'Fail first’ policy

A terrible practice is being applied to many local citizens with mental illness: “fail first.” In January, 36,000 additional Missourians were enrolled in managed care plans under Missouri HealthNet, many of which inflict “fail first” policies that require patients to be treated with medications on a list, often not the medications they currently use that work for them.
Psychiatrists have been forced to switch patients’ medications, resulting in deterioration of their conditions. Patients are being released from hospitals (where they went to get stabilized) and forced to change meds, with disastrous consequences.
This is not only inhumane; it is poor public policy. The minimal savings gained by shrinking the list of available drugs is more than offset by the cost of patients returning to the hospital in crisis, winding up in jail, or returning to a disabled state.
As concerned taxpayers and compassionate citizens, we should demand the state to require discontinuation of this terrible practice.
Susan Crain LewisPresident and CEOMental Health Association of the HeartlandKansas, City, Kan. 
Thank you, carriers
I think we all owe our newspaper delivery people a big tip for all their service during our difficult winter weather.
I am very dependent on my morning fix of coffee and a newspaper. I had one every morning. Thank you.
Carol Graham
Lawrence

Comments

[Rogue]

Yep, drug their sorry asses at the first hint of behavior against the state...you rock Carol baby, you rock.

[NoMoreMrNiceGuy]

No worries! Obama also has figured out how to fix this amongst all the other ills of the world.

[jack]

This problem is self-healing. They either kill themselves, someone else, or the clinics and half-way houses President Reagan promised will open.