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Pepin’s Pharmaceutical
Prattle
for 01-09-2006
Quote of the day:
The
hardest thing in the world to understand is the income tax.
Shred I really don’t know how seniors do it. I spent 2 hours on Sunday matching dental bills with insurance EOB (explanation of benefits.) records. I did find $260 where the wrong insurance company was billed and rightly rejected. I will be starting on the medical stuff after dinner. Then I work on taxes (Federal and state) as well as the FAFSA. By the time April 15th rolls around I’ll probably need a new paper shredder (my nerves are already there). January is the time of year that benefits plans change. What can be done better for 2006? 1. Make a copy of your new insurance cards for every member of the family to take with them to the provider. 2. Enter all appointments on your calendar and save it. 3. Keep one file folder for EOBs , one for bills, and one for those that match. (at least that is my plan for 2006). The following is a site that talks about which records to keep and for how long. http://www.bankrate.com/brm/news/mtg/20000518h.asp With the changes I am making, I optimistically look forward to next year and my new shredder. =================================================== ps. Best answer this week to the question "How are you?" was "Most excellent!" A "Bill and Ted" fan.
pps. Occasionally, some of the links require FREE registration.... I'm sure you can handle THAT slight inconvenience.
==================================================== 1) Free generic drugs out of vending machines? MedVantx has developed and installed machines in physicians' offices that dispense generic drugs. The theory is that patients will stay on cheaper generic drugs once started instead of continuing higher priced brand drugs sampled at the doctors' office. Health plans are betting with real money… and winning (they pay for the generic drugs and avoid the expense of the brand drugs). https://www.bcbsri.com/BCBSRIWeb/about/newsroom/news_releases/2005/MedvantxGenericDelivery.jsp 2) It's 10PM… do you know where your Viagra is? Pfizer adding Radio Frequency Identity (RFID) tags in containers of Viagra to assure authenticity and twart counterfeiters. I just wonder how long it will take to counterfeit the RFIDS. ps. In the 1950's the evening news would often start with the phrase "It's 10PM… do you know where your children are?". 3) Triptan to OTC in German on April Fool's day Naratriptan (known as Amerge in the USA) will become available over-the counter in Germany. Some types of migraines are a contraindication to the use of triptans so it will be interesting to see if the use will be safe enough. While this type of action may seem to be in the interest of consumers, the big winner is the government which does not pay for OTC drugs. Expect the same push in the US as Uncle Sam evaluates how much "he" could save. http://www.chpa-info.org/web/newsletter/archive/2005/12_23_05_XNL.html#9 4) Wow.. THAT was fast! FDA to meet and discuss movement of Xenical to OTC status in the USA. Motives and intentions may be better because Xenical is already excluded from most drug plans… including Medicare Part-D. I'm a little worried about teenagers abusing this weight loss drug but the committee will sort it all out. Thinking about moving or refinancing? Call the Assistant Vice President of Affinity Mortgage Maria (Pepin) Sifuentes at 1-800-322-4025 Extn 724 msifuentes@affinity-mortgage.com
Mention “the Prattle” and get $300 off your closing costs. 5) Bird Flu Health and Human Services is urging citizens to stockpile supplies and keep children clean. Sanitation and reverse isolation are likely to do more than stockpiling Tamiflu. Having food, water, and OTC medicines will keep people apart and help check the coming pandemic. Expect to see more small bottles of "hand sanitizer" in use as the "bug" gets closer. 6) German Guck Generates Greater Grandpa Nosatocarboline found in bacteria associated with sewage or "pond scum" may be used to treat Alzheimer's disease. Research is in early stages but probably too late for me. http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=10000082&sid=aS.63p3LwG8w&refer=canada 7) Hippopotamus, ostrich, and a pair of female sheep? FDA celebrates 100 years. (Hippo, birdie, 2 ewes!) The site has a quiz (I got 8 of 10 correct) and historical time-line for you true drug nerds out there. (also you "foodies".) http://www.fda.gov/centennial/ ------------ Have a SUPER-FANTASTIC week. Steve Disclaimer: "Pepin's Pharmaceutical Prattle" (AKA "The Prattle") is the property of PHARMWORKS, LLC and Steven M. Pepin, Pharm. D, BCPS. The opinions expressed are those of the bald-headed author. To start or stop any drug without the advice and supervision of your physician would be stupid. So don't do anything based upon what you read here without professional advice. To be added to or removed from the distribution list please e-mail your request to spepin@pharmworks.com . All insightful comments from readers are thoughtfully considered (the rest are callously discarded). Copyright 1998-2005 PHARMWORKS, LLC all rights reserved. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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