Man, What Gives With These $200 Doctor Approvals? Overpriced For Cancer Patients Eh?

[jonnynobody]

My wife found out about 2 months ago that she has a cancerous tumor in her throat for which she has to endure 7 weeks of radiation treatment 5 days a week in hopes of eliminating the cancer. So far she's 1 week into radiation and is already dealing with ulcers in her mouth which are very painful and has lost the ability to speak above a harsh whisper. We both thought it would be a great idea to get her signed up for the state medical mj program to help alleviate some of her pain and loss of appetite but every single doctor I've found wants a minimum of $150 (most want $200) for a certification...then add on the $100 registration fee...we're talking a minimum of $250 (most $300) to get a seriously ill person registered for the program. Is there any sort of community agreement that this represents compassion?

I understand the need for doctors to make a profit but I don't feel like the original intent of the act is being represented when these doctors are price gouging a patient. I would very much like to approach her oncologist about this recommendation but I'm rather fearful of his response...in pain management clinics people get cut-off of their pain medications if a doctor discovers you use mj so what if this oncologist decided to cut off her pain medication in the middle of treatment. That would be devastating to say the least. Eventually in a few weeks I will be able to barely afford to pay one of these hapless price gouging doctors but that leaves her without for another 3 weeks and then 21 more days after sending off the cert paperwork....maybe it's just me but it just seems like a crummy way to show compassion for seriously ill patients. I don't understand why there are discounts for those on SSD and medicaid but for people who are seriously ill - you get the shaft because you aren't on state financial assistance. As it stands, she's on LOA from work which has not only resulted in a substantial loss of income to our household, we're also having to pay out of pocket for all of her insurance premiums which are around $400/month so that she can maintain health insurance coverage for her treatments. And for those wondering why I just don't buy off the street...we're new to the state and don't know anyone. Sucks....I know. Makes me wish I was back home Def. not feelin the love right now on the MMA...

 

[lilmrschronic]

Hey I'm in Wayne county and a friend just opened up a dispensary and certain parts of the month they run clinics with south lake medical group. My husband went to see the south lake medical group a few months back to get approved for his card and it cost him $125. That's about the cheapest I've seen it, and he had to mention a name to get it that cheap, I think it was 150 before he mentioned the name. From what I've heard you really can't get it for less than that. Sorry to hear about your wives condition, have you tried talking to her normal doctor? I would hope that they would be compassionate about her situation, but I know how most of them are not. I've heard if you're lucky, some doctors (normal doctor that you see) will sign for it, but they are rare to come by. My husband asked his doctor if he would sign for the renewal when it comes time for that and he wanted nothing to do with it. Good luck with everything, and I hope you find a reasonable price =)

 

[hammer6913]

i went through alternative solutions. 100 bucks and 75 recertify. and u dont have to go clinic. just send them paperwork before card expires. he flies all over mi for clinics. here is a link to a mobile med service. her name is christin i believe. but she works for the dr. and can give u the # to the clinic. feel free to pm me if i can help further

[email protected]

 

[hic]

I am not so sure smoking marijuana is in the best intrest of a throat cancer patient? Cocaine would be a better alternative I would think?

 

[Murfy]

first research rick simpson oil-

second, your family doc won't give you the rec. i mean, cancer? she should be able to get one her doctors to admit to cannabis having remarkable powers for cancer healing. also, the national cancer institute, has just released a (memo?, report?) stating that cannabis DOES have medical uses, including direct anti-tumor properties. i just ahppened to see that in passing and don't have the link handy, but i'm sure a small amount of sleuthing would reveal it.
SHOW THAT SHIT TO THE DOC. all of a sudden they're not up to date with the NCI, and have to write the REC.

 

[jonnynobody]

I am not so sure smoking marijuana is in the best intrest of a throat cancer patient? Cocaine would be a better alternative I would think?

Medibles, sir. I'm quite crafty with cannabutter.

 

[jonnynobody]

first research rick simpson oil-

second, your family doc won't give you the rec. i mean, cancer? she should be able to get one her doctors to admit to cannabis having remarkable powers for cancer healing. also, the national cancer institute, has just released a (memo?, report?) stating that cannabis DOES have medical uses, including direct anti-tumor properties. i just ahppened to see that in passing and don't have the link handy, but i'm sure a small amount of sleuthing would reveal it.
SHOW THAT SHIT TO THE DOC. all of a sudden they're not up to date with the NCI, and have to write the REC.

Most mainstream doctors don't want anything to do with the whole deal. I don't want to risk the relationship she's established with her doctor nor do I want to take the risk of her PC relaying that info to her oncologist. I don't mind paying a small tax for increased confidentiality by going outside the usual channels but $200 is just price gouging plain and simple for a 10-15 minute visit. It's not like this is a massage with a happy ending for cryin out loud...great info on the simpson oil btw...reading up now.

 

[Murfy]

sure-

there are docs doing it in the mid michigan area for 100.
simpson's website is phoenix tears, and his vid is running/hiding from the cure.

 

[deprave]

medicaid and disability people do get a discount, your state registration is only 25$ or 50$ cant remember, but I know a doctor in flint area who will do it for 100$ or less just message me if you need referel. $200 is only the tail end retail doctors, look deeper you will find ones for 100$ or less. Goodluck

 

[Timmahh]

going to anyone that will cert you without records is ASKING for issues. FIND A GOOD DR that wants records of history to validate. with out them your just a target running around.

search Dr Ruth Buck from Saginaw Mi. she has been doing certs with out much or any need for previous records. shes setting in jail right now. yes their is alot of background to the story, like she was out on bond from being charged by the DEA of over priscribing narcotics. thus when she signed recommendations for MMJ, she was breaking a federal law (MMJ is illegal federally) thus broke her bond, and is setting in jail now.

she signed nearly 1900 MMJ recommendations in the last 2 yrs. and now pretty much ever person she signed will have some major issues. at the minimum finding a new dr to recertify, or at the maximum, being pulled over and finding out their MMJ signed by DR Buck has been revoked, and they are not LEGAL MMJ Patients.


I suggest you call Dr. Robert Townsend. Dr Bob and the certification crew. he wants Records. his office call is 200.00 but he does other clinic for 125.00. monday night in Clare Mi he has one going on at the Super 8 hotel in clare.

DO NOT ENDANGER YOUR FREEDOM< or the freedoms of your fellow MMJ Patients here in Michigan by being certified by a clinic that just pushes them out the door. THEY WILL NOT PROTECT YOU, and the Dr will probably NEVER show up in court if you need them to validate your Dr/Pt relationship. Dr Bob WILL. its worth the slighly added cost to see a GOOD Dr and know all the I's have been dotted, and the T's have been crossed. not to mention if you have to go to court, Dr Bob will be their to validate your Dr/Pt relationship (why the records are SO important to have for a certifying Dr) and help keep you a free MMJ using Pt, not a locked up criminal.

 

[Timmahh]

your wife should not feel FUNNY or WRONG in discussing MMJ with her Oncologist.

If you cant talk openly with your dr, and your dr is unwilling to talk with you about your treatments on ANY LEVEL< you need a New DR. this one only cares about her paycheck and kickbacks from the pharms.

YOUR DR MUST HAVE YOUR FAITH AND TRUST. if if they dont, your at the wrong Drs office. RUN AWAY NOW and find a good one!

 

[Pimpernickel]

What I don't understand is why doesn't my insurance cover the visit. I understand why they don't cover the cost of the meds but why isn't the visit covered? It seems like a general consultation that should be covered to me, the doc could have gave me a Vicodin scrip if she wanted to.

 

[jonnynobody]

Thanks very much for all of your responses...I genuinely feel that this is a discussion worth having for the benefit of all patients trying to get certified who don't want to get raped on the cost of a visit. We do have records already printed out from the office stating her diagnosis and course of treatment so the records issue is not a problem which is why I don't feel a $200 visit is justified. It's not like we're trying to get her registered for a hang nail and claiming chronic pain. I received a good referral to a place called alternative solutions plus (google if interested) that I'm told charges $100 for certs. with records which is the best I have found. I'm waiting for verification via e-mail from the office on the price but a person here who referred me said the charge for the visit is $100. I'm going to toss the idea around of discussing this with her oncologist but I'd really be more comfortable dealing with a doctor who isn't going to raising the judgmental eyebrow when the topic is brought up. I do agree with the above poster who said you should be able to discuss this with your oncologist...that is the ethical way the doctor patient relationship should be but unfortunately we do not live in that perfect world of high ethical standards amongst our health care providers when it comes to certain types of alternative treatment (i.e. mmj).

 

[Timmahh]

Pimper. Ins companies have to play by fed and state regulations. with MMJ still Fed Illegal, that stops the ins companies from coming on board, even in a MMJ legal state. once its federally taken off the sched 1 list, and put to the sched 2 list, then ins companies will be able to get on board.

with the increased enlightenment of TCH recpetors by the millions in the human body, and the increased scientific data on the beneficial medical use of TCH on the body, the Fed gov will move it to a Sched 2 narcotic (which actually it isnt a narcotic at all, but thats where its lumped into) then our INS companies can start adopting policy on MMJ and Ins coverage issues.


it of my valition, once a Sched 2 narc, many many ins companies will infact adopt good MMJ policy, as they can easily see the financial benefits of a PT using MMJ over other prescription/man made meds. just the additional prescriptions for meds to counteract the side effects of the current prescription drugs patients have to take will be a huge financial beacon to the ins companies that they can save Massive amounts of monies from being spent on just drugs to treat the syptoms created from the drugs currently taken. ie by paying for MMJ, they ll save Billions in NOT paying for 2ndary meds.


GL JonnyNoBody. I lost my 2 sisters to cancer, so ive walked that hard path first hand. Seriously check into the simpson Oil!!! this may be just the ticket, and should it work as noted, may not be a need for poisening her body with chemo drugs. look for and dig hard into EVERY Avenue you can use to get her cured, not just the ones our book educated drs offer. they are called PRACTITIONERs for a reason. I dont need/want a dr that is practicing, i want a Dr that is an Expert. a Practicing Dr still dont know shit imo. and most experts are barely above a practicing dr. no offense to those hard working drs out there, but you know the ones im talking about. Im a Dr. i have 12 yrs of reading books and a piece of paper that says i know what im talking about cuz i read the book, Twice. The Do as i Say cuz your to stupid to understand me kind of people.

anyways, remember and remind your current Drs if need be, THEY ARE YOUR EMPLOYEE, You HIRE THEM, they dont Hire you as a Pt.

 

[Murfy]

i know for sure that pain management clinics, and most specialists WILL take the pharmaceuticals away when they find out you are a MMJ patient.-

 

[kbo ca]

My wife found out about 2 months ago that she has a cancerous tumor in her throat for which she has to endure 7 weeks of radiation treatment 5 days a week in hopes of eliminating the cancer. So far she's 1 week into radiation and is already dealing with ulcers in her mouth which are very painful and has lost the ability to speak above a harsh whisper. We both thought it would be a great idea to get her signed up for the state medical mj program to help alleviate some of her pain and loss of appetite but every single doctor I've found wants a minimum of $150 (most want $200) for a certification...then add on the $100 registration fee...we're talking a minimum of $250 (most $300) to get a seriously ill person registered for the program. Is there any sort of community agreement that this represents compassion?

I understand the need for doctors to make a profit but I don't feel like the original intent of the act is being represented when these doctors are price gouging a patient. I would very much like to approach her oncologist about this recommendation but I'm rather fearful of his response...in pain management clinics people get cut-off of their pain medications if a doctor discovers you use mj so what if this oncologist decided to cut off her pain medication in the middle of treatment. That would be devastating to say the least. Eventually in a few weeks I will be able to barely afford to pay one of these hapless price gouging doctors but that leaves her without for another 3 weeks and then 21 more days after sending off the cert paperwork....maybe it's just me but it just seems like a crummy way to show compassion for seriously ill patients. I don't understand why there are discounts for those on SSD and medicaid but for people who are seriously ill - you get the shaft because you aren't on state financial assistance. As it stands, she's on LOA from work which has not only resulted in a substantial loss of income to our household, we're also having to pay out of pocket for all of her insurance premiums which are around $400/month so that she can maintain health insurance coverage for her treatments. And for those wondering why I just don't buy off the street...we're new to the state and don't know anyone. Sucks....I know. Makes me wish I was back home Def. not feelin the love right now on the MMA...

forget the card, just buy her some good herb. It WILL help with pain and appetite.

 

[Mr.Therapy Man 2]

going to anyone that will cert you without records is ASKING for issues. FIND A GOOD DR that wants records of history to validate. with out them your just a target running around.

search Dr Ruth Buck from Saginaw Mi. she has been doing certs with out much or any need for previous records. shes setting in jail right now. yes their is alot of background to the story, like she was out on bond from being charged by the DEA of over priscribing narcotics. thus when she signed recommendations for MMJ, she was breaking a federal law (MMJ is illegal federally) thus broke her bond, and is setting in jail now.

she signed nearly 1900 MMJ recommendations in the last 2 yrs. and now pretty much ever person she signed will have some major issues. at the minimum finding a new dr to recertify, or at the maximum, being pulled over and finding out their MMJ signed by DR Buck has been revoked, and they are not LEGAL MMJ Patients.


I suggest you call Dr. Robert Townsend. Dr Bob and the certification crew. he wants Records. his office call is 200.00 but he does other clinic for 125.00. monday night in Clare Mi he has one going on at the Super 8 hotel in clare.

DO NOT ENDANGER YOUR FREEDOM< or the freedoms of your fellow MMJ Patients here in Michigan by being certified by a clinic that just pushes them out the door. THEY WILL NOT PROTECT YOU, and the Dr will probably NEVER show up in court if you need them to validate your Dr/Pt relationship. Dr Bob WILL. its worth the slighly added cost to see a GOOD Dr and know all the I's have been dotted, and the T's have been crossed. not to mention if you have to go to court, Dr Bob will be their to validate your Dr/Pt relationship (why the records are SO important to have for a certifying Dr) and help keep you a free MMJ using Pt, not a locked up criminal.

Your not telling it all this doctor Ruth prescibed over 1.5 million doses of opiods to patients that were not ill..The fuckin bitch belongs in JAIL.I deal with opoid addiction now due to some fuckin quak like her.I say throw away the key>>>>

 

[jonnynobody]

forget the card, just buy her some good herb. It WILL help with pain and appetite.

Wish I could man but it's no easy task when you don't know anybody and you're not a college student. The card is really my only in to hook up.

 

[Timmahh]

i dont know her background, but have heard she opperated as a End of Life Dr. dealing much with folks in the last days of life. I watch one of my 2 sisters that died from aggressive cancer, waste away to nothing, and it was extremely painfull for her. So if this was the type of pt Dr Ruth was dealing with, then she has my full support.
but 13 days after my sister died, my brother died of an accidental o.d. in combo with sleep apnea. quit breathing and was fucked up enough he didnt re start. needless to say lifechanger for me.

he had always had a priscription issue, and in the last few years it got real bad. If this was the type of Pt she worked with, then she can rot where she is. So it really depends on what her practice consisted of for me right now. Until i know more of her intentions (thus why i only lightly mentioned the issue) i wont pass judgement on her actions.


think about it, if your a dr. and have 30 pts. each getting 62 pills a month (2 a day) thats 1860 doses a month. 12 months is 22,320 doses a yr. times 5 yrs is 111,600 doses.

now keep in mind that is only 1 perscription per pt. I know many that have 3 to 5 perscriptions per month, each allowing for 2 pills and sometimes 4 pills per day.
so say the 1 prescription is for 8 pills a day (2 every 6hrs) which is a very reasonable prescription for someone in alot of pain,

you can multiply that number above by 4, so that 558,000 doeses, from 30 pts, each taking as prescribed 2 pills every 6 hrs for a lenght of 5 yrs. many drs have way more than 30 patients they see in a years time.

so really 1.5 doses inst a shockingly large number, its all about perspective, and as i stated above, intention.

If she Was an EoL Dr. then i would think 20 pain pills a day is acceptable for a person that is dieing a painfull death, to allow them to pass in some kind of comfort.

 

[Pimpernickel]

Pimper. Ins companies have to play by fed and state regulations. with MMJ still Fed Illegal, that stops the ins companies from coming on board, even in a MMJ legal state. once its federally taken off the sched 1 list, and put to the sched 2 list, then ins companies will be able to get on board.

with the increased enlightenment of TCH recpetors by the millions in the human body, and the increased scientific data on the beneficial medical use of TCH on the body, the Fed gov will move it to a Sched 2 narcotic (which actually it isnt a narcotic at all, but thats where its lumped into) then our INS companies can start adopting policy on MMJ and Ins coverage issues.


it of my valition, once a Sched 2 narc, many many ins companies will infact adopt good MMJ policy, as they can easily see the financial benefits of a PT using MMJ over other prescription/man made meds. just the additional prescriptions for meds to counteract the side effects of the current prescription drugs patients have to take will be a huge financial beacon to the ins companies that they can save Massive amounts of monies from being spent on just drugs to treat the syptoms created from the drugs currently taken. ie by paying for MMJ, they ll save Billions in NOT paying for 2ndary meds.


GL JonnyNoBody. I lost my 2 sisters to cancer, so ive walked that hard path first hand. Seriously check into the simpson Oil!!! this may be just the ticket, and should it work as noted, may not be a need for poisening her body with chemo drugs. look for and dig hard into EVERY Avenue you can use to get her cured, not just the ones our book educated drs offer. they are called PRACTITIONERs for a reason. I dont need/want a dr that is practicing, i want a Dr that is an Expert. a Practicing Dr still dont know shit imo. and most experts are barely above a practicing dr. no offense to those hard working drs out there, but you know the ones im talking about. Im a Dr. i have 12 yrs of reading books and a piece of paper that says i know what im talking about cuz i read the book, Twice. The Do as i Say cuz your to stupid to understand me kind of people.

anyways, remember and remind your current Drs if need be, THEY ARE YOUR EMPLOYEE, You HIRE THEM, they dont Hire you as a Pt.

Well, I'm sure insurance companies aren't trying to get on board, I'm certain they're avoiding it as hard as they can. As for the Federal law, yes that's why I understand that they don't have to pay for people to get MMJ. What I don't understand is why they don't cover certifications which I see as a general practitioner visit.