Pain, Politics and Patience.........

I don't have any awesome pictures this time, but, this post is more along the lines of a "political stand".

Paul Gileno, President/Founder US Pain Foundation, put me in touch with two individuals who arranged for me to meet with our Representative, Phil Miller to discuss with him the ramifications of "Step Therapy(also known as "Fail First") in order to help the passage of HB 1083 in Connecticut. HB 1083 is a bill which when passed will prohibit insurance companies from following the practice of "Step Therapy(Fail First)". In Step Therapy, an insurance company can require that a patient try and fail at one or more prescriptions before being allowed to finally take the prescription the doctor originally recommended. This practice is done so that the insurance companies can ultimately save money...... By doing this, people with pain are forced to try pain meds which don't work as well as the originally prescribed med. These meds often times have undesirable side effects as well as putting the patient at risk for further and increased pain and/or complications. While trying the prescriptions the insurance company approves of, the patient often experiences a worsening of symptoms which are more difficult to get under control when the patient is finally able to take the original prescription. The patients doctor knows their patient and what is best for any given condition. The insurance companies should not be allowed to take the doctors' place in prescribing necessary and beneficial treatment/medications. Every individual has a different story even when having similar illnesses. While everyone needs to be their own advocate when dealing with their health, the doctor is also an advocate when prescribing the medication they feel is appropriate for their patient.
The bottom line is that Step Therapy policies:
1. can result in increased health care costs.
2. contribute to the administrative burden in medical offices
3. often require patients to endure monetary, physical and psychological distress
4. may lead to the accumulation of unused medicines in home medicine cabinets

**** "Step therapy policies override a treatment decision between a health care provider and a patient. Even when a health care provider thinks the treatment may not work, these policies can unnecessarily force patients to: pay cost-sharing for the first steps of therapy and for additional medical visits; suffer physically because effective treatment is delayed; and, tolerate side effects from inadequate medicines."



If you're a Connecticut resident, I urge you to write and/or call your Representative or Senator and ask them to support "HB 1083" to put an end to unnecessary insurance practices.

**** From a letter written by Paul Gileno, President US Pain Foundation to
CT State Representatives