When healthcare providers end up really being healthcare deniers

I got the email below on Jan 1, 2024.  This pt’s story is not a unique issue. Another example of bureaucrats and politicians attempting to “solve” our fabricated opioid crisis by creating a “one size fits all” on pain management.

After having this blog for 12-13 yrs, I have developed a fairly sizeable network of chronic pain pts, chronic pain advocates, and numerous healthcare practitioners.  I shared this woman’s email with a couple of select people that I believed might be able to STEP UP. And one did:

When a pt’s long term medical records mean nothing when seeing a new practitioner

When everything seemed to start to fall into place for this young lady. This young lady’s pharmacist and the mid-level practitioner who was forcing her to reduce her pain meds had to step in to make sure that things were not going to change the way that this mid-level practitioner wanted things to happen. Here is a video this young lady sent that she personally explains what has happened.

Hi Steve,

I have sent you my story before. I am a single disabled palliative care sick patient in Maine. In September of 2021, my doctor and I were targeted by the assistant attorney general, Michael Miller. We think it was for 2 reasons-he was very effective at getting patients disability, testings, procedures, equipment, etc and because I require a high dose of opiates to physically and mentally function. Dr. Lommler believes Michael Miller made a deal with the insurance companies and profited somehow for taking him out. Michael Miller used at least 2 agencies to target, harass, and destroy us. They suspended Dr. Lommler’s license for going over the 100 MME limit on my prescription. However, Maine has a palliative care exemption that allows people (like me) to have access to opiates for pain control and disease treatment options. It also allows us to go over the 100 MME limit. They refused to lift the suspension unless he transferred to a “board approved” facility. He chose to retire because he wanted to stay at his independent office with his 200 complicated and unique patients. They gave neither one of us any due-process! They used backdoor methods and I believe they were illegal! There was a covering LNP seeing me for a year. We tried to find a doctor everywhere in Maine to see me but because of the Opiate Task Force and doctors getting red-flagged for going over the 100 MME limit and being dragged in front of the board, no one would see me. I was forced to transition to the hospital where all of my specialists are. You see, Maine and New Hampshire were the 2 states prescribing the most Opiates so they created a New England Opiate Task Force and sent them to work with the Governor Mill’s administration to red-flag doctors prescribing over the 100 MME limit and drag them in front of the board of medicine! They have forced independent providers to either retire or transfer to a “board approved” facility. These “board approved” facilities all have anti-opiate one-size-fits-all policies. The hospital that I am at has an anti-opiate provider masquerading as a “pain specialist.” She believes Opiates are life threatening and dangerous to everyone. She is force tapering me off all my pain medication! I am complicated and unique-I have multiple health conditions. I had an original medical nightmare that left me with life altering physical deformities and severe debilitating pain. I have Crohn’s disease, vitamin and bone deficiencies, and neuropathy-all of these cause malabsorption so I have to take double doses of all of my medication! I cannot have the conventional pain management treatments because I am allergic to everything and sensitive to anything and I have a prosthetic heart valve. I have Scoliosis and severe Osteoporosis with dangerously low Scores. I am 46 in an 86 year old’s body.
They are stereotyping anyone on opiates as addicts and forcing them off pain medication. The only option they give you is Suboxone-I cannot take this because the side effects would be catastrophic to my body. I had nothing but recovery and progress with my 8 1/2 year stable pain regimen. I was able to semi function independently with a decent quality of life. Since this provider has been force tapering me, I can no longer function independently at all and I have zero quality of life! According to Maine’s own definition and standards, what this facility and provider are doing to me is disability abuse! I tried to contact patient services for an advocate but was told there wasn’t one. The woman I spoke with for 2 minutes, asked me what my concerns were. I explained to her what was happening to me. 2 days later I received a letter stating my concerns were forwarded to the Medical Director and Operations Manager and they agree with the provider force tapering me. They also said there was no medical justification for my pain medication. I filed a public accommodation discrimination complaint with the Maine’s Human Rights Commission but haven’t heard a word since intake months ago! The letter gave an 800 number to call if you disagreed with their decision. It was the board of licensure telling you to submit a complaint. I already filed a complaint with the board of medicine and nurses months ago. So, you have to go to the same people that are red-flagging and harassing doctors going over the 100 MME limit. I won’t hold my breath! These are the same people that asked Dr. Lommler how he didn’t know that I was taking half of my pain medication and selling the other half! Dr. Lommler provided them with 7 1/2 years worth of passed urine screens and passed frequent random pill counts! I wasn’t even allowed to attend or participate into the investigation into my opiate use-I could’ve answered that question myself-I have never misused my pain medication! In fact, I did everything that I was supposed to do! How in the world can I trust they will help me!
Since this provider has been forcing me off my pain medication, I have had sky high blood pressures-202/129, severe bloody noses, I have been discharged from aquatic therapy-which I needed to get into my Crow Walker boot, I am completely dependent on my sons, I have had to quit tutoring for supplemental income, I can no longer walk on my crutches so I am trapped in my wheelchair, and I cannot mentally or physically function! My counselor and former providers have tried talking with this provider but she refuses to listen because she knows best. I had to spend my Christmas in the ER and I am now watching my right leg and foot do exactly what my left leg and foot did in my original medical nightmare. When my body is in severe stress, my multiple conditions play off of one another and wreak havoc on my body. Last time, the severe stress was an allergic reaction to hardware (we didn’t know why at the time, it took years to figure it out). This time, it is force tapering my pain medication! This time, it’s the providers choice to force taper me because of her personal feelings about a medication! Medical providers are supposed to do what is in the best interest of the patient, not what is in the best interest of their personal feelings! I have cellulitis in my right leg and foot with ulcers everywhere! I maintain my left leg and foot with Cuban for compression. I tried to wrap my right leg and foot but it’s not used to being wrapped, and I get continuous Charley Horses. They are intolerable with all of my pain medication being taken away! I have severe PTSD and zero trust in doctors from my original medical nightmare! I never ever wanted to go back to that sick person trapped in a wheelchair, I thought I left it behind for ever! This time, I don’t have a heart valve to lose! I am petrified and profoundly devastated because I worked so hard for 8 1/2 years to recover and progress and now that has been destroyed! I see people helping doctors that have been arrested but what about people, like me, who have been targeted, harassed, discriminated against, and literally going through disability abuse-who tells our story and helps us?
My counselor gave me a brochure for adult protective services and she told me to call because what they are doing to me is discrimination and disability abuse. I called and the lady said there is no process for this situation. She told me that it does qualify but the only thing I can do is file a complaint with the board of medicine and nurses because they are the only entities that have authority and jurisdiction over medical providers. I told her that I already filed complaints but it will take months because they only meet one day a month! I told her my body won’t make it that long and I asked her, “what if I die in the meantime?” She said, “let’s hope it doesn’t come to that but good luck!” WHAT? It’s like a nightmare that I cannot wake up from! I have contacted every politician in Maine and asked for their help. Crickets…I requested assistance from Governor Mills but she doesn’t even think she has to answer to her constituents. I have reached out to every volunteer lawyer’s projects and disability rights groups but they all claim no to have the resources to help me. I have documented, taken pictures, recorded videos, screenshot messages from my portal between her and I, audio recorded my video appointments exposing her discrimination and disability abuse! I cannot find an attorney in Maine to help me. This provider only saw me one time in person! She never looked at any areas causing my pain, she’s not monitoring my vitals or everything that is happening to me, she doesn’t even have the correct MRI’s-she’s going by a 2008 one when I was a normal person and could walk on my own, and she’s retaliating against me for filing a complaint! I need help and I don’t know where or who to go to! I even have an appointment with cancer care, January 23rd. I have MGUS and the blood work markers and symptoms all point to it turning into Multiple Myeloma. I asked her to please pause the force taper until I can get into my appointment. She said, “Oxycodone will not cure Multiple Myeloma so the force taper will continue!” How cruel is that!
I was hoping that you may have some direction or advice to help me. If I knew how to file a civil lawsuit against the hospital and provider, I would do it myself. Since September of 2021, I have had to be my own advocate, case manager, and attorney!
I already missed about 6 years of my sons’ lives because of my original medical nightmare! I can do no physical activity without my pain medication! I really don’t think my body will make it through this force taper! Opiates are literally life saving for me! They knew that I wouldn’t be able to find another doctor to see me and Michael Miller and the board of medicine took 2 doctors from me! The provider force tapering me filed a complaint against the LNP that saw me for a year. In it, she said that she felt compelled because Kaye endangered my life by prescribing these life threatening and dangerous medications. She also accused me of bribing Kaye in her complaint. That is ludicrous-I have never bribed anyone! Kaye made it very clear in her response that no one forced or bribed her. She also made it clear that I was the only patient she ever prescribed narcotics for in her entire medical career! I have been accused of selling half of my pain medication and bribing doctors! I am a law abiding Mainer and American just trying to live my life!
Thank you for taking your time to read my email. You can reach me any time at xxx.xxx.xxxx

most societies/communities have 1 or more agitators, disruptors, false prophets, scammers, traitors, saboteurs and cult leaders

Some believe our country is on the verge of a Civil War, they may be right, but it won’t be a bilateral war like our last Civil War..  Our society has voluntarily divided itself in – for lack of a better description – TRIBES.

The chronic pain community is not all that different from our country of as a whole.

Recently a fellow chronic pain pt who had been advocating for end stage pediatric pts in a large hospital system that has a “no opiate” policy.  All of a sudden the advocated was told that he was no longer permitted to advocate for these end of life pediatric cancer pts.  I suppose that this major hospital system will return to treating these pediatric pts with NSAIDS and Acetaminophen and let them live the rest of their lives in a torturous level of pain.

There are rumors as to who said what and to whom… I am not going to elaborate. However, they know who they are and what was said to cause this to happen.  One can only imagine the deprived mental status of those who have been involved in this.

Some have told me that this tribe of malcontents have monetized chronic pain pts’- personal information  and several other covert processes. I started my blog in 2012 and have tried to motivate and educate chronic pain pts in some ways that they can navigate their way to getting their pain management back.  Some chronic painers have told me that I should charge for my advice.  My Pharmacy degree, license and career has provided for Barb and myself a comfortable retirement.

After this issue with these end of life pediatric pts,  Going forward… I am going to ASK of people that want my advice to make a contribution to one of the four national charities listed below, these are all about THE KIDS… and charities we support.  Maybe in some small way, my advice can help more than just one person/family. 

 

https://www.stjude.org/ St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital – deals with kids dealing with cancer and/or life threatening health issues

https://lovetotherescue.org/ Shriners Hospital – deals with kids, born with “broken bodies” and birth defects

https://rmhc-kentuckiana.org/ Ronald Mc Donald House – this is near us and just a few blocks from a very large regional pediatric hospital ,3 other major hospitals within blocks, one being a teaching hospital and having the only LEVEL ONE TRAUMA CENTERS for 100 miles and part of a medical university and  helps provide housing for families with kids in the hospital

https://t2t.org/ Tunnel to Towers Foundation – helps get handicapable housing for veterans, first responders with “broken bodies” , families with spouse/parent killed in the line of duty and Gold Star Families

 

 

HOW AND WHY CONGRESS HAS FAILED IN THEIR MISSION OF OVERSIGHT IN THE ILLEGAL ACTIVITIES OF DEA AND PROSECUTORS!!!!

CHIEF JUSTICE ROBERTS

FAILING TO GIVE OVERSIGHT OF KANGAROOS DRESS IN JUDGES ROBES

MARK IBPSEN,MD

 

THE REAL CAUSE OF AMERICA’S SO-CALLED OPIOID CRISIS (UPDATE) THE DEA’s PILLS FOR PUS_Y PROGRAM A CONGRESSIONAL FAILURE OF OVERSIGHT (Part-2 )

CONTRADICTING THE EVILS OF CDC, DOJ-DEA: THE TRUTH ON EFFECTIVE PAIN CARE OPIOID TREATMENT

PAIN ADVOCATE BOB SHEERIN

RICHARD LAWHERN PH.D CHAD KOLLAS, MD, et al., “THE TRUTH ABOUT EFFECTIVE PAIN CARE OPIOID TREATMENT, DIRECTLY CONTRADICTS LIES AND DISTORTION OF CDC, DOJ, DEA

Profits over pt’s safety – the new healthcare system

 

In America, covered medications on the list of covered drugs and drug prices are so deceptive that they we are losing so many beajtiful people. Another life is lost for the profits of a billion dollar industry. It’ll only get worse as too many remain silent.

 

When agendas can smother the FACTS regardless of who gets harmed

 

A recent study aiming to find factors that increase risk of opioid overdose in chronic pain patients instead found that overdose is vanishingly rare, despite the researcher’s best efforts to obscure the truth. This recent Systemic Review and meta-analysis of almost 24 million patients set out to find what risk factors lead to opioid overdose in chronic pain patients. The results were not what the authors expected, with the data showing that while there were factors that increased the risk of overdose, the ABSOLUTE risk of overdose in chronic pain patients was less than 1%. That’s right. Less than 1% We covered another recent study which showed that addiction is also vanishingly rare. So the question begs to be asked – WHY are chronic pain patients being force tapered off their safe and effective long-term opioid therapy? This is a ground-breaking study, but not for the reasons the researchers hoped. They cherry-picked the data and selectively reported to hide the facts – that overdose is incredibly rare in chronic pain patients. Here’s link to the study – Predictors of fatal and nonfatal overdose after prescription of opioids for chronic pain: a systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies Take note of the authors, they include David N. Juurlink and Jason W. Busse. If you found this information valuable, please consider giving the video a thumbs up, subscribing for more content, and sharing it with your network. Your support helps us continue to bring you high-quality, evidence-based research and STOP the FORCED TAPERS and undertreatment of chronic pain.

Ground Hog version of the SOTU address

Time to reflect on where we have been and where we are going

It seems like over the last few months several supporters and or support groups for the chronic pain community have been going through a metamorphosis.  There also seem to be a lot fewer chronic painers that are even “active” within the community.  There seems to be less unity and interest in going in one direction toward a solution. Everyone has their own ideas and heads off in their own directions.

I started this blog about 12-13 yrs ago. The other day, I was searching for a blog post that I had recently made, in searching for the blog posts Word Press came up with numerous posts and I realized that the subject I was looking for, the search brought up not only a recent post but multiple blog posts where I had written a post on the same subject every 1-2 yrs going back to the beginning of my blog.

All of a sudden, I got the impression that I had been traveling in a virtual circle. Either my advice was useless/ineffective and/or the pt lacked the Chutzpah to try and advocate for themselves.

The community may have passed the point of no return. The effects of the agreement with the 41 state AGs, the three largest drug wholesalers, and the three largest chain pharmacies have yet to reach full traction.  President Biden’s for lower Rx prices, the segment of the industry he overlooks is the Insurance/PBM industry which is probably the biggest reason for high Rx prices. Of course, since the Insurance/PBM industry has one of the largest pots of money to lobby Congress.  But the PBM industry seems to be prepared for “taking a financial hit”.  It seems that they have changed their reimbursement rates to especially independent pharmacies. I shared this post a few days ago Cash crunch pushes independents to the brink, data shows PBMs the cause

In a recent survey of independents, 30% expect to close their doors this year, that could be as many as 5,000 independent pharmacies no longer around.  Rite Aid is in bankruptcy and closed some 600 stores and what is going to happen to the remaining 1500 is up in the air. Both Walgreens and CVS are planning on closing 200-300 stores each for the next few years. These chains are closing stores – NOT BECAUSE they are NOT PROFITABLE, but because they are not making ENOUGH PROFIT. Many of these stores are in rural areas and as they run the independents out of business and decide to close their stores because they are not making as much profit as they would like, many pts will find themselves in a “pharmacy desert”. The closest pharmacy could be 25-30 miles away.

Please follow this FB page https://www.facebook.com/groups/2117694318443765/user/100042730215813 Loretta Boesing is fighting against mail-order pharmacies and their lack of concern about mailing meds without much concern for keeping the meds within the recommended storage temperature per the FDA, USP and NF. This is the path that the Insurance/PBM industry is leading us down. As “pharmacy deserts” evolve pts in those areas will start getting mass communications from their PBM encouraging them to get their Rxs filled “conveniently ” via THEIR MAIL ORDER PHARMACY.

I am no longer going to share hyperlinks to other FB pages that are not mine.  Anyone who wishes to share my blog posts on other FB pages there are links at the bottom of this post. I am a little tired of others telling me that some of post are POLITICAL and then listen to them tell people to contact their representative in Congress. Then listen to them bitch because they didn’t get a response or the response they got had nothing to do with what they can contacted their member of Congress about.

 

 

 

If you repeat a lie often enough

THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT’s “WAR ON DOCTORS LEGALLY PRESCRIBING NARCOTIC MEDICATIONS CONFIRMING THE MEDICAL SCHOOL TO PRISON PIPELINE: THE TULSAFICATION OF DR. SANJAY KUMAR, MD

DR. SANJAY KUMAR. MD

SUPREME COURT OF THE UNITED STATES CHIEF JUSTICE JOHN ROBERTS

It is not the purview of the DOJ/US Attorneys’ office or the duty of the DEA/rogue law enforcement to imprison offending doctors apropos their prescription writing privileges.

A kangaroo court may ignore due process and come to a predetermined conclusion. Wikipedia

A REQUIEM FOR DR. SANJAY KUMAR, MD: CONFIRMING THE MEDICAL SCHOOL TO FEDERAL PRISON PIPELINE: “PUTTING THAT MUSLIM TERRORIST IN PRISON,” “DEA-THE TOWER OF BABEL AND WRONGDOING” -PART-2

Do we really want the Feds to dictate what companies should charge for their products?

At the bottom of this post is a graphic that outlines where the dollars you pay for your medications go. The entities that get the largest chunk of the money, are the ones that have no R&D costs, no inventory costs, and no delivery/distribution costs. They pay the pharmacy $10 for an Rx, then demand a discount/rebate/kickback from the pharma so that their meds are on the PBM’s approved formulary and do not require prior authorization.  Then charge the insurance many times what they paid the pharmacy for the medication.  If you notice in this article, the PBM industry is not part of the cost-savings. Of course, the 5 major PBM’s are owned by major insurance companies.  Back in the day, when there were no PBMs, there were virtually no generics, there was no shortage of medications, there were no prior authorizations, and the average Rx’s price was $4 -$5 each. If nothing had changed, maybe the average Rx price would be $40-$50 each, but with the percentage of generics we now use, maybe the average Rx price would be in the $20-$30 range. If this administration does not see price savings from the PBM industry, collectively we may experience fewer new/improved medications coming to market. No one else does Research and Development (R&D) for new meds, and no one else markets these new meds to doctors.  Maybe that is what the Feds want, lowering the life expectancy so that fewer dollars will be paid out by SS and Medicare.  When SS was first started > 50% of people did not live to 65 y/o and when Medicare was started in 1965, was just as the Baby Boomers were graduating from high school, and I suspect that the federal bureaucrats looked at the then largest population was going into the workforce and the youngest Baby Boomer was just being born in 1964

When I was born, my life expectancy was 65 y/o, now that I have passed that age, my life expectancy is in the low to mid-80s. How much did the pharma industry contribute to that fact?

All drugmakers send in counteroffers in Medicare price negotiations

https://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/4506575-all-drugmakers-send-in-counteroffers-in-medicare-price-negotiations/

All of the manufacturers whose drugs were chosen for the federal government’s Medicare price negotiation program have sent back counteroffers for what they consider to be a maximum fair price, the White House said Monday.

President Biden confirmed in a statement Monday that all companies are continuing to engage in the negotiation process, despite the host of legal battles to block the program.

On Feb. 1, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) sent out initial offers of a maximum fair price for the first 10 drugs chosen for Medicare negotiations. These include medications of Eliquis, Jardiance, Xarelto, Januvia and Farxiga. Drugmakers had until March 2 to send back counteroffers.

“Today, my Administration is announcing that manufacturers for all ten selected drugs will continue to participate in drug price negotiations, as all manufacturers have submitted counteroffers,” Biden said Monday. “This is an important milestone in our fight to give seniors the best possible deal on their prescription drugs and in lowering health care costs for all families.”

“And it comes in the face of attacks from Big Pharma in the courts and from Republicans in Congress who continue to try to repeal the Inflation Reduction Act which would keep seniors on Medicare from benefitting from these lower-cost drugs,” he added.

Biden indicated he would have more to say on this issue in his State of the Union address Thursday.

Talks are expected to go through Aug. 1, when negotiations officially end, per CMS guidance. The maximum fair prices are scheduled to be published Sept. 1 and are set to go into effect at the start of 2026.

The pharmaceutical industry is engaged in a legal battle with the federal government to block the Medicare negotiation; drugmakers and trade groups have filed numerous lawsuits alleging the program violates federal law and is unconstitutional.

Since the start of the year, two of those lawsuits have gone in favor of the federal government, with one suit filed by the trade group PhRMA being dismissed last month and a federal judge issuing summary judgment last week in favor of Medicare negotiation in a case brought by AstraZeneca.

What should you vote for

Should “we” vote for a candidate on a single issue that the politician’s position agrees with your personal opinion

Should “we” believe what a politician claims they will do or not do?

Let’s face it, we have two political parties, and it appears that those two political parties have “rigged” the system so that it is nearly impossible for a new political party to get their “foot in the door”

Should “we” start by looking at the “planks” in each party’s political platforms?

I will focus this post on looking at those in the chronic pain community.

Over the last decade, decisions by politicians and certain state/federal agencies have had adverse effects on the QOL and even life itself of many within the community.

What is their position on treating chronic pain?  Strong support for some MME/day limit? Strong support for treatment only using BUPE or NSAIDs or Acetaminophen?  Do they have someone in the family or friend that has addiction problems or has OD’d?

There are ten states with “death with dignity” laws on the books and several other states are considering such laws

What is their position on treating addicts, putting them in jail, decriminalizing all drugs, or putting them on Bupe or Methadone with no limits

What is their position in dealing with drug dealers? Just leave them alone or charge them with murder for people dying from the illegal substances they are selling

What is their position on the execution (capital punishment) of people convicted of murder?

What is their position on abortion?  Strongly pro-life with little/no exceptions for medically necessary abortion? Abortions within limited days into gestation? Strongly pro-abortion, even up to and including the day of delivery.

All these questions have to do with the politician’s view of the importance of life itself. If a politician has a family/friend who ODd from opioids and supports reducing the availability of Rx opioids to pts with a valid medical necessity, but has little/no concern about street dealers selling illegal drugs that is the primary cause of OD’s

“We” may find that the majority of politicians personally have very mixed ideas about the “value of life”