Does your doc have your best interests in mind?

[FLA]

Good Rx and Medicare have both posted about drugs that will likely be uncovered next year. Some were surprising, like ventolin. That's a pretty necessary drug and ridiculously expensive already. And neupogen, there's probably a substitute that's covered, but why isn't neupogen generic by now? I practiced for 23 yrs and was using it way back in '92.

[disneysteve]

Good Rx and Medicare have both posted about drugs that will likely be uncovered next year. Some were surprising, like ventolin. That's a pretty necessary drug and ridiculously expensive already.

Perfect example. There are 3 brands of albuterol inhalers: Ventolin, Proventil, and ProAir. They are all exactly the same. So if Ventolin isn't covered, one of the other two will be. It's all based on who negotiated the best deal.

[disneysteve]

I thought of this thread this morning. I heard on the news that tests were done on bottles of aloe vera gel from several major retailers including CVS, Target, and WalMart. The tests found that the products contained no evidence of aloe vera. Why? The first reason given is that these "natural" products are not regulated by the FDA so there is no oversight to make sure that the products are what they claim they are.

[LivingAlmostLarge]

The truth of negotiating with insurance companies over which is covered happens all the time. My daughter was on one inhaler that stopped being covered so the dr switched us because our insurance made them. Was it the pharma? Yes and no.

And no a lot of homeopathic stuff is not at all regulated by the FDA.

[Captain Save]

I thought of this thread this morning. I heard on the news that tests were done on bottles of aloe vera gel from several major retailers including CVS, Target, and WalMart. The tests found that the products contained no evidence of aloe vera. Why? The first reason given is that these "natural" products are not regulated by the FDA so there is no oversight to make sure that the products are what they claim they are.

if you want the benefits of Aloe Vera .. go get Aloe Vera .. I never get the logic of people who want natural products and go get something in the bottle.. especially when the natural product is available in its natural state..

Certain products can't be found in the US and have to be sold in powder form .. I can understnad that logic.. or others you can't just make yourself ... like olive oil ..

speaking of which .. i'll lleave on this note

http://www.forbes.com/sites/larryolmsted/2016/09/30/its-extra-virgin-olive-oil-day-is-your-evoo-real-or-fake/#b1112ee99ed8

[GoodSteward]

I thought of this thread this morning. I heard on the news that tests were done on bottles of aloe vera gel from several major retailers including CVS, Target, and WalMart. The tests found that the products contained no evidence of aloe vera. Why? The first reason given is that these "natural" products are not regulated by the FDA so there is no oversight to make sure that the products are what they claim they are.

Wow, isn't this listed in the ingredients or somewhere on the bottle? This is still dirty business. I do favor the natural industry, but I also look at most of it with a skeptic eye because you can claim anything you want from something natural or such as in this case, claim something it isn't at all.

[disneysteve]

Wow, isn't this listed in the ingredients or somewhere on the bottle?

Natural products are not subject to FDA regulation so there is nobody checking to make sure that the products are what they say they are. It doesn't matter what it says on the labels.

I've seen plenty of other investigative reports over the years that have shown that many supplements don't contain what they claim to.

[FLA]

I heard a news story that NY is trying to pass a law that homeopathic remedies have to carry a label that they do not work, that surprised me. I can see saying "has not been tested by the FDA" but flat out "do not work" is a strong message to send.

[disneysteve]

I heard a news story that NY is trying to pass a law that homeopathic remedies have to carry a label that they do not work, that surprised me. I can see saying "has not been tested by the FDA" but flat out "do not work" is a strong message to send.

I sure hope that passes. Homeopathic "remedies" are nothing but placebos. It would be great to see legal acknowledgement of that.