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Barb, Art, Marge, and folks, Art Hirsch writes, in part: >Second, should an HMO be able to reclassify a > drug as > > non-formulary in a unilateral action? I think it is rather scary that an HMO may have the temerity, not to mention the power, to restrict any patient's potential use of approved medications that are prescribed for PD. The difficulties of finding the best possible balance of medications to "outwit" PD ought to be left unhindered. Managing PD requires using its own unique assortment of remedies, and options should not be restricted. I often find that it takes PWP's themselves, along with other voices, to change supposedly fixed policies. Art, if your friends are not individually audible enough, consider bringing a portable microphone or speaker with you, if you think any PWP's usual voice cannot be heard WELL, in normal conversation in a meeting. I imagine that a solution to Art's dilemma with ropinerole (Requip) lies in exactly who talks to the HMO. Art, if you can find local PWP's who are pharmacists, or physicians, and several articulate patients who use Requip, to talk to and/or write the HMO, I would hope things would change quickly. Barb, now that I am 50, my techniques FINALLY tend to include more discretion and subtletly at the outset! I would rather charm my opponents with honey, "mallutizing" the HMO, with the stylishness of a Hollywood star...which I fully anticipate becoming by age 55!! Ivan :-) 50/39/36 On Sun, 16 Apr 2000 13:09:59 -0400 Barb_MSN <[log in to unmask]> writes: > Art,.... > > Margie's given some good suggestions, and I would like to suggest > one more "weapon" to arm yourself with in this unequal battle > against both PD AND the drugstore. > > I suggest you "IVANIZE <smiling> , which is my term for an all out > "circle-the-wagons-battle!