BeMedWise, Health, Mental Health, NeedyMeds, Safety, Social Media and Healthcare, Technology

Making the Self-Care Commitment, One Step at a Time

BeMedWise

There’s no better time than right now to invest in your health. Odds are you do it every day — even if you don’t know that’s what you’re doing. From taking over-the-counter (OTC) medication for headaches, to setting weight loss goals or wearing a fitness tracker, most of us practice self-care every day without realizing it. New research from BeMedWise details just how common self-care is. Among the report’s 2,000+ survey respondents: 92% desire more control over their health 89% say they know where to find answers to health questions or concerns 80% feel the need to manage their health now more than ever before 88% express confidence in making their own health decisions The full report, titled “Empowering Americans to Take Greater Responsibility for Their

Health,” examines how self-care can improve an individual’s health while also reducing medical costs. It comes at a time where 6 in 10 U.S. adults are living with a chronic disease. Chronic conditions like diabetes, heart disease, cancer, and depression together account for 90% of our $3.3 trillion healthcare budget. However, the U.S. economy could save an estimated $6.6 billion if just 10% of those with a chronic disease adopted self-care practices. Below, we’ll describe what self-care is and why it’s having a hard time catching on. Then we’ll send you off  with some of our favorite free self-care resources to help you start the new year off right! What is self-care? Self-care can include many different types of activities. At a general level,…

Healthcare Reform, Medicine Safety, Prescription Drugs, Safety, Social Media and Healthcare, Technology

Patient Safety Advocates Oppose Foreign Online Pharmacies

Evan O'Connor

Last summer the Alliance for Safe Online Pharmacies (ASOP Global) launched a campaign to raise awareness of counterfeit drugs from foreign online pharmacies.  This year, they have drafted a letter to the U.S. Congress to encourage them to oppose proposals that allow American consumers to buy Health Canada-approved medication from “legitimate” Canadian online pharmacies. Buying medications from other countries has been an idea proposed to combat the high cost of prescriptions in the United States. Starting in 1999 politicians began filling buses with senior constituents and driving them to Canada, starting with then-Representative Bernie Sanders from Vermont. The seniors would travel with prescriptions written by American doctors; once in Canada, a Canadian doctor would rewrite the prescription and then have it filled at a Canadian

pharmacy at a fraction of the U.S. cost. One woman’s breast cancer drug, which cost $110 for a one-month supply in Maine, could be bought in Canada for only $12. Since the advent of the internet, the process to get prescriptions from across the Canadian border has become seemingly easier but is much more risky. A review of 11,000 websites selling prescription medications to U.S. consumers from 2016 found approximately 96% appear to be in conflict with U.S. law, of which 89% of those didn’t require a valid prescription. With so many illegitimate pharmacies, American consumers have a 65% likelihood of finding an illegal or unsafe site if they search for an online pharmacy. More than putting their health at risk by possibly receiving tainted…

Awareness, Medicine Safety, Prescription Drugs, Safety, Technology

Know What to Look for When Buying Medication Online

Evan O'Connor

In previous blog posts, we have explored the risks of online pharmacies and the increased risks faced by the elderly. This is largely related to Medicare/Medicaid and the growing number of people who are covered by it. Ten thousand Americans turn 65 every day, and not every treatment is covered by Medicare. This can lead senior Americans to look elsewhere for affordable medications, including potentially fraudulent online pharmacies. This year, the Alliance for Safe Online Pharmacies (ASOP) is launching a campaign to raise awareness. A recent review of over 11,000 websites selling prescription medications online to US consumers found nearly 96% noncompliant with US laws and as much as 50% of the medicines sold online are fake. Counterfeit medicines contain little to no active ingredients and

could contain dangerous poisons including floor wax, mercury, concrete, chalk, boric acid, road tar, paint or anti-freeze. Interpol estimates that counterfeit drugs are responsible for up to a million annual deaths worldwide.   Lower prices and the convenience of online shopping are major factors driving consumers to the internet for their medications, making older Americans targets for fraudulent drug sellers offering “too good to be true” discounts.  According to the World Health Organization (WHO), these counterfeit networks make billions of dollars each year but taking advantage of unknowing buyers online.  More than one’s health, one could put their financial and personal information at risk when submitting them to potentially criminal organizations.   There are several things to watch out for when looking for an online…

NeedyMeds, Patient Assistance, Technology

What you need to know before scheduling that Radiology Test

NeedyMeds

A recent addition to the NeedyMeds website is the Radiology Imaging Centers database. As hopefully you read in our August edition of the Patient Assistance Newsletter, this new resource will help you search for facilities that offer the tests you need in your area. You can use the data to compare cash prices of over 20 commonly performed studies. The database also includes other pertinent information about each location such as whether or not they offer discounts or payment plans, which procedures they perform and even if they host free imaging screenings throughout the year. Such details will hopefully assist you greatly in your pursuit of better health. Yet, per an article published at the beginning of the year by our partner Consumer Reports, there

are a few more steps you should take, a few more answers you seek before actually scheduling that test. The full article is worth a read. But one of the important suggestions is to check the credentials of the imaging facility. Knowing whether a facility has received an accreditation by the American College of Radiology can go a long way in ensuring you are getting the best care for your money. If an imaging center has received accreditation it means that facility has undergone an exacting evaluation process led by experts in the imaging field, such as board-certified radiologists, who have determined that both the equipment used and the staff interpreting the results meets or exceeds nationally accepted standards. Clearly, this should be one of…

Health, NeedyMeds, Patient Assistance, Safety, Technology

International Day of Persons with Disabilities

Evan O'Connor

As declared by the UN, today was International Day of Persons with Disabilities. Started in 1992, the observance day aims to promote understanding of disability issues and mobilize support for the dignity, rights, and well-being of those with disabilities. With one billion people worldwide experiencing some sort of disability, the day can have an important impact on many who experience difficulties every day. In honor with the international observance, we at NeedyMeds want to share the resources available for people with disabilities in the United States. The UN theme for 2014 is “Sustainable Development: The Promise of Technology.” In a previous blog post, we covered state grants that are available to those in need of assistive technology. We also have information on over 20

national organizations offering financial assistance to those requiring assistive technology, and many more serving regional areas. For those less suited to technology, there are programs offering assistance dogs to those suffering from various disabilities and conditions. As technology and assistance animals can improve the quality of one’s life, worthwhile experiences can also enhance the lives of those with disabilities. With almost 200 camps for those with physical disabilities and over 100 for those with developmental challenges, people of all ages all over the country can go on retreats with peers they can relate to and professionals familiar with their care. NeedyMeds also has information on scholarships for people with disabilities who pursue a higher education. As a group, persons with disabilities are more likely to experience…