Pharmacy Benefit Managers Revisited
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Happy Tuesday Advocates
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Pharmacy Benefit Managers
Fellow advocates, I ran across an article that does an outstanding job of explaining how drugs are added or deleted from your insurance coverage. It is the inner workings of Pharmacy Benefit Managers.
The article is called “Why Drugs Are Disappearing From Your Insurance Coverage” by Helen Santoro.
Here is a link to the article, https://www.levernews.com/why-drugs-are-disappearing-from-your-insurance-coverage/
She references many of the pieces of legislation seeking to reign in PBMs. The best of the lot IMHO is the Bipartisan S. 1339. The Pharmacy Benefit Manager Reform Act because it applies to more policies and has more teeth.
Of course, the real answer is HR 3421, the improved Medicare for All Act that will allow our public insurance trust to negotiate fair prices for all of us.
If the spirit moves you let your Member of Congress and Senators know. Their contact info is in the Resources section.
RESOURCES
Healthcare Advocacy (Us)
Website
Our Newsletter resources including reproductive healthcare
Healthcare Advocacy Reading List
Find My Elected Officials
Contact the White House https://www.whitehouse.gov/contact/
Contact State and Federal Representatives
By phone: (202) 224-3121
By email: democracy.io
Important Healthcare Resources
League of Women Voters Healthcare Reform Toolkit
Organizations to Contact
National Nurses United Medicare4All
Physicians for a National Health Program
One Payer States
Healthcare Now
Reproductive Health
NARAL - Pro Choice America
Charley. chatbot abortion resource - make sure to use a secure incognito browser if you live in a state that has banned abortion
Planned Parenthood
Miscarriage and Abortion Hotline has references about where to procure abortion medications. They also assist women in the process of self managed abortion or miscarriage by phone or text and will respond in an hour. Details and hours of operation at their website.
United State of Women Reproductive health page (bottom of the page) has important resources such as medical support, access to Telehealth, prescriptions by mail, and legal support references.
Practice careful communications - The Digital Defense Fund has a number of tips to keep texts, calls, and internet use private. Here is their site.
If you need financial help with an abortion try abortionfunds.org
Claims Denials and Appeals & What to Do
Appeal a Healthcare Decision
Appeal/Negotiate a Hospital Bill
Disinformation Management
Cybersecurity Infrastructure Security Agency
Save Democracy
Chop Wood, Carry Water by Jessica Cravens
RESISTBOT
Link to the RESISTBOT site to learn more
Link to Chop Wood, Carry Water RESISTBOT write up
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Great article. Thank you for sharing.