The Old Folks Home

[perchie.girl]

There is just nowhere in this log cabin to make any space. I should have insisted on a bigger house.

get a used travel trailer and turn it into a project room.

deb

 

[Perris]

the conversation I had with a pharmacy rep who came around to the nursing home I worked at back in IL. He had to come in once a month to do chart audits and we got to talking about drug costs. I asked him why the steroidal nose spray I use, Flonase, was only 7.50 when I started using it, and in 2004 was up to 57$ and WHY could I cross the border into Mexico and buy the same drug for less than 5$? It was like that with all meds in the US. Antibiotics, some over 100$ here were under 10$ in Mexico. Without missing a beat, he said, 'Because they can't afford to pay the same prices we pay here in the US.' I told him I had news for him. We couldn't afford them either.

what I don't understand is why your govt protects drug companies making excessive profits... I thought you had a free market there - why are pharmaceuticals excepted? Have they not legislated since the Shkreli case? There's been a brouhaha here recently over the Sacklers.

 

[bruceha2000]

Not regulated with regard to prices. Very much the ugly side of capitalism. Someone needs a drug to stay alive, rape them because what choice do they have? Well they can skip food or maybe just die. As long as there are insurance companies that will pay, they'll keep doing it.

I asked him why the steroidal nose spray I use, Flonase, was only 7.50 when I started using it, and in 2004 was up to 57$

Are you still on it? I remember it was $5 copay until it went OTC, then it was $20+ and insurance paid nothing. @ronott1 clued me into the generic sold by Costco Aller-Flo. Current price - $23 for FIVE bottles. Wait until it is on sale and it is more like $18. Flonase 120 sprays at the store is still $21.

It's a no win scenario for everyone.

Someone is winning and it isn't the people buying the drugs nor the actual pharmacist selling them.

There is just nowhere in this log cabin to make any space. I should have insisted on a bigger house.

Add on

 

[CapricornFarm]

get a used travel trailer and turn it into a project room.

deb

Really don't have a place to put a trailer, and it's too hot without ac. But thanks.
You are looking great Deb!

 

[chickadoodles]

Oh no, why do you tell me this stuff? Now I want one. I had convinced myself I didn't need one.

Cap I forgot to mention it also does engraving.

 

[CapricornFarm]

Cap I forgot to mention it also does engraving.

I was looking at them online, a person could spend a fortune.

 

[chickadoodles]

I was looking at them online, a person could spend a fortune.

Yes you could. I did. I bought all the tools and supplies for each kind of crafting. I had to buy new storage for all the stuff. lol I spent two months waiting for it to all get here. Due to covid shut down.
But most just add a little here or there depending on their interests. I spend over 900. on supplies and then cricut was on back order forever! So I ordered another cricut from Walmart and got it the same day! lol And when the one I paid for got here from cricut, I sold it half price to my dd #2. I did not want to wait 2 months for it to get here from China!
Cricut has finally caught up I believe. But I bought all the vinyl, wood, copper sheeting and leather and ton's of paper. Then the storage for each. lol I had to re-do my sewing room to make room for all the stuff.
Oh and now I need label sheets to put lables on all the storage so I know what's were! lol

 

[getaclue]

For anyone wondering about our drug prices, and why it's discouraged to buy them from other countries: While most components to our drugs are manufactured primarily in China, or India, there is a huge difference in manufacturing. For example, in a specific plant derived medication, the plants are the same as far as species, and genus, BUT the strength, and purity of the component(s) extracted, vary. Region, soil type, water sources, etc. play a major role in the end product. Similar to grapes for wine production. We see that here too, in food. Plants from one region may be very potent, and significantly purer, than from another region. The same is true of non plant derived medications.

In addition, to ensure potency, and purity, there are plenty of times that the manufacturing plants are set up differently, for the source ingredients to meet US standards.

The US not only controls source, quality, potency, and purity here in the US, but in each country manufacturing medications, or source materials for medications for the US, there is the equivalent of the FDA set up to oversee quality, potency, and purity. It's checked, and tested before it ever leaves the country of origin. It's re-checked when it arrives here too.

Other countries do not have this set up. While the less potent plants, and those exposed to other things are still used, and/or manufactured under different standards, with little to no quality control, they are sold for significantly less.

There is a significant cost involved in ensuring the higher standards.

I'm not saying there are not those that are price gouging, because they can. It happens. Newer drugs, cost more to help cover the cost of research, and development. Years of research, testing, and trials don't come cheap. After 5 years, new drugs can then be manufactured as a generic alternative, which reduces the cost significantly. Comparison shopping can be beneficial too.

As to medical treatment, and drugs being free in other countries, they are NOT. The people pay for them, but not directly, as we do. Usually it's in the form of a "tax", which may be called something else, but is still a tax. In England, the cost of petrol is significantly higher than here in the US. The bulk of the extra cost, is one of the ways their country pays for medical costs. Again, the people are paying, just not directly, as we do. While most countries claim to have good standards of medical care, comparable to the US, that simply is not so. Canada, while they do offer free healthcare to all, also has Privatized Medicine. That's a higher standard of healthcare, for those that are working, and/or can afford it. It's nothing like the standard of the free healthcare.

 

[Perris]

But since the Feds got into the Meds wars they made Canada Drugs take down their website that all of us in the USA were using. And posted a warning that anyone buying from another country and getting meds in the mail would go to jail!

Not regulated with regard to prices.

why it's discouraged to buy them from other countries

I understand about ingredient and quality issues, and development costs, but if chickadoodles is right, it is not just discouraged, it is criminally illegal (jail even, not just a fine!) to pay your money and take your choice to get them from another country. That's what I don't understand. And I imagine Canadian standards are as high as US standards.

Yes indeed, it isn't really 'free' here, we pay for what we get via taxes. England has a flat charge of something like £6 per prescription (with discount deals for people needing lots of regular supplies), but the Welsh govt decided to scrap that charge (so too parking costs in hospital car parks). Sick people are usually poorer than the rest of us anyway, and they seemed like extra taxes on the ill. And there is private for those who want it, often staffed by NHS staff in their down (over)time.

Prices aren't regulated here either, but the NHS won't pay for something unless it's been passed by NICE (National Institute of Clinical Excellence), and they include value for money in their appraisal, to eliminate the price gougers. It is also the case that some things just aren't offered, and some poor souls have to crowd fund to get the treatment they seek (usually at a hospital in the US).

 

[pennyJo1960]

Morning Old Folks here ... The downside in Canada Tax is huge there to pay for the
medical they have