that they have a big line of new grads willing to take my job. Moreover, according to my DM, running a store dispensing 400-500 prescriptions per day with 1 pharmacist and 1-2 techs is perfectly fine, as long as you can manage your techs.”

It happened to me

“This happened to me back in August of last year. The exact scenario is happening in West Virginia. Now working for Kroger and the world of pharmacy is much better.”

Horrendous staffing levels

“Staffing levels are horrendous! This leads to errors and poor customer service. They only care about bottom line. I am proud these pharmacists came forward with their legal action.”

Forced me to sign

“The same unfair criminal practice happened to me back in Las Vegas 2010. The vice president of operations for the whole district made up a special metric system just for me because I questioned in a big meeting when he announced that all pharmacist are expected to —on their days off — go out, for no reimbursement, procure and work to generate flu shot clinics, saying it was part of the job description when we got hired.

“He then forced me to sign a special document that no other RPh had to sign, saying I had to meet metrics of 95% across the board, and that I was going to be reevaluated every two weeks. And if I did not meet those metrics, I would then be rated as ‘not meeting expectations.’

“I got hold of HR, which got the document dismissed. But I was forced to quit anyway, because superiors started coming in once a week and writing me up, for example, for a ‘dirty sink’ that had a few smudges.

“Doing more than 600 Rxs a day as well as immunizing, with no overlap coverage, and then they cut my tech grid weekly from 325 hours to 175, a 20% reduction every week. Unfair labor practices permeate this whole organization.”

If you have a story — good, bad, or in-between — that you want to share with your fellow pharms, or a solution to propose, send it to drugtopics@advanstar.com for inclusion in an upcoming article.

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Forfeiture Financial Specialist Supporting the DEA

Posted on November 5, 2017 by Pharmaciststeve

Forfeiture Financial Specialist Supporting the DEA

Company Name FSA Company Location Atlanta, GA, US

https://www.linkedin.com/jobs/view/forfeiture-financial-specialist-supporting-the-dea-at-fsa-501090882/

Job description

FSA, a rapidly growing professional services company delivering highly qualified personnel in support of the government’s mission, has an anticipated vacancy for a Forfeiture Financial Specialist.A Forfeiture Financial Specialist Executes The Following DutiesMonitors and analyzes the financial operations of assigned districts.Assists Districts By Providing

  • guidance relative to complex financial assets;
  • (2) support for preparation of annual Asset Forfeiture Fund audit samples; and
  • (3) other support as required.

Identifies potential issues, performs technical and factual research, and recommends alternative solutions.

Provides support in conducting pre seizure analysis.

This includes, but is not limited to net equity analysis, developing “exit strategy”, preparation of recommendation to IAs and USAO, etc.
Submits monthly reports to headquarters documenting the financial status of districts within assigned region.Provides support by monitoring financial reports of businesses managed under seizure or forfeiture actions.
Forfeiture Support Associates (FSA), LLC is proud to be an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer.
We recruit, employ, train, compensate, and promote qualified persons in all job titles without regard to age, ancestry, color, gender, HIV status, marital status, medical condition, national origin, physical or mental disability, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation (including gender expression and identity), veteran status, family leave status or any protected group status as defined by applicable law.

Seniority Level

Entry level

Industry

  • Legal Services
  • Government Administration
  • Financial Services

Employment Type

Full-time

Job Functions

  • Finance
  • Sales
 Does this job description suggest that the DEA has a spread sheet(s) with estimated net worth of prescribers and/or others that they believe could be “targets” of civil asset forfeiture ?
Has anyone noticed that the vast majority/all of the prescribers whose offices are being raided and shut down, tend to be 50 + y/o.. suggesting that they have had time to accumulate a fairly “healthy net worth”.
After all prescribers keep pretty good documentation (paper trail) , are seldom armed or take to shooting at law enforcement when they raid a practice.  Unlike, street dealers and cartel members. After all most street dealers normally don’t have a lot of assets to be seized and the major cartel bosses are out of the country… and live in countries – like China – where they can’t be extradited ?
It would seem that the DEA can send in “bogus pts” into a practice to develop a case… where in the rest of the law enforcement world is called ENTRAPMENT… but.. with the DEA.. it is just “good policing” ?

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As the lawsuits pile up… damn few entities are left that have not been sued by SOMEONE

Posted on November 2, 2017 by Pharmaciststeve

Four cities file lawsuit against Joint Commission on Accreditation of Health Care Organizations

https://wvrecord.com/stories/511258712-four-cities-file-lawsuit-against-joint-commission-on-accreditation-of-health-care-organizations

CHARLESTON – Four West Virginia cities have filed a lawsuit against the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Health Care Organizations, alleging its misinformation of dangerous pain management standards encouraged the over-prescription of opioids in the state.

The JCAHO sets standards and certifies virtually every health care organization in the United States and West Virginia. Certification is viewed by health care organizations as critical to their continued operation, according to the Nov. 2 lawsuit filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia.

 

Charleston, Huntington, Ceredo and Kenova claim in 2001, JCAHO announced a new set of pain management standards.

In a campaign to explain the standards, JCAHO spread misinformation about the addictive nature of opioids, which included statements such as, “Some clinicians have inaccurate and exaggerated concerns about addiction, tolerance and risk of death. This attitude prevails despite the fact there is no evidence that addiction is a significant issue when persons are given opioids for pain control,” according to the suit.

An April 13, 2016, letter signed by 61 health care professionals informed JCAHO that “the pain management standards continue to encourage unnecessary, unhelpful and unsafe pain treatments that interfere with primary disease management,” and “foster dangerous pain control practices, the endpoint of which is often the inappropriate provision of opioids with disastrous adverse consequences for individuals, families and communities,” according to the suit.

According to Physicians for Responsible Opioid Prescribing (PROP), which built the coalition that sent the letter, JCAHO “responded defensively” and denied “any relationship between its pain management standards and opioid overprescribing.”

The lawsuit seeks class action status in part to enjoin JCAHO from enforcing its dangerous standards nationwide. It also seeks damages to remedy the impact of JCAHO’s continued promulgation and enforcement of the standards. The lawsuit is unique in its approach and is the product of ongoing, intensive research on how to stem the opioid epidemic plaguing West Virginia and the rest of the nation. 

Huntington Mayor Steve Williams believes that this is the next logical step in the city’s role as a nationwide leader in the fight against opioid addiction. 

“This lawsuit is a critical move toward eliminating the source of opioid addiction and holding one of the most culpable parties responsible,” Williams said. “For too long, JCAHO has operated in concert with opioid producers to establish pain management guidelines that feature the use of opioids virtually without restriction. The JCAHO standards are based on bad science, if they are based on any science at all.”

Williams said the cities need to take this opportunity to prevent a new generation of individuals from becoming addicted to opioids.

“At the same time, we need resources to help those who are suffering to recover and return to productive lives,” Williams said.

The plaintiffs are represented by special counsel Talcott Franklin P.C., The Webb Law Centre, PLLC, and City Attorney Scott Damron.

 

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ACLU of New Mexico: filed suit against the drug store chain..discriminating against women’s reproductive health needs

Posted on November 2, 2017 by Pharmaciststeve

Lawsuit filed after mom says pharmacist refused to fill daughter’s prescription

www.krqe.com/2017/11/02/lawsuit-filed-after-mom-says-pharmacist-refused-to-fill-daughters-prescription/

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – A lawsuit has now been filed against Walgreens after an Albuquerque mother says a pharmacist wouldn’t fill her teenage daughter’s prescription.

The mother says it happened at the Walgreens pharmacy on Coors and Montano. When the mom tried to pickup a drug used to prepare patients getting an IUD – a form of birth control – the pharmacist on duty denied her, citing personal reasons.

The ACLU of New Mexico and the Southwest Women’s Law Center have filed suit against the drug store chain saying as a business that serves the public, they are prohibited from discriminating against women related to their reproductive health needs.

They say the incident left the mother judged, disrespected and embarrassed.

Filed under: General Problems | 3 Comments »

stop me when you hear an excuse that you believe

Posted on November 2, 2017 by Pharmaciststeve

Her pharmacy of 5 yrs no longer will fill her oxycontin script. She is 80 yrs. Old and has been on oxycontin for 5 + yrs. She just can’t quit abruptly and we have been to so many pharmacies and turned away from every one with different reasons such as: “I don’t feel comfortable filling this prescription” ,  ” this pharmacy doesn’t fill for this docor”,  to ” if it were in stock , I would fill it. I called the doctor and I verified a great patient/doctor relationship, but I’m just a fill in , talk to the main pharmacist ” ,  which we did , and she just no she won’t do it and when I asked her to call my moms doctor,  she walked away from us. I asked her if she won’t atleast try to speak with my moms  doctor , she walked away and ignored us. . You are a avocate of pharmacist’s and patients . Please tell me what I do to help my mom. We live in the 91342 area  ,  california. If you know of any pharmacies that will fill her medication, please refer us to them . Thank you sir for your time

 

Who believes that they type of “professional behavior” has crossed the “unprofessional conduct line” ?

I have a retired pharmacist friend in CALF and who is on first name basis with the executive officer of the CA Board of Pharmacy…  He is a strong pt advocate … let’s see if I hear anything..  I am not holding my breath…

We have a serious – and growing – pharmacist surplus in this country. It is estimated that by 2025 there will be 50,000 Pharmacists looking for a job that doesn’t exists. If a chain pharmacy cares if their employed pharmacists are denying care to pts that are suffering with chronic conditions that require controlled medications… they would be firing them and hire someone who are really focused in caring for pts. The only pharmacists that I hear about getting fired are 50+ y/o and have maxed out their salary and weeks of vacation and other benefits and replaced by a “much younger version “

Here is a website that will help anyone find a independent pharmacy in their zip code   http://www.ncpanet.org/home/find-your-local-pharmacy  when you get tired of being “just a number” at the local chain pharmacy

Filed under: General Problems | 4 Comments »

Fibromyalgia and Lady Gaga: 5 things to know about the condition

Posted on November 2, 2017 by Pharmaciststeve

Fibromyalgia and Lady Gaga: 5 things to know about the condition

knowridge.com/2017/11/fibromyalgia-and-lady-gaga-5-things-to-know-about-the-condition/

In a new Netflix documentary, Lady Gaga will publicly share her struggle with fibromyalgia, leaving many fans and viewers asking: What exactly is it?

“Fibromyalgia is a chronic disorder of the brain that causes widespread pain throughout the body,” says Daniel Clauw, M.D., director of Michigan Medicine’s Chronic Pain and Fatigue Research Center.

“In fact, patients with fibromyalgia often have pain and disability that are worse than almost any other chronic pain condition.”

 

Fibromyalgia can develop at any time during a person’s life — and with no apparent triggers, he notes.

“We know more about this condition now than ever before, but we need to better understand the mechanisms of it to improve treatments,” Clauw says.

Complicating things for many fibromyalgia patients: Their peers and physicians may not even acknowledge the ailment.

Which is why the singer’s influence could help fight the stigma.

“I believe, given her fame and popularity, that she is getting better recognition and treatment for the condition,” Clauw says. “Many patients struggle to even find a doctor who will see them and take them seriously.

“Hopefully, the increased attention around Lady Gaga will bring more awareness to the condition.”

He spoke more about fibromyalgia and what patients need to know:

5 facts about fibromyalgia

It isn’t uncommon: Fibromyalgia affects 2 to 8 percent of the population.

“It sounds strange to say a range, but we don’t know the exact percentage of people affected by fibromyalgia because it depends on the diagnostic criteria physicians are using,” Clauw says. “And most people with the condition go undiagnosed.”

It varies by patient: “There isn’t one specific symptom that signifies this person has fibromyalgia,” Clauw says.

The most common indicator is widespread pain throughout the body, but he notes that other warning signs might include fatigue, sleeplessness and memory and mood problems.

It can impair quality of life: Most patients with fibromyalgia can carry on with normal activities, Clauw says. For some, though, the condition can ruin their lives.

Pain is widespread, so it can affect any or all parts of a person’s body at once — meaning not moving one body part to avoid pain is generally out of the question.

It can deceive others: People with fibromyalgia might struggle to voice their discomfort. “Unfortunately, those that don’t understand the condition or the pain often think the affected are making it up,” Clauw says.

“Even in the medical profession, we only started taking this condition seriously in terms of research in the past 30 years.”

It’s tough to treat: There are many drug and nondrug treatments that can help people with fibromyalgia, but none of them work in everyone.

Patients typically need to try several treatments. Still, notes Clauw, “we generally strongly recommend against these patients using opioids, which often worsen this type of pain.”

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