FDAs OTC Proposal – Bad for Patients

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I hate to admit this, but did I misssomething in the discussion of FDAs new over the counter drugs (OTC). Thank goodness, one doctor kept things in perspective and reallyexposed the true purpose. Most of us were looking at theadvisability of doing this and the dangers in people self-prescribingdrugs and the problems this would cause. This is still a validconcern, but pales in comparison to what this doctor exposes.
Dr. Matthew Mintz in his blog Dr.Mintz' Blog blows the lid off and does state the obvious quite wellin fact. We as patients should be afraid and if this goes through,our costs for medications will go through the proverbial roof andkeep on going up. Dr. Mintz points to the fact that insurance willno longer cover a drug that becomes OTC. Therefore, if you only hada small copay, now the cost will be 100 percent.  Take time to read his blog.
This is the technique of the currentadministration to reduce medical costs, but not for the consumer. Bynot having to see a doctor to get your prescription, that is thefirst cost savings for both the insurance companies andMedicare/Medicaid. It will be less costly to pay a pharmacist toadvise you which may be the best medicine, but the entire cost willbe on you. If the medication is normally $100 for a 30-day supply ofpills, that is what you will pay to get the medication. Currentlyyou might have a 20 percent copay and $80 would be covered byinsurance.
The interesting fact is that manybranded blood pressure, asthma, cholesterol, and diabetes medicationswill not be any cheaper just because the become over the countermedications. It is just that you, as the consumer will now pay theentire amount like the people without insurance. The insurancecompanies will not cover over the counter medications so this is onecost they will not have to be responsible for.
The government carefully kept this outof the press and is moving faster than the FDA normally does to slidethis through. So be prepared and afraid for your pocket book in thenear future if this does get the final approval. Most medicalprofessions did not comment on this at all and the pharmacists werein favor of this action. The patients were not represented and wewill be the ones paying the higher medication costs. The governmentwill proclaim how they have been able to cut medical costs and expectyou to vote for them in November.
You may not be able to vote if youspend all your money for over the counter medications and havenothing left for the high cost of fuel to get you to the votingbooth. Go ahead and laugh, but come November, this may be whathappened. This is what the current administration is counting on.
What I find amusing is the proposed useof kiosks. "For example, kiosks or other technological aidsin pharmacies or on the Internet could lead consumers through analgorithm for a particular drug product."
“Can you just imagine patientsgoing up to an ATM-like machine, entering their conditions,allergies, blood levels, etc. and having the computer spit outexactly what dose of what medicine that they should be taking fortheir high blood pressure or high cholesterol?  Would there be asoda-like machine right beside it that could dispense the appropriatemedication?”
If you think pharmacies are crowded nowwith very little privacy, what will a bank of kiosks do for thespace. There will be kids wanting to punch buttons just for the funof it. With all this more, how long will the electronics befunctioning? This is one place I will want to avoid if at allpossible.