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9AM Call-In Year 2000 Computer Problem: Health Care Industry C-SPAN, Washington Journal Washington, District of Columbia (United States) ID: 151859 - 09/01/1999 - 09:00:00 - 1:00 - No Sale

Albergo, Paul, Managing Editor, Health Care Policy Report

-- y2k dave (xsdaa111@hotmail.com), September 01, 1999

Answers

Thanks for the head's up, Y2K Dave.

Got in just in time to hear the guest speaker, Paul Albergo, Editor Health Care Policy Report, Bureau of National Affairs (private publishing company) say he is surprised by a caller's assertion that 80% of drugs come from overseas. He hasn't heard that and does not know if that number is correct. [My impression is that Alberg seems to think it sounds too high.]

Albergo notes that government officials "feel that the drug supply is OK." He says government officials know that the health industry came late to Y2K and some of the smaller providers are not as compliant, maybe they're not aware. [Not as compliant? Is that like a little bit pregnant?] It's up to the patient to go and ask if the providers, pharmacists, insurance cos. are compliant.

Another caller is talking about the limits on prescription refills. Albergo stresses DON'T go ahead of time to fill a prescription; refill it when you have 5-7 days left. Follow the appropriate guidelines if your insurance company is strict on when you can refill.

[Outrage! In other words, you're screwed! Albergo offers no suggestion that you pay for your own drugs to obtain a supply nor does he explain other means by which you might obtain a bit of a stash.]

A caller is asking about small supplies, e.g., syringes, needles, sterilizing equipment, also emergency vehicles--ambulances, 911 system. Albergo replies FEMA is taking care of ensuring the 911 system will be okay, FDA will oversee medical equipment, requires it to be compliant by October 1 (demonstrated compliance) or it will be pulled from market. H does not know the answer to the small supplies question, has heard no concern raised about that. Very good question, just does not know the answer.

A caller raises the refill question again. The insurance company controls it, caller says. His prescription has to be 75% used up before he can get a refill. He complains that Albergo didn't explain HOW you can get a prescription refilled. Albergo says again, find out what the ruiles are and follow them--his main point is, he says, don't hoard drugs because they [presumably the pharmaceutical industry] don't want to create artifical shortages and they don't want to create patient safety issues as well. [Note which concern comes first.]

Another caller says she shouldn't have to spend hours and hours on the phone, for instance, she made calls re Y2K compliance to gas, water, phone, electricity companies to find out their Y2K status--the media should be doing this. Why don't the health insurance companies let us know what's going on? We pay them plenty of money, why don't THEY let US know? Albergo: There's a very personal relationship between the patient and the health care provider. The individual has to take ultimate responsibility for their health, check to see if insurance companies have paid the bill; there are lots of things the patient has to do, it's a very personal relationship with their health care provider, this is just an extension of that. [Oh what a cop-out!]

The next caller is a disabled veteran who's had trouble with VA prescriptions in the past--does Albergo have any information on the VA pharmacyies' Y2K status? Albergo noted there was aroundtable discussion earlier this year, where VA said it saw no problems, but if the caller is worried, her should check it out; check with his physician around his specific medical situation to make sure he's taken care of.

Another caller brings up prescription refills again. He says he had his doctor write him a private prescription for his blood pressure medicine, a 6-month supply, paid for it himn self. The caller advocates paying for it yourself, syas don't depend on your insurance company's regulations. Albergo seems a bit taken aback, but remarks that if this person's physician was willing to prescribe, then physician is not concerned with the shelf-life of that particular medication. Albergo syas don't assuem that your medicine can sit on the chelf for six months. [This is another outrage! I have checked with several pharmacists and they say IN GENERAL, medicines can last 2-4 years in coll, dry, dark conditions. That is, not next to your body in a pants pocket or in the glove compartment of a hot car. There are a few medications which require refrigeration after opening--insulin, e.g.--and some, especially if in very dark bottles, which can decompose dangerously in a short period of time. I happen to know that my own blood pressure med has at least a two-year shelf-life. Now why didn't this editor of a professional journal know this??? Ask your pharmacist to put on the label THE EXPIRATION DATE FROM THE ORIGINAL MEDICATION CONTAINER, not some arbitrary CYA date the computer spits out.]

The host asks Albergo if he's concerned. He asnwers yes, because system is so decentalized, and anything can happen at any particular point. But this is an industry used to dealing with emergency situations, and there's a back-up system in place in many situations.

[Surely Albergo knows most pharmacetuical ingrednts/medications come from overseas! Surely he knows the several ways around presctiption refill limitations! Surely he knows that most medicines have a 2-4 year shelf life! I can only believe he's spouting the health industry line, which is don't mess up our nice little JIT system. Appalling, effing appalling.]

-- Old Git (anon@spamproblems.com), September 01, 1999.

Old Git, thank you very much for listening and reporting this.

-- Ashton & Leska in Cascadia (allaha@earthlink.net), September 01, 1999.

Good job, Old Git! I watched the program and you summarized it quite accurately.

-- prefer anonymous (myopinion@goodjob.com), September 01, 1999.

Old Git,

I am actually encouraged by your report. If Albergo put his foot in his mouth as you indicate, maybe a few more people GIed today. I keep wondering, however, if this is a practice run for these people. Many of them have seemed like they were very uncomfortable in answering caller's questions. And some did not come up with reasonable answers.

I was a caller on the show in which CSPAN had the guys from NERC and the Dallas Examiner. I was just waking up at the time and hadn't had my coffee. The Dallas Examiner guy conveniently forgot my second question and the host didn't remind him of it. Of course, I couldn't remind him as they had already hung up on me in the middle of my second question-statement.

Sincerely, Stan Faryna

-- Stan Faryna (info@giglobal.com), September 01, 1999.