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FEBRUARY / MARCH 2020 • MONTANA SENIOR NEWS HEALtH CARE PAGE 43
“Others were guilt-ridden by media WHAt ARE DRUG REGIStRIES legitimate medical purposes as long as the
sensationalism that physicians are at AND HOW DO tHEY WORK? doctor uses sound clinical judgment.
the root of the crisis. Some worried they Most states have prescription drug mon- Idaho’s registry requires medical pro-
couldn’t keep up with frequently changing itoring programs that have been in effect for viders to enter patient information on the
requirements that are sometimes contra- years. Montana Prescription Drug Registry state database by the end of the next busi-
dictory. Furthermore, physicians are not (MPDR) started in 2012; Idaho’s AWARxE ness day, so it’s current and up to date.
notified of changes by licensing boards or dates from 1997. DOCtOR SHORtAGES SQUEEZE SENIORS
law enforcement. Hospital corporations are Registries were created to prevent “doc- There is already a shortage of medical
severely restricting narcotic prescriptions, tor-shopping,” where people visit a number providers, particularly in rural states like
tying the hands of the doctors who are their of different medical providers to illegally Montana and Idaho. The CDC recommen-
employees. The bottom line: physicians fear obtain multiple prescriptions for controlled dations caused many physicians to give up
losing their medical licenses.” substances. their narcotic licenses. Two major surveys
For these reasons, in numerous Seniors with varied health problems are CONtINUED ON PAGE 45
cases, doctors cut off patients from pain often treated by more than one physician.
medicine even when those drugs were For instance, a senior may see an orthopedic
DENTAL COSTS
thoughtfully prescribed, relieved suffer- surgeon for arthritis and a cardiologist for DENTAL COSTS
ing, and allowed significantly improved high blood pressure. That is not the same
GOT YOU
functioning. The results have been grave as “doctor shopping.” GOT YOU
for seniors and veterans. If one specialist is not aware of drugs
As of June, 2019, the CDC is finally prescribed by another specialist, problems RUNNING
reviewing and “evaluating the conse- can arise. In those situations, registries RUNNING
quences” of the guidelines, but, for some, help catch and prevent potentially harmful SCARED?
it’s too late. An estimated 20 to 40 percent drug interactions. But that does not justify SCARED?
of drug overdose deaths may be suicides, leaving seniors and veterans in pain.
including suicide driven by unbearable pain Under Montana law HB 86, physicians Save up to 50% with
Save up to 50% with
* *
after being deprived of opioids. must check MPDR every three months
Dr. Thomas Kline, former Harvard before re-prescribing Schedule II drugs.
Medical School program advisor, says, The Idaho State Board of Medicine’s Montana Dental Membership Plan, LLC
“We have people committing suicide for policy recognizes opioid analgesics have a
no other reason than being forced to stop legitimate medical purpose when prescribed Call us now at
opioids, pain medication, for chronic pain… properly, while acknowledging the potential 406-590-1774 or 406-466-3515
There are five to seven million people being for abuse. Their policy states: “The Board *Plan applies to the Great Falls Area. This is not dental insurance.
tortured on purpose.” expects that physi-
His website publishes some names cians incorporate
of people who committed suicide after safeguards into their Southwest Chemical Dependency Program
having their pain control drugs forcibly practices, to mini- “Where Freedom Takes Flight”
reduced or eliminated. mize the potential for
Diederik Lohman, director of Health the abuse and diver-
and Human Rights for Human Rights sion of controlled SWCDP is a state-approved treatment center
Watch, says, “Many of the patients we substances.” offering Intensive Inpatient and Outpatient
treatment for chemical dependency.
spoke to are very law-abiding and would They further say
turn to suicide before going to the street physicians should
to get illicit drugs. The government has a not fear disciplinary 430 E. Park St Phone (406) 222-2812
duty to respond to the overdose crisis, but action for prescrib- PO Box 1587 Email [email protected]
to do so in a way that is harming people ing narcotics for Livingston www.swcdp.org
who have a legitimate medical issue is a
human rights issue.”
Additionally, some insurance compa-
nies wrongly use CDC guidelines to justify
excluding narcotics or reducing doses,
even though those drugs were previously
covered. This increases company’s profits at
the expense of suffering patients. Without
insurance coverage, many seniors cannot
afford their pain pills.
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