October 31, 2001 Keeping in Touch
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~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~This issue of Keeping in Touch contains some inspirational thoughts, some timely information about what's being done to help control drug costs (a big concern to most of us), and a way we've found to help you save money at the grocery store.
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~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Something to think about:
IF I HAD MY LIFE TO LIVE OVER
I would have invited friends over to dinner even if the carpet was stained and the sofa faded.I would have eaten the popcorn in the "GOOD" living room and worried much less about the dirt when someone wanted to light a fire in the fireplace.
I would have taken the time to listen to my grandfather ramble about his youth.
I would never have insisted the car windows be rolled up on a summer day because my hair had just been teased and sprayed.
I would have burned the pink candle sculpted like a rose before it melted in storage.
I would have sat on the lawn with my children and not worried about grass stains.
I would have cried and laughed less while watching television and more while watching life.
I would have gone to bed when I was sick instead of pretending the earth would go into a holding pattern if I weren't there for the day.
I would never have bought anything just because it was practical, wouldn't show soil or was guaranteed to last a lifetime.
Instead of wishing away nine months of pregnancy, I'd have cherished every moment realizing that the wonderment growing inside me was the only chance in life to assist God in a miracle.
When my kids kissed me impetuously, I would never have said, "Later. Now go get washed up for dinner."
There would have been more "I love you's" .....but mostly, given another shot at life, I would seize every minute.....look at it and really see it ... live it ... and never give it back.
(In honor of women's history month and in memory of Erma Bombeck who lost her fight with cancer.)
Pass this on to five women that you think would Appreciate the sentiment. If you don't know five women to pass this on to, only one will do just fine. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Our thanks to our friends at PRNewswire for the following:
Seniors Say Generic Medications Would Provide Financial Relief, New NCL Survey Shows
WASHINGTON, Oct. 30, 2001 -- One in five senior citizens pays more than $1,000 out of pocket for their prescription drugs each year. And nearly half (46 percent) of seniors report that substituting generic drugs for brand drugs would make a "substantial or major financial impact," according to a survey released by the National Consumers League today.
The survey of persons 65 and over was conducted by Opinion Research Corporation International for the National Consumers League on September 20-24 to assess seniors' concerns about costs of prescription drugs and their perceptions about generic drugs. Most of the respondents, 75 percent, are on Medicare; 44 percent have a health insurance plan; 10% primarily pay for healthcare through a Medicaid program; 3% have no health coverage and pay for all care out of pocket.
Respondents did well on consumer education questions concerning generic drugs. Four of five consumers recognize that generic drugs are generally just as effective as brand name prescription drugs, and nine out of ten would be very or somewhat likely to try generics if their doctor recommended they do so.
NCL has raised concern about abusive delay tactics by some brand pharmaceutical companies. Recently BuSpar, Paxil, and Tiazac have gained additional market exclusivity at the expense of generic alternatives. Over the next few years, prescription drugs worth approximately $35-40 billion annually will lose their patent protection. This includes five of the ten top prescription drugs most used by seniors: Prilosec, K-Dur, Fosamax, Glucophage, and Plavix.
"There is a need for laws to be changed so that when prescription drug patents expire, delay tactics, which prevent consumers' access to less costly alternative generic drugs, won't be permitted," said NCL President Linda Golodner. "Pharmaceutical manufacturers should be able to recover their costs in bringing drugs to market through patent protection, but when the patent expires, it is unfair and unjustifiable to allow drug manufacturers to keep generics from the market."
NCL sent letters to the FDA and Congress on October 11 to urge them to bring an end to continued abuses and delays by brand pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca, Prilosec's maker. Just three days before the basic compound patent on Prilosec was to expire, AstraZeneca suggested the FDA explore "chemistry" issues in regard to the generic drug's manufacturing process, an issue that AstraZeneca claims is inherent in the process, but has not affected its own product for the 12 years it has been on the market.
"This underscores why our laws must be reformed, said Golodner. "These stall tactics threaten to wipe out all the savings that should be made available to the public over the next five years as some of our most popular - - and expensive -- drugs lose their patent protection. That should mean savings for many Americans, including senior citizens who use most of the prescription drugs on the market."
Survey results are available online at www.nclnet.org. NCL also offers a brochure: "A Consumer's Guide to Generic Drugs" available on the Web site or by calling 202-835-3323.
The National Consumers League, founded in 1899, is America's pioneer consumer organization. Our mission is to identify, protect, represent, and advance the economic and social interests of consumers and workers. NCL is a private, nonprofit membership organization.
SOURCE National Consumers League
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