Patient Information
Help the Uninsured Get a Quick Start on Rx SavingsWith the quick start savings card from Together Rx Access, individuals who lack prescription drug coverage and are not eligible for Medicare don’t have to wait to start saving on the medicines they need. To date, Together RX Access has 22,182 enrollees from Georgia, out of 589,784. Georgia is the 4th highest state in terms of enrollment.
Individuals and families can determine if they qualify for the quick start savings card by calling 1-800-250-2839. If eligible, the card can be used at the pharmacy counter that day.
Most cardholders save 25 percent to 40 percent on brand-name prescription drugs and products with the free-to-get and free-to-use Card. The program includes more than 300 brand-name medicines and products, prescribed to treat diabetes, hypertension, high cholesterol, allergy, asthma, arthritis, and depression, and other common conditions. Savings on a range of generic medicines are also available.
Email Amy Niles at amyniles@aol.com to request a supply of quick start cards that you can distribute to those who may be eligible.
October 9, 2006
Rise of children and adolescents who are overweight
The percentage of children and adolescents who are overweight in the United States and Georgia continues to rise. Federal data indicates that, in 2003-2004, 17.1% of US children and adolescents (2-19 years) were overweight. In Georgia, overweight is impacting 12% of children aged 2-4 in the WIC program; 14% middle school students; and 11% of high school students. (References: Ogden CL, Carroll MD, et. al. JAMA. 2006 Apr 5;295(13):1549-55. 2003 Pediatric Nutrition Surveillance System. 2003 Georgia Student Health Survey.)
Georgia's family physicians are encouraged to take immediate action to prevent and manage pediatric overweight. Two Georgia-specific fact sheets have been developed to assist clinicians with this effort. These fact sheets were created by the ILSI Research Foundation/Center for Health Promotion via a grant from Healthcare Georgia Foundation with guidance from the Obesity Action Network. The fact sheets may be printed, reproduced and distributed by interested organizations.
Prevention - Fact sheet 1: focuses on the prevention of pediatric overweight including assessment and medical management guidance.
Clinical Action - Fact sheet 2: provides specific tips for action in the clinical setting including information about reimbursement and behavior counseling
October 3, 2006
Partnership For Prescription Assistance Still Going Strong
In April 2005, America’s pharmaceutical research companies joined forces with prominent health care, physician and patient-advocacy organizations to launch the Partnership for Prescription Assistance, the largest private-sector effort to help low-income, uninsured and underinsured patients obtain prescription medicines. The PPA is a single point of access to more than 475 patient-assistance programs, including 180 offered by pharmaceutical companies. The Georgia Academy of Family Physicians is proud to be a partner in this important effort to help patients get the medicines they need.
In just over a year, the PPA has helped more than 2.5 million Americans, including more than 140,000 in Georgia. Much of the success is a result of the support and commitment of the 1,300 national and local health care, physician and patient-advocacy organizations, which include more than 50 in Georgia, that have partnered with the PPA to help spread the word.
The PPA recently unveiled an exciting new feature to the program. Information on free health clinics is now available to patients who call the toll-free number or use the Web site. Research indicates that many patients may be eligible for a patient-assistance program but do not complete the application process because they lack access to a physician. The PPA is working with health clinics to help address the problem and ensure that people in need have access to medical care.
Helping the uninsured continues to be a top priority for the Georgia Academy of Family Physicians. We hope you can join in our efforts to spread the word about the PPA. To learn more about the Partnership for Prescription Assistance, help is just a toll-free phone call away at (888) 4PPA-NOW. You also can visit the user-friendly Web site at www.pparx.org.
September 8, 2006
Health Information for the Whole Family from the AAFP
English:http://familydoctor.org/
Spanish: Información en español de la Academia Americana
de Médicos de Familia Informactión para Niños
en Es
Committee Favors Hepatitis B Vaccine for High-Risk Adults
By Diana Gaskins, BSN, MSN, Nurse Consultant
Georgia Immunization Program
After nearly 15 years, we are accustomed to hearing about hepatitis B vaccination
for infants and children. Less emphasis has been put on the need for this vaccine
series in adult populations, but that is changing. At the October 2005 meeting
of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, the committee voted strongly
in favor of a recommendation for susceptible adults in high-risk groups to be
vaccinated against hepatitis B disease. These groups include individuals with
multiple partners; men who have sex with men; illegal drug users or those in
treatment facilities; clients presenting for STD/HIV testing or treatment; and
inmates in correctional facilities. Clients who seek family planning services
may be considered at potential risk for contracting hepatitis B and should be
offered the vaccine.
Acute hepatitis B disease can have an incubation of from six weeks to six months.
Symptoms may include malaise, anorexia, nausea, vomiting, skin rashes, dark urine
and jaundice, but 50 percent of adult infections are asymptomatic. Symptoms in
adults may persist for weeks or months, and about 10 percent of infections progress
to the chronic disease state. These persons have increased risk of cirrhosis,
hepatocellular carcinoma and liver failure.
Provisional data show the national rate for hepatitis B disease is 2.3 cases/100,000
population. Georgia had 5.3 cases/100,000 in 2004, second in the nation for new
infections. Since routine childhood vaccination against hepatitis B was started
in 1991, the current numbers represent mostly adult infections. Are you immunizing
adults in your practice against hepatitis B? An excellent questionnaire to help
you screen for this important vaccine series can be found at www.immunize.org/catg.d/2191hepb.pdf.
For further information, contact the Georgia Immunization Program at (404) 657-3158.
February 21, 2006