• 4
• 04/26/2009
• Russ Webber

Last comment for now: THIS IS ABOUT BIG BUSINESS AND LOBBIES... Not abuse or patient care..... Monday, August 04, 2008 Insurers Tap Rx Drug Databases To Assess Health Plan Applicants Health insurers are accessing databases that contain more than 200 million U.S. residents' prescription drug records to determine whether to cover individual consumers, the Washington Post reports. Companies create the patient profiles by mining claims databases kept by pharmacy benefit managers, including drugs and dosages prescribed, dates of refills and information on the prescribing physician. The companies then use this information to create a risk rating, or a number that represents an "expected risk" for a particular group of people. According to the Post, the information is available only for patients who are clients in PBM databases and excludes those who pay for drugs in cash Hmm... cash people are excluded... So I guess this is ALL ABOUT making insurance companies profitability.

• 3
• 04/26/2009
• Russ Webber

To John Christensen, a Palm Beach County physician, who said, "It's so ludicrous that we have not mandated (a database), because other states have and it works really well".... A violation of my constitutional rights of privacy doesn't "work really well" in a democracy.

• 2
• 04/26/2009
• Russ Webber

OK, here are the thoughts of our representatives. Sen. Dave Aronberg (D) said, "We can save lives and money (by eliminating lengthy investigations) if we implement the database." If you need to investigate something, Have "probable cause" to suspect a crime by an individual. "Get a warrant". Follow the law and use DUE PROCESS. You cannot throw out our constitution because it is not convenient enough for you. As innocent as all this sounds, it is yet another swing of the axe hacking away at our freedom. All wrapped up and tied with a pretty bow. A present to keep us all safe. Yet we will be lining up to give our rights away. I can hear it now. "Oh thank you big government, thank you for running my life". "I am so much better off" I say go do your job. find criminals without stomping on the innocent. John Christensen, a Palm Beach County physician, said, "It's so ludicrous that we have not mandated (a database), because other states have and it works really well"

• 1
• 04/25/2009
• Russ Webber

The medications I take directly identify the medical conditions I have. They are used for nothing else. People whit the illness I have are discriminated against, denied employment and ostracized. I HAVE A RIGHT TO PRIVACY according to the UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION. Let us not forget the protections from federal laws that this would violate. Understanding HIPAA Privacy The Privacy Rule provides federal protections for personal health information held by covered entities and gives patients an array of rights with respect to that information. At the same time, the Privacy Rule is balanced so that it permits the disclosure of personal health information needed for patient care and other important purposes. "For other important purposes"... Is that a blank check for government to dismiss my right to privacy. To record everyones actions in an attempt to locate criminals is a violation the constitution. States cannot write laws around this. OUTRAGOUS!