Read page 3… One of the data points that they are required to submit to TN’s PMP is
PATIENT IDENTIFIER – I guess that it doesn’t necessarily have to be a VALID IDENTIFIER… once again the bureaucrats are oblivious – or in denial – about forged ID’s.. If you don’t have VALID ID’s in a PMP… how much help can the PMP really be? Especially when you are trying to catch/stop those people who are TRUE DIVERTERS.. The people really responsible for getting legal drugs to the street. BUT that is the “bread and butter” reason that we spend 51 BILLION to fight this war on drugs.. so is it “business as usual” for law enforcement..
From the article:
But in the last two years, Tennessee cut in half the number of people able to doctor-shop for painkillers, Michael Warren, the Tennessee Department of Health’s director of maternal and child health, said during a talk in April in front of the White House’s top drug policy official, Michael Botticelli.
The staggering reduction got Botticelli’s attention.
“Wow,” he said, shaking his head. “Can you guys write this up?”
Botticelli, acting director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy, said the country would benefit by understanding how Tennessee made a difference.
So if you use the UP TO 5% of the population abusing controlled drugs (using for non-medical use) then if TN has cut the number in HALF of the people able to “doctor shop” .. how many legit chronic pain & mental health pts have been “thrown under the bus” ?
All the while Heroin use/abuse/deaths are spiking… I guess those people that sell Heroin don’t have a “paper trail” and report their sales to the PMP
Filed under: General Problems
I will admit that there have been days I have prayed not to wake up because of the pain. I then think of my 2 children and 4 grandchildren. But taking away the pain relief takes me away from them. Having to explain the DNR to my daughter was bad enough. So Tired of the pain but worse is the discrimination by all, the pharmacist that refusing to fill my legitimate prescription to the knowledge that I can’t even go to the ER for treatment. Tell me why a policeman would need my medication records for a year at any traffic stop? Why should I be penalized for going to a different pharmacy when mine refused to fill? Great idea’s by the governor of Tennessee. But be warned that this so called man is bragging that other states want to follow his plan. Blessings Pharmacist Steve for allowing the replies. You have proved to be honorable and honest.
Refreshing to read a post that does not run people with chronic pain into criminals. I am sorry that your compassion was not rewarded as it should have been. Absolutely shameful that a owner would/ could decide who to medicate. You are so correct about tolerance and chronic pain-most of us don’t get high, but do get some relief from the 24 hour unrelenting pain that keeps us from so many activities that one takes for granted.
Omgoodness I am sick over this. I wouldn’t commit suicide but I can now understand how ppl in chronic unrelieved pain could since I’m now in that group. I was forced to retire as an RN at age 52 because of my health. I cannot imagine daily life without my meds. You’re right in saying we’re dependent on them and certainly not abusing the only thing that let’s me have a semblance of a life.
In the famous words of Rahm Emanual ‘Never let a good crisis go to waste’ This administration has made it’s mission to create a crisis of anything it wants to to distract the voters from what it’s not doing…ruining this country. I’m coming to the conclusion…The DEA has lost the battle going after the cartels that are coming in the boarder states because this admin won’t thighten them. I agree there are problem docs who found easy money writing scripts for real druggies, but I believe over the years many of them have been taken out. The DEA needs to show they’re still needed so they’re out there strong arming and intimidating the innocent cause they can. If they want something to do they should be looking at the NFL if anyone saw the news of the lawsuit last month…now there’s some huge drug violations. Wasn’t JACHO that said pain must undertreated and called it the 5th vital sign? So we treated it and now we”re back to where we were before. I don’t consider chronic pain patients addicts…they are dependent…ADDICTION is the drug seeking behavior for non medical use…for the high. Chronic pain patients with adequate pain treatment act no different that someone who does not have chronic pain regardless of dose…they may get tired, but they dont get the eurphoric high. I used to work hospice. I look at a PMP and call the docs and get told yes it’s legit, I’m treating such and such and changed pain med. So I fill it. I’m not a doctor, I’m not a cop. I document. What else do they want me to do. I filled the order for a legit medical reason as I was told. And yet I’m the one that gets my career shafted and threatened by bosses and DEA for following my professional practice act. BTW I have turned in names of bad docs, pill mills and bad patients and NOTHING was done other than the docs found out I turned them in and I get and earful from the owner about NOT doing that ever again. (it would be a long email steve of my experience on that…and it was more than once)
I believe your interpretation to be correct. I have read this policy twice. No need for tranquilizers or sleeping aids? Only the terminal or cancer patients need pain care? What about the surgical or dental patients? What about the people with chronic painful diseases that take their medication correctly? Read one person saying she was thinking suicide was her last choice in Florida because her prescriptions would not be filled. A disabled grandmother trying to care for two young school age children that suffered with each step ? Count the other deaths and study those also. Some may be worth investigation. Why force preventable suffering and DEA harassment on patients, doctors and pharmacies that are following laws that are outrageous and discriminatory. Statistics don’t always tell the truth and are easily manipulated as seen here. People with chronic pain are not going to sell medication or loss their chance to get some relief. How many suicides were diagnosed and untreated with chronic pain? I know that I will not suffer any worse. Punishment for being disabled and I’ll sure seems like discrimination to me ? DEA has decided to make a example and forgets that they could be relieved from duty. Saving money – put a price on daily suffering and lawsuits from discrimination.