Health Care

            Lives depend on pharmacy choice. **Since starting the petition, I have realized that there are many issues other than temperatures with forced mail-order pharmacies. Mail order pharmacy is very loosely regulated. There are life-threatening delays, a lack of relationships with pharmacists for people with chronic conditions, and rapid closures of our independent pharmacies, although a recent study showed people prefer independent pharmacies (2018, Gill).  *************Our Story************* Our son received a life-saving liver transplant at the age of 2 from a 3-year-old little girl. His life depends on the potency and effectiveness of chemotherapy or immune suppression medications every 12 hours to prevent his body's immune system from fighting off his transplanted liver. In the past, mail-order pharmacy delivered his liquid oral medications in nothing but a plastic envelope on a 102-degree day on a hot, enclosed, non-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 never to risk his life with mail-order pharmacy again. Recently, we were mandated or forced only to use mail order pharmacy in order to receive coverage for his life-saving medications.  The package arrived in only a bag on a hot day without an ice pack. I now know that the hot non-temperature controlled enclosed delivery truck and mailboxes can reach temperatures up to 120-170 degrees. His labs elevated again afterward. My son wants to know, "Why would they do that?" I contacted the manufacturer, who performs the testing, who informed me that 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 contacted the mail order pharmacy, who refused to 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. However, I have received communication from USP Pharmacopoeia, who writes guidelines for storage, and they also said that the mail order pharmacy should follow the manufacturer's guidelines of 59-86 degrees for storage. Again, the trucks reach up to 170 degrees, much hotter than 104.  I contacted the FDA, which states that the mail order pharmacy should be using the manufacturer's guidelines that have been proven safe. Since the mail order pharmacies are regulated loosely by the State Board of Pharmacy, not the FDA, there was nothing the FDA could do.  My son's physician wrote an appeal and 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! I made over 30 calls to the insurance company begging for them to please let us pick up my son's medications up at the local pharmacy, at which they are filled. The insurance company still denied the doctor's appeal for us to pick up my son's medications in the safest way. It was only when the Media became evolved that the insurance company budged.  I felt helpless and have united with many other pharmacists, 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.  Mail order pharmacies may appear to save money, but when my son ended up in the hospital after taking medications that could have been compromised by having lower potency, the cost of the rejection was thousands of dollars. Also, people with chronic, complex conditions should always have the option of maintaining relationships with a pharmacist who knows their complex needs and medical history. Only allowing mail order pharmacies for coverage is unethical and irresponsible. I share daily stories on my social media sites of patients suffering from a lack of choice.  We need your help to make mandatory mail-order an option, not a mandate.      Thank you,  Loretta Boesing, Founder of Unite for Safe Medications You may make a tax-deductible contribution to support our advocacy here Email: loretta@uniteforsafemeds.com Facebook Page: Issues with Mail Order Pharmacy, Corporate Retail Pharmacy, & PBMs Twitter: @BoesingLoretta The greatest way that you can help is by sharing this petition & gathering 2-3 people in your community who are having issues and speak to your legislatures.    Reference: Gill, Lisa L. “Consumers Still Prefer Independent Pharmacies, CR's Ratings Show.” Product Reviews and Ratings - Consumer Reports, 7 Dec. 2018, www.consumerreports.org/pharmacies/consumers-still-prefer-independent-pharmacies-consumer-reports-ratings-show/

  I am seeking any way I can to get the word out about insurance companies giving death sentences to women diagnosed with Ovarian Cancer. I have Horizon Blue Cross and Blue Shield N.J. health insurance. Three and a half years ago (October of 2014) I received a diagnosis of Stage 3 Ovarian Cancer. Ovarian cancer, according to the Cancer Treatment Centers of America, is usually diagnosed after menopause. However, some have been diagnosed as early as their 40’s or 50’s. This is not what you would label an “old person’s disease”. I began treatment with IV chemo, surgery (complete hysterectomy) followed by more IV chemo. By June of 2015 I was in remission.  I was in remission for two years. Two weeks before Christmas in 2017 I was told the cancer was growing. It had now spread to the liver, spleen and diaphragm. My doctors at Cancer Treatment Center of America, Chicago told me my best (and only option quite honestly) is a procedure called HIPEC Surgery. Without this procedure, the cancer will continue to spread. Our insurance pre-certification was submitted and surgery was scheduled for Tuesday, March 20, 2018. On Friday, March 16, after a day of pre-op testing, BCBSNJ notified the hospital the claim was being denied. This was an hour before everything shut down for the weekend. The reason? BCBSNJ is calling it experimental. This procedure was approved by the FDA in 1999. Two appeals have been filed and denied. As an alternative, my doctor wanted to perform surgery to remove the tumors (called debulking). Now we are being told this will not be approved because it was part of the original request for pre-certification. The part of this procedure they are labeling as experimental is a heated chemo placed in the abdominal cavity for two hours. How can they say no to a life-saving operation that has been performed for 20 years?! I have spoken to others who have had the same diagnosis, received the procedure and are living healthy lives today. So yes, there are insurance companies that do approve this. My husband and I are middle class people. He has worked for the same company for 38 years and always thought his insurance would be there when he needed it for either of us. We are currently trying to figure out a way to finance this procedure out of our pockets. BCBSNJ needs to update their coverage!  Please sign my petition and share it. Ovarian Cancer is a devastating disease, but there are procedures that can eradicate it. Insurance companies should be in business to help save lives – not condemn women to a death sentence because of outdated policies!  PLEASE SHARE ....... GET THE WORD OUT AGAINST THESE INSURANCE COMPANY'S.... Thank you!  My friend Joyce started a Fundraiser to help pay for the HIPEC part of the surgery that the insurance wont cover ($35,000). Here is the link. Any thing will help and thank you for sharing this and if you helped with the Fundraiser.    https://www.gofundme.com/lifesaving-surgery-for-janine-may Dec 28, 2018 —  4:40 p.m. Thursday I am amazed that this petiton has had over 20,000 people sign it. This issue is something that stirs many people for one reason or  another. But the situation remains the same.. My good friend Janine is still taking chemo, still fighting for her life and is paying for this surgery and many other medical cost out of her pocket.. I started a GoFundMe campaign for her and to this date there has only been $3, 763 raised.. While I am very grateful for those  who have given (and those who continue to pray for her), that amount falls far short of what is needed. If everyone signed this petition gave just  $5, it would cover more than what has already been spent and keep helping with the ongoing medical expenses.. Please visit the GoFundMe: https://www.gofundme.com/lifesaving-surgery-for-janine-may Thanks, Joyce Couts      

To the Administration and Program Leaders of UCLA Healthcare Facilities,  We deeply appreciate the dedication and commitment of UCLA's healthcare teams to providing top-notch medical care. It is with the utmost respect and concern for the safety of patients and healthcare staff that we bring forth this petition. Currently, the operating rooms at UCLA have implemented a standardized surgical instrument setup, a decision may have been made without the valuable input of local scrub personnel. This standardized set-up, while well-intentioned, has inadvertently led to improper body mechanics, potentially endangering the well-being of our dedicated staff and the patients in their care. Furthermore, it has compromised the efficiency of our surgical teams, hindering their ability to provide the best possible care. The existing standard back table setup, although practical in some respects, does not fully adhere to the nationally recognized guidelines provided by the Association of Surgical Technologist (AST). These guidelines, rooted in the wisdom of the American College of Surgeons (ACS) and the Association of PeriOperative Registered Nurses (AORN), are meticulously crafted to enhance workflow efficiency while minimizing contamination risks and preventing errors during surgical procedures. We kindly request your consideration in revising the current set-up to align with the AST guidelines. By embracing these established standards, UCLA healthcare facilities can significantly enhance the safety of both patients and staff and ensure top-tier surgical outcomes. UCLA serves as a beacon for medical excellence, attracting Certified Surgical Technologists from programs across the nation. These technologists receive extensive training based on AST guidelines, emphasizing the importance of patient and staff safety and achieving the highest standards in surgical care. By signing this petition, we, the concerned stakeholders, urge UCLA healthcare facilities to prioritize patient and staff safety by implementing a safe and effective back table set-up in line with the teachings of Surgical Technology training and AST guidelines. Together, we can make a meaningful difference by advocating for standardized practices that benefit both patients and medical professionals.  Thank you for your attention and commitment to the well-being of all those entrusted to the care of UCLA healthcare facilities.

*No Donations - Thank you. Ogden School District is quickly selling surplus property. Ogden City, a qualified entity to buy has declared intent to build sub-divisions on the three vacant sites being sold. Citizens of Ogden have untied to halt the sub-divisions and instead want parks expanded per the city master plan 2019-46 that states that we are deficient 20 acres of park space to meet our community population and need 32 acres by 2028. On October 4, 2022 we urged our Mayor and City Council take action now to increase community health and equitable access to parks by using these three sites for parks. We are asking the city to incorporate all  Ogden School District surplus properties into the Ogden City Parks system. Two of the three properties, Grandview and Lynn Elementary that are currently being sold are already connected to Ogden City Parks. Just makes sense! Letter to Editor in Support by Dr. Kathleen Paco Cadman-  Green space in Ogden are important for our health Maintaining and enhancing Ogden’s green spaces, including those designated as surplus by Ogden School District, can have life-long health benefits for our community. The single largest factor responsible for our physical and mental health outcomes is the environment in which we live, work, and play; known as our social determinants of health. One category of these determinants, outlined in Health People 2030, is our neighborhoods and built environments, including is the presence or absence of intentional green spaces. Much of the focus in the Ogden land debate is centered on youth soccer, which promotes physical fitness, teamwork, confidence, and belonging for children and their families. While this is significant, the use of these spaces is vast enough to benefit EVERY member of our society, regardless of age, race, politics, gender, disability, nationality, faith, sexual orientation, or socioeconomic status. These spaces promote societal health and cohesion by providing a place for ALL of us to disconnect from our screens and make meaningful connections with nature, each other, and ourselves. These connections can boost serotonin levels and our parasympathetic nervous systems, both of which promote relaxation, and decrease overly active sympathetic nervous systems, associated with fight or flight responses and chronic stress. On an individual level, numerous studies show that access to ample green spaces can decrease rates of violent crime among youth, obesity, pregnancy complications, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, depression, heart disease, fatigue, and completed suicides. These conditions have repercussions not only on our quality of life, but also on the budgets of individuals, households, and our state. Nearly a half million Utahans are covered by Medicaid/CHIP, which means that health promotion strategies such as increased access to parks, can save money in the long run, at every level. Whether looking at green spaces as a form of environmental justice, a spot to cheer on kiddos chasing a ball, a great location for a picnic, a place to walk your dog, or an ideal setting for a stroll, maintaining and enhancing these spaces is in the best interest of each of us and our society. (Letter to Standard Examiner by Dr. Kathleen Paco Cadman) https://www.standard.net/opinion/letters/2022/dec/22/letter-green-space-in-ogden-are-important-for-our-health/   Letter of Support to the Mayor from 13 year old student athlete - Mike CaldwellMayorCity Council  Dear Mayor Caldwell: I am writing this letter to give you a few reasons why I believe we should keep the three school sites, Grandview Elementary, Lynn Elementary, and North Jackson, and incorporate them into the present park community for the use of the citizens. I can see why they would be good to sell. We would gain more money for Ogden City that could go towards public buildings and many other things that can be improved throughout the city, but I think that keeping the parks would be more beneficial to our community.  One reason we should keep the three school sites is because we are limited on parks already. My dad coaches my younger brother's soccer team and we are always searching for new park locations to practice at. This is because the parks are too crowded and it is hard to practice with the team, when the available space is so limited. We have started practicing in South Ogden because of how busy the parks are becoming.  My second reason focuses on how fast Ogden is growing. Per year the average growth rate is around 10,000 people. worldpopulationreview.com Not to mention that many of the people moving here are coming for the amazing outdoor lifestyle that Ogden has to offer. If these properties do sell and become developed there will be potentially hundreds more people trying to share space at the local parks. This could cause major environmental impacts. The more people at the parks, the more crowded they will be, causing more pollution and damage to them. This would also increase the cost of maintaining them. If we choose to sell these sites there will be limited time for them to be used before they are developed. If we keep them they can be used for many future generations in sports and many other things.  My last reason for keeping these sites is that parks can be beneficial to public health. The trees in public parks remove 7,111,000 tons of toxins in the air according to cityparksalliance.org. Green space can also help keep Ogden city cool reducing the heat-island effect and, filter rain which reduces water pollution and helps protect our precious drinking water. City parks also may increase physical activity levels of the citizens. By doing this we may prevent many mental and physical health problems.  As you can see, keeping these three sites would benefit our community by providing more park space for sports and recreation, preventing crowding of Ogden City parks, and helping with the health and safety of our community. Thank you so much for taking the time from your busy schedule  to read this letter and I hope that you will understand  my reasoning and thinking about why we should keep these three school sites and incorporate them into the present city park system.  Sincerely, Ella Claire Stewart (Letter to Standard Examiner by Ella Stewart)  https://www.standard.net/opinion/letters/2022/dec/12/letter-many-community-benefits-to-turning-school-land-into-parks/ News Articles About the Chance to Expand Parks in Ogden https://www.standard.net/news/local/2022/nov/25/ogden-man-sees-chance-to-expand-parks-with-school-property-up-for-grabs/ https://www.standard.net/news/education/2022/dec/02/future-of-surplus-ogden-school-district-land-focus-of-simmering-debate/ https://www.standard.net/news/education/2022/dec/10/ogden-school-leaders-firm-in-plans-to-sell-land-amid-calls-to-use-it-for-parks/ https://www.standard.net/news/government/2022/dec/15/ogden-residents-clamor-for-park-space-council-to-look-closer-into-school-land-issue/ VIDEO - Community Uses Grandview Elementary to Sled during Winter