Topic

Health Care

333 petitions
45,243 new supporters this week

Petition to Claire McCaskill, Jill Schupp, Gary Romine, U.S. Senate, Roy Blunt, Dan Brown, Mike Cierpiot, Sandy Crawford, Mike Cunningham, S. Kiki Curls, Bill Eigel, Jason Holsman, Denny Hoskins, Jacob Hummel, Andrew Koenig, Doug Libla, Brian Munzlinger, Jamilah Nasheed, Bob Onder, Ron Richard, Jeanie Riddle, John Rizzo, Caleb Rowden, David Cameron MP, Rob Schaaf, Dave Schatz, Scott Sifton, Wayne Wallingford, Jay Wasson, Paul Wieland, Richard Shelby, Doug Jones, Lisa Murkowski, Dan Sullivan, John McCain, Jeff Flake, John Boozman, Tom Cotton, DIane Feinstein, Kamala Harris, Michael Bennet, Cory Gardner, Richard Blumenthal, Chris Murphy, Tom Carper, Christopher Coons, Bill Nelson, Marco Rubio, Johnny Isakson, David Perdue, Brian Schatz, Mazie Hirono, Mike Crapo, James Risch, Dick Durbin, Tammy Duckworth, Joe Donnelly, Todd Young, Chuck Grassley, Joni Ernst, Pat Roberts, Jerry Moran, Mitch McConnell, Rand Paul, Bill Cassidy, John Kennedy, Susan Collins, Angus King, Ben Cardin, Chris Van Hollen, Elizabeth Warren, Ed Markey, Debbie Stabenow, Gary Peters, Amy Klobuchar, Tina Smith, Roger Wicker, Cindy Hyde-Smith, Jon Tester, Steve Daines, Deb Fischer, Benjamin Sasse, Dean Heller, Catherine Cortez Masto, Jeanne Shaheen, Maggie Hassan, Robert Menendez, Cory Booker, Tom Udall, Martin Heinrich, Charles Schumer, Kirsten Gillibrand, Richard Burr, Thom Tillis, John Hoeven, Heidi Heitkamp, Sherrod Brown, Rob Portman, James Inhofe, Ron Wyden, Jeff Merkley, Robert Casey, Pat Toomey, Jack Reed, Sheldon Whitehouse, Lindsey Graham, Tim Scott, John Thune, Mike Rounds, Lamar Alexander, Bob Corker, John Cornyn, Ted Cruz, Orrin Hatch, Mike Lee, Patrick Leahy, Bernie Sanders, Mark Warner, Tim Kaine, Patty Murray, Maria Cantwell, Joe Manchin, Shelley Capito, Ron Johnson, Tammy Baldwin, Mike Enzi, John Barrasso, President of the United States, U.S. House of Representatives

Stop Forcing Mail Order Pharmacy as Only Choice of Coverage & Monitor Package Temperature

My son, received a life saving liver transplant at the age of 2. His life depends on the potency and effectiveness of chemotherapy/immune suppression medications. In the past mail order delivered his liquid oral medications in nothing but a plastic envelope on a 102 degree day on a hot enclosed not temperature controlled UPS truck. Shortly after, he went into liver rejection which could have resulted in complete liver failure or death. I speculated that the medication could have been too weak after the delivery of medications in high heat. I vowed to never again risk his life with mail order pharmacy. Recently, we were mandated/forced to only use mail order pharmacy in order to receive coverage for his life saving medications. Hesitant, I begged for an ice pack. The package arrived on an about 90 degree day again without an ice pack. His labs elevated again afterwards. My son wants to know, "Why would they do that?" I contacted the manufacturer, who completes all of the testing for my son drugs who stated that both of my son's medications should be discarded and considered less potent once stored above 86 degrees as higher temperatures and freezing could result in lower potency. I also found out that the liquid medication that the youngest children take are the most harmed by the mishandling of medications outside of the manufactures temperature storage guidelines. Our youngest of children's lives are being threatened.  I contacted the mail order pharmacy who refused to take replace or take back the medication. They said the law & USP Pharmacopoeia allows them to ship up to 104 degrees, although the manufacturer states it is not proven safe at these temperatures.  I contacted the FDA, who states that the mail order pharmacy should be using the manufacturer's guidelines that have been proven safe. Not the reference range by USP that has not tested my son's exact medication. However since the mail order pharmacies are regulated loosley by the State Board of Pharmacy, not the FDA there was nothing that the FDA could do.  I spoke with a UPS driver. He states temperatures on his truck are far above 104 degrees on a 90 degree day. He is mandated to keep his door closed unless getting a package. He states it gets so hot on a 90 degree day that he cannot breathe when he opens the back.  I made over 30 calls to the insurance company begging for them to please let us pick my son's medications up at the local pharmacy at which they are filled. My son's physician wrote a note/appeal as his transplant team has stated that they have tried to voice their concerns about this issue with their pediatric/child patients and no one is listening! The insurance company still denied the doctor's appeal for us to pick up my son's medications in the safest way. It was not until the Media became evolved that the insurance company budged.  I felt helpless and have untied with many other pharmacist, physicians, patients, mothers and fathers, and caregivers who feel the same way. Helpless. Mail order of prescription drugs should be a choice not the only option of coverage. Mandatory mail order programs from all plan types (INCLUDING the plans that are regulated by ERISA) needs to cease until mail order pharmacies are forced to store and monitor medications during their deliveries at the temperatures tested and proven safe by the manufacturer. I would never put my son's medications in a hot non-temperature controlled environment, and shoudn't be forced to only use this option in order to get coverage for his life saving medications. Mail order pharmacies may appear to save money, but when my son ended up in the hosptial after taking medications that could have been compromised by having lower potency, the cost of the rejection was thousands of dollars. If his liver would have fully failed, the cost of his liver transplant for just 5 days (he was in the hospital for 5 weeks) was over $1,000,000. The lax regulation and oversight may save money on prescription drug plans, but may come at an increased cost to the health plan itself. Also, keep in mind the endless waste of medications that automatically are sent regardless of whether or not patients need them. Also, people with chronic, complex conditions, should always have the option of face to face interaction with a pharmacist who knows their complex needs and medical history. Could you imagine being required to go to a different doctor every time you needed medical care for you or your family? The pharmacist and patient relationship is crucial to the successful outcome of the patient's overall health. Taking this away is harmful to patients and be more costly to our already stressed healthcare system. Another important fact. Mandatory mail order programs are discriminatory. It is estimated that 40% of our homeless are disabled. How is mandatory mail order fair and working for them as they may not have an address and not even know where they will be from day to day? We need legislation to protect all patients by ending the mandatory mail order pharmacy coverage in every type of plan offered in the nation.  We need your help to make mandatory mail order an option not a mandate. YOUR URGENT SUPPORT WILL SAVE LIVES! THANK YOU!!

Loretta Boesing
54,733 supporters
Promoted by 82 supporters

Petition to Blue Cross Blue Shield of NC

Approve lifesaving medication for my mother’s insurance before it’s too late

My mother, Pamela Rask, was diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma in her left hand in January 2017. As a result, she had her middle left finger removed. However, the cancer returned in her left arm, and she underwent 6 chemo treatments and 39 radiation treatments from January 2018 to April 2018. These treatments did not kill the cancer, and it’s continuing to spread. It’s now up to her shoulder - stage 4. My mother’s last chance of living is with immunotherapy, specifically Opdivo and Yervoy. However, Blue Cross Blue Shield of NC will not approve the drugs because the cancer is in her arm - not her neck or throat.  Her cancer doctor at Cancer Care of WNC has spoken with a whole panel of doctors at his practice, as well as with two renowned cancer doctors who wrote guidelines for insurance companies regarding immunotherapy, and they all agree that the only way my mother will live is if she undergoes immunotherapy with Opdivo and Yervoy. Her doctor has contacted Blue Cross Blue Shield of NC two different times, and they continue to deny to cover the costs of the immunotherapy. My mother is 64 years old and should have many more years of life to Iive. If Blue Cross Blue Shield of NC does not approve this, my mother has no chance at all of survival. 

April Haider
9,807 supporters
Promoted by 52 supporters

Petition to HHS Secretary, Assistant Secretary for Health, Dr. Francis Collins, Dr. Elizabeth Unger, CFSAC , Dr. Walter Koroshetz, Vicky Whittemore

#PwME4ICC Demand US Health Agencies Recognize Myalgic Encephalomyelitis as Defined by ICC

We are international medical practitioners and researchers in the field of myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME), ME advocates, patients and their supporters.  We are located in the US and in other countries that are affected by US health policy. We call on the US government health agencies to accurately name, define, fund and represent the distinct biomedical disease ME which has been recognized by the World Health Organization (WHO) since 1969 as a neurological disease with the ICD code G93.3 and has been well-defined by the 2011 International Consensus Criteria (ICC). Since October 2015, the US ICD-10-CM classifies ME with the same neurological code, G93.3, as the WHO ICD.  We demand the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and all its agencies: Adopt ICC for diagnostic purposes Adopt ICC for research purposes Use ICC on all HHS and all HHS agency websites and all educational materials created by or for HHS and its agencies Educate medical practitioners to use the IC Primer for diagnosis Disseminate the IC primer to educate medical practitioners on testing and treatment Insist that ME researchers use ICC for their research funded by HHS or HHS agencies The Problem: ME has appeared in 50+ outbreaks worldwide and was first named and defined by Dr. A. Melvin Ramsay after a massive outbreak in 1955 in the Royal Free Hospital in London.  The disease also appears in the sporadic form and is neurological in nature with immune dysfunction, muscle weakness (including paralysis) and pain as well as affecting multiple body systems.  It renders most afflicted unable to work – many become house or bed bound. Severely affected patients are left isolated, unable to tolerate human interaction and often require 24/7 care for basic needs. Currently, there is no FDA approved treatment or cure. In an attempt to mystify and marginalize this severely debilitating disease, government health agencies have misrepresented ME as part of an ill-defined chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) (Reeves’, Fukuda, Oxford).  The latest attempt at obfuscation by the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has been sponsoring and adopting the recommendations by the Institute of Medicine (IOM) (now called the National Academy of Medicine) to use the name Systemic Exertion Intolerance Disease (SEID) and the IOM/SEID criteria.  The IOM/SEID definition does not require any neurological or immune dysfunction symptoms and because of its lack of specificity will include many who do not suffer from ME. Research by Dr. Leonard Jason’s group at DePaul University, Frank Twisk, and Asprusten et al. has shown that the IOM/SEID criteria do not define the distinct neuroimmune disease ME as described in the medical literature, classified by the WHO and defined by the ICC. Research affirms that unlike the ICC, the four required subjective symptoms of the IOM criteria are commonly found in many chronic diseases and are not unique to any identifiable disease. In addition, the IOM/SEID criteria lack exclusions for conditions with similar symptoms that are typically found in disease definitions. As a result, the IOM/SEID criteria select a broad, diverse group of people without a common underlying pathology. Research by the DePaul group has found that the IOM criteria increase the prevalence of Fukuda CFS almost three times from 0.42% to 1.2% – or about 4 million people in the US alone. Only a small fraction of that group will be people with ME – an estimated 10 to 20 percent. Many in that broad group will be misdiagnosed with IOM/SEID while they actually suffer from different conditions with some similar symptoms.  The confusion caused by the co-mingling of ME and non-ME patients will result in harm to people with ME (#PwME) through the recommendation of inappropriate treatment – as well as to all of those who don’t have ME but are misdiagnosed. Moreover, the use of the IOM/SEID criteria in research (which is already happening) will impede meaningful scientific progress by selecting patients for ME research who do not have the disease ME. We, therefore, reject the IOM recommendations and object to their implementation; SEID does not accurately name, and the IOM/SEID criteria do not explicitly define the distinct disease ME.  We further object to the reference by HHS and its agencies in their educational material or otherwise, to the IOM/SEID criteria concerning ME. The government’s malfeasance has already caused too much suffering and premature deaths in over three decades.  We will not stand by in silence while more of this whitewashing and harm take place. The time to act is now! We demand HHS adopt myalgic encephalomyelitis as classified by WHO and defined by the ICC for diagnostic and research purposes and all education materials created by or for HHS and its agencies now!  References: IOM- Report Guide for Physicians ME-ICC diagnostic and research criteria    Note: This includes atypical ME which requires fewer symptoms. IC Primer for Medical Practitioners Chart comparing IOM/SEID and ICC criteria ICC Questionnaire “What is it? Do I fit the Criteria?” Jason et al. June 2015 "Unintended Consequences of not Specifying Exclusionary Illnesses for Systemic Exertion Intolerance Disease." Jason et al. July 2015 "Reflections on the Institute of Medicine’s systemic exertion intolerance disease.” Jason L.A. September 2015 “Patients battle for justice.” Frank N.M.Twisk April 2015 “A critical analysis of the proposal of the Institute of Medicine to replace Myalgic Encephalomyelitis and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome by a new diagnostic entity called Systemic Exertion Intolerance Disease.” Frank N.M. Twisk February 2016 “Replacing Myalgic Encephalomyelitis and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome with Systemic Exercise Intolerance Disease Is Not the Way forward.” Asprusten et al. March 2018 “Systemic exertion intolerance disease diagnostic criteria applied on an adolescent chronic fatigue syndrome cohort: evaluation of subgroup differences and prognostic utility.”

Gabby Klein
4,202 supporters
7,254 new supporters this week

Petition to save rural americans access to health care

Save Rural Americans Access to Critical Health Care in Missouri

Americans who choose a rural way of life are at risk of losing their access to critical health care. Since 1990, 22 percent of rural hospitals have closed. Since 2010, hospitals have closed at a rate of one per month. Today, more than 600 hospitals across the nation are at risk of a similar fate. This trend is forcing patients to travel farther to get emergency care. As advanced care facilities get farther and farther apart, the importance of air ambulances drastically rises; according to the Association for Air Medical Services, 75 percent of air medical transports are designated as rural and an air ambulance is often the difference between life and death. However, the air ambulance industry must contend with extremely low reimbursement rates for Medicare and Medicaid, which currently fall dramatically below the true costs of providing the service. On average, Medicare only reimburses 50 percent of transport costs while Medicaid covers far less (as low as 1/25 of Medicare in some states). Making matters worse is a bill proposed by Senator Claire McCaskill (D-MO) that aims to change 40 years of established federal and state shared responsibility for air medical services in way that could significantly limit access to these multi-state, regional resources. Though the bill appears to be helpful, it will have negative consequences: air ambulances transporting critically ill or injured patients may no longer be transported across state lines – even if that’s where the closest, appropriate medical facility is located. It’s more important than ever to make sure the air ambulance industry can continue providing access to a higher level of emergency health care for rural Americans. Please show your support by signing our petition in support of saving rural America’s access to life-saving care.

Jennifer Lay
13,154 supporters
Update posted 11 hours ago

Petition to Blue Cross Blue Shield of NC

Approve lifesaving medication for my mother’s insurance before it’s too late

My mother, Pamela Rask, was diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma in her left hand in January 2017. As a result, she had her middle left finger removed. However, the cancer returned in her left arm, and she underwent 6 chemo treatments and 39 radiation treatments from January 2018 to April 2018. These treatments did not kill the cancer, and it’s continuing to spread. It’s now up to her shoulder - stage 4. My mother’s last chance of living is with immunotherapy, specifically Opdivo and Yervoy. However, Blue Cross Blue Shield of NC will not approve the drugs because the cancer is in her arm - not her neck or throat.  Her cancer doctor at Cancer Care of WNC has spoken with a whole panel of doctors at his practice, as well as with two renowned cancer doctors who wrote guidelines for insurance companies regarding immunotherapy, and they all agree that the only way my mother will live is if she undergoes immunotherapy with Opdivo and Yervoy. Her doctor has contacted Blue Cross Blue Shield of NC two different times, and they continue to deny to cover the costs of the immunotherapy. My mother is 64 years old and should have many more years of life to Iive. If Blue Cross Blue Shield of NC does not approve this, my mother has no chance at all of survival. 

April Haider
9,807 supporters
Update posted 1 day ago

Petition to Dignity Health, Anthem Blue Cross, CalPERS , Mark Stone, Bill Monning, CA Dept of Managed Health Care, Anthem2

SANTA CRUZ NEEDS RELIABLE HEALTH CARE!

YET AGAIN, SANTA CRUZ RESIDENTS ARE HEALTH CARE HOSTAGES!This time its ANTHEM BLUE CROSS HMO and DIGNITY HEALTH (formerly Dominican/PMG) that are threatening to CANCEL MEDICAL SERVICES to Santa Cruz County residents as of AUG. 23!!  And those residents can't sign up for RELIABLE local care and coverage (e.g., Kaiser, PAMF) until next January given the State's refusal to treat this as a qualifying event to immediately re-open enrollment.  Here are the documents. This leaves thousands of Santa Cruz subscribers with HORRIBLE CHOICES for the next 5 months:     * Go without needed medical care;     * Travel over the hill to new doctors;     * Pay lots for continued care here. Anthem Blue Cross HMO and Dignity Health need to honor their commitments to their current clients through this year. The STATE is also to blame because it designated and publicized Athem HMO and Dignity as local Santa Cruz County service providers during open enrollment for this year, a FALSE promise. SIGN THIS PETITION TO KEEP SANTA CRUZ HEALTH CARE AND COVERAGE STRONG, NOW AND FOR THE FUTURE!

Greg Larson
534 supporters
Update posted 1 day ago

Petition to Regulation Rollback Team, Julie Cruse, Governor Doug Ducey, Whomever has the integrity to do the right thing

Please hold the Arizona Board of Nursing accountable for their actions now !

The AZ Board of Nursing is not following due process; they are not applying discipline consistently,  and have the destroyed the lives of certain nurses with their unscrupulous and unfair practices, processes and procedures. They selectively persecute select nurses, over non nursing and non patient care issues, while allowing other nurses who are a true and serious threats to public safety proceed back to practice unscathed.   Arizona Governor Ducey claims no control over this Board of Nursing  he appointed, and stands by idly watching, witnessing and doing nothing.

wounded healers
229 supporters
Update posted 3 days ago

Petition to US Army and Keller Army Community Hospital

Protect Army healthcare: Keep Keller Hospital, West Point NY, resourced to deliver babies!

 Problem: Without sufficient resources, Keller Army Community Hospital at the United States Military Academy (West Point, NY) ceased delivering babies on May 28th, 2018 for an indefinite period of time.  The solution: We ask that the US ARMY in conjunction with Keller Army Hospital ensure adequate resourcing is provided to the hospital in a timely manner. #ResourceKellerOB Please sign if you support this petition.  1.        The cessation of newborn delivery services is contrary to Keller Army Community Hospital’s mission statement:  “Keller Army Community Hospital provides high quality, patient-centered care with a focus on health and wellness to improve readiness of the Force and enhance the lives of all beneficiaries.”  2.       The cessation of baby delivery services may in fact degrade the readiness of the force charged with leading, educating, and inspiring the USMA corps of Cadets. Active duty personnel such as TACs or instructors will have to allocate additional time away from cadets in order to travel to and attend all prenatal appointments and the actual delivery of children. The obstetrics unit based in Keller has provided effective and efficient care while also being at the optimum location to support active duty based here.  3.       Due to the Operational demands of the force, many families utilize their time at West Point to start and to continue to grow their families.  The lack of adequate delivery services for this indefinite period may impact the decision of families to come to West Point. 4.       Keller Army Community Hospital has staff and facilities dedicated to the delivery of newborns.  The shortage of a position should not mandate an immediate cessation of services.  Instead, maximum effort should be allocated to ensuring that KACH is adequately resourced. 5.       West Point prides itself in forging a perseverant mindset within its staff, faculty, and cadets.  This should apply to all efforts including the issue currently being discussed. 6.        Expecting mothers based at West Point will have to establish prenatal care and plans to deliver their baby at off post facilities. This may cause additional stress and impacts on the pregnant woman (active duty or spouse of) and their family.  7.        Due to the geographical nature of the Academy and the absence of many 'extended' family members, the community is highly reliant on one another for support. This will become more difficult to navigate as services are moved off post.

Military Spouses
2,173 supporters