Comments with support for the bill.
To whom this concerns, I’ve been suffering from a rare disease called Gastroparesis it’s very debilitating daily, people are dying with this disease & other diseases because we are being guinea pigged by insurance companies being allowed to cover medications that do not work.
Please hear our cry & Stop insurance companies from acting like they are Dr’s making us take medications that do not help us causing more harm even death.
I find it reprehensible that the insurance companies have any authority to practice medicine without a license. Making mid-year decisions to stop covering certain medications is exactly that. When done to save money rather than for the good of the patient, it is heinous. It is also breaking faith in their coverage contract with the subscriber. Anyone with chronic conditions has already been through the “first fail” before finally finding a medication regime that helps control their symptoms and illness. The idea of Step Therapy affects many patients, not just those using pain medication, but also those who need hormone therapy, antidepressants, and anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS and Steroids) to name a few. A change in that medication can lead to a condition getting worse fast and that is ground that cannot be gained back. It adds an ill-afforded cost to the patient in terms of pain, suffering, and finances. Please support this and leave the practice of medicine to the physicians!
I’ve suffered my whole life with severe allergies. I’ve tried several medications and some work, and done didn’t. The medications that was next up for me to try I couldn’t receive because I never tried a medication on the preferred list first. Needless to say, the injections was denied because of that and I basically gave up and I’m still suffering.
Failed attempts on staying on GP diet, continued to have abd pain, nausea and vomiting. Also put on erythromycin which quit working after a few months, now dx with heart block, and can only have max 4 domperidone a day, not working. Waiting to see if ins will pay for botox injection. If not, can’t afford. Also domperidone not covered by insurance. Continued dehydration from gastroparesis causes my kidneys to fail. Daily life is abd pain, bloating, vomiting off and on, severe nausea. Also had to have an ileostomy placed. The fatigue is unreal. I have not had one treatment help me yet. Please Help!!
My daughter has been suffering from gastroparesis since 2013. We’ve been through all the “fail first” protocol and it’s extremely frustrating! As you watch a loved one who hasn’t eaten or drank by mouth for over 3 years, is on tube feeds to survive, had a gastric stimulator placed (didn’t work), and be told by her specialist doctors there is nothing they can do for her…learn to live with it. …and she’s still losing weight, now skin and bones, it’s extremely frustrating. I’ve prayed and prayed and prayed and prayed, PLEASE I urge you to stand behind the Safe Step Act and help all those suffering to get help sooner than later. Thank you.