Contact your elected state officials about pharmacy prior authorizations
Pharmacy prior authorizations are making ever-greater demands on physician offices and are consuming an increasing share of doctors’ time. I simply ask that you write to your Governor, your State Senator, and your State Assembly Person. (Insurance is regulated by the state.)
You may copy and paste the following letter and send it electronically to each of your elected state officials. For NJ residents, use this link and paste the letter, modifying it as you wish:
For people in other states, an internet search will provide your elected state officials.
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Dear Governor:
Dear State Senator:
Dear Assembly Person:
I am urging legislation that will reform pharmacy prior authorization demands by health insurance companies, a critically important patient protection, to ensure that psychiatrists, other physicians and health care professionals can prescribe the medications they believe are the most appropriate and efficacious for their patient’s condition. This is especially important at a time when we need to reduce avoidable hospitalizations – a strong component of which is ensuring that patient receive the medications they need.
Currently, psychiatrists are spending nearly a fifth of their time on prior authorizations, time their patients need in order to remain healthy and out of the hospital. Among other things, legislation should remove the requirement that a prescriber “demonstrate” that a medication is medically necessary and warranted – a process that health insurance companies have used to demand endless evidence and documentation. Furthermore, these demands vary among the more than two dozen health insurance companies who each have their own formularies.
Continuity in prescribing psychiatric medication is especially important as different patients with the same diagnosis respond differently to the same medication. There is no one-size-fits-all in psychiatric practice. it takes time to find the most effective medication and dose for any given patient.
As such, I urge you to support legislation that allows doctors to treat patients.
I very much admire Stephen Tonti for his ability to find stimulating creative outlets for his brilliant talents. However, as a child & adult psychiatrist, I have evaluated and treated hundreds of children and adults with ADHD. Many, many people with this condition do have a disorder. ADHD is a disorder if it causes significant distress or impairment. And many people with ADHD cannot focus on tasks that require sustained attention. Some function at a very high level. But they may be able to focus only if the activity is stimulating to them. Much in life is not stimulating, e.g., doing taxes, waiting at traffic lights, and doing tasks that are not stimulating. While Stephen’s energy and spontaneity may, indeed, help him as it does help some of my own patients, he is doing a disservice to those millions who do suffer from ADHD and to others who do not know what it is like to have it as impairment. I do believe ADHD is a gift for some, but it is a curse for many.
Dr. Edward (Ned) Hallowell is a practicing psychiatrist who has ADHD. He has written some very good books on the subject. Here he addresses Dr. Richard Saul’s new book titled ADHD Does Not Exist. Click below:
I have lots of information on ADHD in children and in adults. These include videos on High-functioning Adults with ADHD, ADD vs ADHD, and Non-medication Management of ADHD. I also have information on distinguishing ADHD from bipolar and other disruptive behavior disorders. In addition, I present what I think is a useful and unique way of understanding ADHD – the search for stimulation. Click http://www.youtube.com/user/LinetADHD
PETER PALEY’S MOTHER has been dreading the parent-teacher conference. She has been getting phone calls about Peter’s disruptive and distracting classroom antics. After the usual pleasantries and a review of Peter’s behavior, Peter’s teacher says, “I’m not a doctor, but Peter’s ADHD really should be evaluated.” In the car heading home, she struggles with the possibility of placing Peter on medicine. She is unsure what she will do and does not know how to approach the problem.
leslinetmd 