What do the Legal Eagles have to say about the ryan bill?

IS this really going to happen?

If it is we all need to get moving on local Drs., as we all KNOW how WELL that works. It will take us to the end of the year to get someone to rx 15 pills.

If this does happen, we are all S C R E W E D. WEll, at least those of us that want to walk!! I guess anyone happy stationary will not be bothered a bit by this!

I've been a long time user of a particular on line service that now uses direct scripts (it doesn't seem to be a very popular service as it is no longer on the US or OCS list but they've always been great to me).

I recently had a reconsult with the doc who informed me that he was getting out of the business after the end of the year and would no longer offer phone consultations.

We're both in Florida and although it would be quite a drive for me he did offer me a very fair deal if I was to make an appointment to see him in person.

I was pretty stunned at the info but now wish I had asked him why he would no longer do online consults.

Has anyone else been told this by their online service? I was trying to find if there has been any new legislation for Florida and Internet Docs but have not been successful.

Any feedback would be most appreciated.

Well, those of us in no-ship states were already "s c r e w e d", so yes, I would suggest beginning the work of getting a local doc in progress. Although they have been talking about this bill for a long time, I haven't kept up with it much so I do not know alot about when it is set to go in motion for sure. IOP's have come to have more importance since ROP's are no longer an option.

Tigersmom, once i call my congressmen what or how do I say or do I have to explain why? pls give me some pointers?

As a concerned Voter, I am urging you to Vote NO on the proposed Legislation, HR 6353 (as written) for the following reasons:

Although the Bill has been sold as essential to prohibiting "children" from purchasing dangerous drugs off the internet, Almost all the studies on the issue show that Most minors get prescription drugs from parents, grandparents, or a friend's parents (from their medicine chest, etc.) and NOT off the internet.

The passage of HR 6353 will stymie the ability to develop telemedicine as a suppliment to underserved remote, and rural communities that are suffering from a severe shortage of Doctors.

The OnlineConsultation services (which pair Doctors/PAs with patients) have responded to the fear that minors will use their services by tightening up the requirements the consumer must meet before even talking to their Doctors/PAS: a prospective patient MUST have up to date medical records, including proof that the medication has been prescribed by their Primary Care Physician in the past, a valid state issued ID, (some services even require a social security number as additional proof of identity) the prospective patient MUST speak to a licensed Doctor or PA with a current DEA license, an adult signature is required when the medication is delivered, etc. In addition, the DEA has taken down the questionnaire only sites dispensing controlled substances that once flourished on the internet...and rightly so!

Passing HR 6353 will further hurt Chronic Pain Patients who are already undermedicated due to the DEA's misuse of the CSA to persecute, and in many instances, prosecute Doctors they feel are "over-prescribing" pain medication (the DEA seems to think that long term use of pain medication is only appropriate in TERMINAL cases.) When used as directed, which the vast majority of chronic pain patients do, opioid pain relievers are still some of the most effacious, and safest, medications on the market for chronic pain.

Abolish the legitimate USA based websites using licensed Doctors and pharmacies, and the true drug dealers move in needing only an email address and spamming to peddle their wares: which could be fake at best, dangerous at worst. And, of course, these people WILL take anyone's money without scruple; including the money of minors.

Ditto as above for dubious International Sites which will become a huge problem with hundreds of thousands of desperate Americans spinning a dangerous drug "roulette" wheel.

Let me emphasis that the Chronic Pain community has nothing against sensible legislation that truly "protects" minors from ordering dangerous drugs by imposing appropriate restrictions on the cutting edge of telemedicine, but this BILL is not it.

So what else is new, the state owns my body, my mind and soul. Oh yes my sweat also.

This bill and similar bills have been introduced in the house on several different occasions as pork on other less appealing bills; the difference this time is the bill is having very little opposition and should skate through both house and senate in its present form .The prescribing physician must do a good faith in person physical exam prior to prescribing Any prescription medication. It will still be legal for followup consults to occur(whose frequency is dictated by state law) however Federal regulations will require at least one face to face good faith physical exam before the dispensing of any medications. The penalties will be huge for the offending doctor(considered the pusher) as well as the patient(who is considered the buyer.In my opinion the bottom line is if you get medications without fist seeing the Doctor you will be opening yourself to a criminal charge