Posted by paxvox on May 17, 2002, at 21:58:52
So, today I get a letter from the Federal Blue Cross B/S health benefit plan. Seems that "in the patient's best interests, and to comply with the FDA" they are going to regulate meds prescribed for insomnia. Insomnia,they say, is usually only to be treated for 7-10 days according to the FDA and the drug companies literature (PDR). So, starting in July, my doc can only prescribe me one 30 day supply per year. This, for me, is Ambien. But the other meds listed are: Dalmane, Halcion, Prosom, Restoril and Sonata. Of course, if my doctor has "determined that additional therapy is appropriate for me" he may "request additional medication" by calling BCBS to explain WHY I need the meds. So, now they are brow-beating my doc into complying with their guidelines, or else "branding" him as a drug pushing evil doctor not concerned about my "safe and appropriate utilization" of these controlled insomnia meds. Well excuse the hell out of me, but has it come to this where it's easier to go out to a street corner and buy drugs than to get my doctor to legitimately and legally prescribe the meds he thinks I need? This is really a bunch of crap! Sure, the "normal" person with occasional sleep problems might have no problems with a 7-10 day supply of meds. But what about those of us with severe chemical imbalances that are treated by AD meds like Wellbutrin, that can exacerbate sleep disorders? Am I to have to quit my AD meds because I need Ambien to help counter some of WB's side effects? Are they going to target benzos next? Gee, maybe I'm taking too much aspirin too? Why is it I can go buy enough liquor to put me into a coma, but I can't get the legitimate insomnia meds I need? This is really just too much for me to deal with, I am so pissed off at the greed of these companied. And THAT is the bottom line, money. They don't give a rip about my best interests medically. So, if any of you have Federal BCBS, be on the lookout for YOUR letter if you are taking the above mentioned meds.
PAX
poster:paxvox
thread:23999
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/social/20020517/msgs/23999.html