Brevard
County
Pharmacy Association Online Newsletter
January
2006
P.O.
Box 10054 Port St.John, Florida 32927 Tel:
VM 321-633-9579 www.brevardpharmacy.com
Officers:
Executive Committee:
President….…..…..Karen
Bills
Chairman…
Kas Ghayal
Member….Theresa Tolle
Secretary………….Jamie
Wilson
Member…. Kathy Petsos
Member…..Deborah Ledoux
Treasurer………….Jeff
Broxson
Member……Val Ingoldsby
Member…..Jim Dale
Program
Chair……Maggie Daly
Member……Chris Lent
Member……Mike Edwards
Newsletter……….Kim
Giacomelli, Jamie Wilson, and Scott Tomerlin
Continuing
Education
Dr
Robert Cohen will present Advances in Care for Alzheimer’s Patients on
either Feb. 19th or the 26th, sponsored by Pfizer.
Check for e-mail updates, check the website or call 321-633-9579
Please
continue to dress in a professional manner for our meetings and be courteous
and considerate of your colleagues, our sponsors, and our C.E. presenters by
saving personal conversations until after our program is over. Thanks!
In
This Issue
·
Pain: A Patient’s Perspective
·
Scott’s Political Notes- A new addition,
check it out!
Announcements
·
Newsletter will now be available on a
quarterly basis. Issues will be available in January, April, July, and
October. Important information will still be sent by e-mail as needed (PRN?!).
If you are not receiving a USPS edition and want a copy, then please contact
Kim or Jamie.
·
RENEWAL. Membership renewal is due every
June-July!
·
To keep informed of important and up to date
changes involving your profession visit the Florida Pharmacy Association
website at www.pharmview.com
or our own Brevard County Pharmacy Association website at www.brevardpharmacy.com
Laughter
is the best medicine
ACTUAL
MEDICAL CHART NOTES:
The patient was to have a bowel resection. However, he took
a job as a stockbroker instead.
Skin: somewhat pale but present.
The lab
test indicated abnormal lover function.
Pain:
A Patient’s Perspective
Pain
Management was addressed in the May 2005 issue. One goal of this article to
attempt to break the stigma associated with the use of pain medications.
Over 50% of people suffering from chronic pain do not receive
sufficient treatment. This is extremely frustrating for a patient.
The
following is a true story. I feel it is an important story, and even though
written by one person, I know many others who could have written very similar
thoughts. The person who wrote this story has no medical background, which is
the case for most of the patients whom we dispense pain medication. This
person also did not know I was a pharmacist when we first met. He is a very
upbeat and friendly person to be around. I was surprised to learn he had good
days and VERY bad days due to chronic pain. This person is also clearly not
interested in abusing medication. Many of us carry a stereotype of a
prescription drug abuser.
The
daily pain people experience and their frustration at finding pain medication
can certainly lead to depression and desperate behavior. The pharmacy
community must comprehend the barriers these patients experience in obtaining
pain medication. Read this article, and realize you have many patients
undergoing this similar tragedy.
I
am a 50 year old male with chronic back pain and this is my story.
I
moved to
Florida
from
Connecticut
in August 2004 because I was unable to climb stairs and deal with cold
temperatures due to an accident in 1997. For 20 years I had worked building
elevators in
New York City
. In 1997, while unloading a truck I blew out my back. The doctors told me
there was damage to L3-L4-L5, herniated discs, stenosis, and degenerative
discs. So things did not look good for my future.
Over
the course of 5 years I went through several different procedures and
medications that did not work including epidurals, trigger point injections,
physical therapy, and even acupuncture. During this time I continued to get
worse, I ended up walking with a severe stoop for over 12 months. We made the
decision to have a fusion, unfortunately it did not take (the surgeon said the
chance of success was 60/40, not great odds.) The pain was intolerable even
while taking Oxycontin; it only takes the edge off for 5-6 hours.
So
now I take Oxycontin 3 times a day plus hydrocodone when needed.
The
problem is that I need this medication to be able to get out of bed in the
morning and be able to function somewhat as a normal person.
Unfortunately it has been getting difficult to obtain my prescriptions.
Physicians I have dealt with in
Florida
are scared to write prescriptions for Oxycontin. What about people who really
need this medication but cannot get it!? I wish there was an alternative to
get pain relief, but everything I have tried has failed. Something is
definitely wrong with the system! My doctor writes my prescriptions
reluctantly and suggested I see a pain care center doctor, so that is what I
did much to my disgust.
I
took all my records to the visit and after a consultation the doctor wanted to
prescribe Neurontin. (If he had read my record he would have seen I already
was on this drug and obtained no relief. It did nothing for me; I do not have
nerve damage. The doctor was not willing to write for regular Oxycontin
prescriptions. He had another alternative involving other narcotics and an
invasive procedure. This was not a solution for my pain just another pain
medication. I was not interested in this procedure.
After
a long discussion with my wife we decided to forgo this option and stay with
the Oxycontin.
My
point to all this raving is the fear of not having a physician willing to
continue writing my prescription. Then what will I do? I have somewhat of a
life with my pain controlled. Without the Oxycontin I will be in agony and
unable to perform the smallest tasks. I am sure there are many others like me
who genuinely need this medication and are finding it hard to have their needs
understood.
I
know
Florida
has a problem with drug abusers, but think about the thousands of people who
depend on pain meds to get them through the day. I am not a drug addict or an
abuser. I am just in constant pain, so where do I go from here? I know taking
Oxycontin daily is not the best for my body but after looking down so many
avenues I find no other ways to relive my pain. If there was a miracle cure to
make me normal again and able to return to work I would be the first signed
up. Instead I have to worry for the rest of my life if the doctor is going to
take away my meds.
There
needs to be reform so doctors can feel free to write prescriptions for people
like me and not face scrutiny.
I
almost wish I had cancer because no one would question my need for pain
medication. But I have back pain and eyebrows are raised at my intentions.
Today’s technology has brought nothing except narcotics to treat chronic
pain. I just want to live a decent life…without worrying of I need to find a
drug dealer to supply the medication I so desperately need.
Signed,
Angry
and Frustrated.
Scott’s
Legislative Notes
By:
Scott Tomerlin
Winter
2005 issue
The
fall and winter of 2005 has been a series of triumphs and setbacks in the
legislative arena, both locally and nationally. With the passing of the
Medicaid Reconciliation Act of 2005 (S.B.
1932 and H.R. 4241) to the promising reintroduction of the
Florida
state immunization act (S.B. 570);
many of us have been left with mixed emotions. However, we must keep moving
forward as a profession because there are still many legislative issues on the
horizon that may shape our profession in the coming months. In this edition, I
will highlight some of the bills that are being discussed in the
Florida
State
legislature as well as in the U.S. Congress. Please contact your local
representatives to express your views. If you do not know who your local
legislative representatives are, you may visit this website:
http://capwiz.com/ncpa/home/
In
addition, I have included in this article several websites that you can use to
look up bills that have the chance to impact pharmacy practice on the state
and national level.
State
Legislative Updates and Websites:
*FPA
www.pharmview.com/
*A
great resource to keep in tab with state legislation in a newsletter produced
monthly is “Stat News”, produced by Michael Jackson, Executive Vice
President of the Florida Pharmacy Association. You may subscribe to this
listserv by contacting him by email at:
mjackson@pharmview.com
*
NCPA
http://capwiz.com/ncpa/home/
S.B.
570 is on the docket in the Florida Senate this year, granting pharmacists
the right to provide immunization services to their patients under
physician’s protocol. This bill has been introduced by Senator Mike Barnett.
In the past, the House of Representatives has blocked legislation relating to
immunization services provided by pharmacists. We must let our representatives
know that this could turn out to be a very crucial piece of legislation for
our state’s citizens. If passed, Pharmacists may be given the right to
assist in administering vaccines or other means of aid in the event that a
natural disaster or acts of bioterrorism were to occur.
The state of
Florida
is one of yet a handful of states that do not have a legislative act
permitting pharmacists to administer immunizations. Please support this
legislation and contact your state house and senate representatives to voice
your support.
S.B.838
is a bill that is being debated in the state legislature with relation to the
ongoing discussion of the state Medicaid budgetary crisis. This bill suggests
that Medicaid beneficiaries will be moved into privately held HMO groups for
the coverage of their health care needs. S.B.
2600 deals more intimately with Medicaid appropriations, and how the state
is going to control costs with the rising budgetary strains that are in place.
National
Legislative Updates and Websites:
United
States House of Representatives www.house.gov
United
States Senate
www.senate.gov
The
Library Of Congress
www.thomas.loc.gov
Find
Law.com
www.findlaw.com
Bills
Pending in the 109th Congress
S.
1932 and H.R. 4241 are the proposed amendments to the “Medicaid Budget
Reconciliation Act of 2005” that was passed the end of this past November.
They are being deferred to special conference committees, which have yet to be
appointed. At this point, it is still important to contact your
representatives to let them know why this bill is bad for pharmacy and what
they can do about it in the amendments that will surely follow.
H.R.
218 is a bill brought to the House floor by Florida U.S. Representative
Cliff Stearns that would allow a tax deduction in those claims that are not
reimbursed for drug costs and health insurance premiums. This bill has been
deferred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
H.R.
1671 The Community Pharmacy Fairness Act of 2005 has been gaining ongoing
support, with the new total of co-sponsors reaching 71 as of
12/11/05
. This bill will give community pharmacies the right to negotiate contracts
with PBMS on a level playing field with other larger pharmacy groups. This
bill is still being discussed in a house sub referral committee.
Don’t
Forget!! The FPA Pharmacist Health Fair at the State Capitol will be on Wed.
March 29 and Thurs. March 30. Don’t miss it!!
Warmest
regards and best wishes to all during this holiday season.
Scott
Tomerlin
4th
Year Pharmacy Student
Brevard
County
If
you are having problems receiving your newsletter by e-mail or mail please
contact Kim Giacomelli at kgiaco@earthlink.net
or 321-242-2996 or 321-508-2742 or Jamie Wilson at FLASUNLVR@aol.com
or 321-242-2996
Advertisements
pertaining to pharmacy will be run in this newsletter. Anyone interested can
contact Kim Giacomelli at kgiaco@earthlink.net
Application
for Membership in
Brevard
County
Pharmacy Association
Make
Check payable to Brevard County Pharmacy Association and send to P.O. Box
10054 Port St John, FL 32927
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