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GET
The Drug You Need |
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Over 90% of all medical appointments conclude with a diagnosis
and a prescription for drug therapy. Empowered patients
demand the best pharmaceutical products to treat their
illnesses. Do your homework. What are the most popular
medicines to treat your illness and which might be the
best for you. Discuss these concerns directly with your
doctor. Ask your doctor for a free 30 day supply to ensure
that the drug will work before you have pay for it. Don't
allow restrictive HMO drug formularies to keep you from
the best medicine. Ask you doctor to perform a Prior Authorization
Request (PAR) with the assigned HMO. Should this fail….you
will have to get involved. PRINT-OUT a copy of the
"Patients Are Powerful HMO Drug Request Sample Letter"…use
it as a guide to write your own. Be brief, compelling
and state your demand up front. Ensure you mention to
your HMO the fact that you have been effectively treated
on the request medication for 30 days and you do not want
to be FORCE SWITCHED to another. Some States have laws
protecting you from drug switches. Keep in mind that you
doctor is evaluated and may be compensated for his/her
use of approved formulary products. Also, some pharmacies
may gain commissions for their ability to conduct drug
switches, often based on HMO rebates. Don't allow these
switches to happen…..make sure you receive, at the
pharmacy, the drug you and your doctor have intended.
Quality pharmaceutical products save overall medical costs
through reducing the number of required office visits
and greatly reducing hospital stays. Empowered patients
win the pharmaceutical battle.
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