Hello Camilla and Everyone -

Your story illustrates a point that PAN has often made
on Capitol Hill - that it would be more cost-efficient
for the U.S. to invest money in research to cure PD
than to continue providing medications to PWP.  This
is always a good point to bring up when communicating
with your legislators.  If you need any help in
crafting a letter to your Senators and Representative
about the cost of meds vs. the cost of a cure, please
contact PAN at 800-850-4726.



--- Camilla Flintermann <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> FRIENDS--some time ago, Art Hirsch posted about
> getting a breakdown of the
> cost of his PD meds, and that this could be used as
> an advocacy tool in
> trying to explain the costs to society of PD.
>
> Taking his lead, I asked the Merck-Medco mail order
> company, where Peter's
> insurance gives us excellent Rx coverage, for a
> printout of costs, after
> the deductible this year.
>
> Subtracting the few non-pd meds, and starting in
> March ( the $100. out of
> pocket having been met) the total to 9/13/99 was a
> stunning $ 6,186.07 paid
> by the  insurer, and a co-payment of $84.50 on our
> part.
> (I said this was excellent coverage didn't I?
> Generics are free, though
> they will cost $4.50 max. after 1/1/00 and brand
> names, now $2.00 will be
> $9.00 max.--those are the current drugstore prices
> for Rxs not ordered by
> mail.)
>
> I think these figures of cost to insurers--or
> lacking good insurance, to
> patients--can be used with legislators in pointing
> out *one* of the
> elements of cost for PD.
>
> Any ideas (PAN???) about the most effective way to
> present this sort of
> info to Congress?
> {And I feel somewhat guilty about this wonderful
> coverage, when so many
> have none--Peter was very lucky to work for a state
> university with a great
> retirement  insurance program.}
>
> Camilla Flintermann, CG for Peter 81/70/55
> Oxford, Ohio
> http://www.newcountry.nu/pd/members/camilla/one.htm
> <[log in to unmask]>
>
>                         "Ask me about the CARE list
> for
>                         Caregivers of Parkinsonians
> ! "
>

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