Health
Washington state to decriminalize drugs unless lawmakers act
Published
12 months agoon
By
Willie David
SEATTLE (AP) — Washington Gov. Jay Inslee is calling lawmakers back to work after they rejected a bill setting out a new statewide drug policy — a development that has put the state on the brink of decriminalizing possession of fentanyl and other drugs while also depriving it of much-needed investments in public health.
Lawmakers adjourned their regular session late last month after voting down a bill that would keep drug possession illegal and boost services for people struggling with addiction. Many liberal Democrats objected to criminalizing drugs, while conservative Democrats and Republicans insisted they must be to provide incentive for people to enter treatment.
Inslee has called that unacceptable, and on Tuesday he set a special legislative session beginning May 16 to give them another chance.
“Cities and counties are eager to see a statewide policy that balances accountability and treatment, and I believe we can produce a bipartisan bill that does just that,” Inslee said.
A temporary law that makes possession of small amounts of drugs a misdemeanor expires on July 1, so if lawmakers fail to pass a bill, Washington would become the second state — after neighboring Oregon — to decriminalize drug possession. Cities and counties would be free to adopt their own approaches to drug possession and paraphernalia, creating a patchwork of laws that could undermine efforts to treat addiction as a public health issue.
Lawmakers said Tuesday they were increasingly optimistic they can reach a compromise to avoid those consequences.
“I’ve cleared my schedule,” said state Rep. Roger Goodman, D-Kirkland. “I’m working day and night on this.”
Like other states, Washington has wrestled with what to do with an overdose crisis worsened by the widespread availability of cheap, deadly fentanyl. Public drug use is rampant in cities around the state, and deaths have soared.
Several Washington cities have already contemplated or passed new drug laws in the absence of legislative action. Seattle City Attorney Ann Davison and two City Council members, Sara Nelson and Alex Pedersen, have proposed a ban on public use.
“Our hands-off approach to people using illegal drugs in public has resulted in rampant street crime and a death toll rivaling that of COVID-19 in Seattle,” Nelson said in a statement. “Complacency is no longer an option.”
The Washington Supreme Court in 2021 struck down the state law making drug possession a felony. The court said it was unconstitutional because it did not require prosecutors to prove that someone knowingly had the drugs. Washington was the only state in the country without that requirement.
In response, lawmakers that year made intentional drug possession a misdemeanor and required police to refer offenders to evaluation or treatment for their first two offenses — but there was no obvious way for officers to track how many times someone had been referred, and availability of treatment remained inadequate.
Lawmakers made the measure temporary — having it expire July 1, 2023 — to give themselves two years to come up with a long-term policy.
But as this year’s session ended late last month, a measure billed as a compromise was voted down in the Democratic-controlled House 55-43. It would have increased potential penalties for drug possession, making it a gross misdemeanor punishable by up to a year in jail, rather than a misdemeanor punishable by up to 90 days.
It also would have eliminated the requirement that police refer a person’s first two offenses for treatment rather than prosecution, enabling officers to arrest someone for a first offense if they thought it appropriate, while also encouraging police and prosecutors to divert cases. Judges could impose jail time for people who refuse treatment or repeatedly fail to comply.
It would have made clear that public health workers could not be prosecuted for giving out drug paraphernalia, such as clean glass tubes for smoking fentanyl.
And it would have included funding for drug crisis centers; a pilot program for health engagement hubs where users could access clean drug paraphernalia and connect with other services; and expanded access to withdrawal medication in jails and prisons.
Without those provisions of the bill being passed, the state’s approach to drugs amounts to “an entire diversion system with nothing to divert people to,” said Caleb Banta-Green, a research professor at the University of Washington School of Medicine.
“We need $50 million to $100 million statewide and a health engagement hub in each county, and we could cut deaths in half in a year,” he said. “We know what to do.”
Democratic and Republican lawmakers agree on the need to increase services, with many saying they have no intention of returning to the punitive approach of the war on drugs.
But Republicans objected that the bill did not do enough to ensure accountability for offenders; would preempt local bans on drug paraphernalia; and would create recovery residences where those trying to maintain sobriety might stay with those who continue to use drugs.
“I want these people to get better,” said Rep. Greg Cheney, R-Battle Ground, a lawyer with experience in drug courts, said during a floor debate last month. “But not requiring them to acknowledge they have a problem is not the right path to go.”
Many liberal Democrats, meanwhile, said they were opposed to making drug possession a crime at all. Rep. Tarra Simmons, of Bremerton, who spent time in prison on drug charges before becoming a lawyer and a lawmaker, said she was willing to vote to make it a misdemeanor as part of a compromise that would increase services.
But a gross misdemeanor is actually worse than its old status as a felony, she suggested, because the felony came with a sentencing recommendation of zero to six months for the first three offenses; the gross misdemeanor is up to a year in jail. Judges in municipal courts around the state could keep punishing those struggling with addiction, she said.
“It was really hard for me not to vote for all the good things in that bill,” Simmons said. “But we don’t need to cause people more pain in order to help them.”
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Health
PBIRx Launches “PBIRx Success Stories” Video Series Featuring Client Case Study Testimonials
Published
1 month agoon
March 13, 2024By
FNN NEWS
MILFORD, Conn.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–PBIRx, Inc., a leading pharmacy benefit auditing and consulting firm, is excited to announce the launch of its new video series, PBIRx Success Stories. These client testimonial videos highlight the successful partnerships between PBIRx and its valued client partners. In this insightful series, clients share their experiences working with PBIRx’s team of skilled account consultants, PharmDs, and analysts to achieve substantial plan cost savings, reduce drug trends, and enhance member outcomes and satisfaction.
“We value their trust and strive to educate”
The first two videos in the PBIRx Success Stories series spotlight the successful partnership of PBIRx and two Taft-Hartley groups, featuring Tim Morrin, Fund Administrator of Automatic Sprinkler Local 281, U.A. Welfare Fund, and Phyllis Lucidi, Health Plans Administrator of Teamsters Local 35 Health Plans. Both commend PBIRx for delivering tangible results to their plan and employing unique strategies to optimize savings while protecting their members’ quality of care.
“With the savings from PBIRx, we are certainly helping our bottom line. We are improving our financial footing and building our reserves,” said Tim Morrin, Fund Administrator of Automatic Sprinkler Local 281, U.A. Welfare Fund. “The results were a million-dollar savings, 25 percent from the year previous, and we couldn’t be more pleased at the results and the savings that we got with this partnership.
“We haven’t raised our copays in years. We would like to continue to offer those low costs so that these families that are part of our local union can prosper,” Morrin added. “These are working families that are experiencing inflation.”
The PBIRx Success Stories series showcases real-life examples of how PBIRx has successfully helped numerous clients save on pharmacy benefit costs without compromising the quality of care provided to their members.
“PBIRx takes great pride in the partnerships we cultivate with our clients,” said Patricia Sirowich, PBIRx Founder and President, “and we are very grateful for the testimonials shared on our behalf by our valued client partners.
“We value their trust and strive to educate,” Sirowich said. “We see ourselves as a guide, taking our clients by the hand and leading them through the complex maze of the pharmacy benefit landscape and shining a light of transparency on Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBM) and pharmaceutical manufacturers and the tactics they employ to achieve excessive profits.”
“I know where my costs are and I see our plan is doing fantastic,” said Phyllis Lucidi, Health Plans Administrator of Teamsters Local 35 Health Plans. “We have a reserve that is unheard of today. Service is excellent. We can call them at any time. Our answers are at our fingertips.
“I would most definitely recommend PBIRx and for many reasons. Their reliability, their service, the value that they have brought to Teamsters 35 is of the utmost highest quality,” Lucidi added. “That’s important to our members and their families today.”
To view the “PBIRx Success Stories” video series, visit PBIRx.com.
Health
iHerb® and NFL Alumni Health Team Up to Provide Valuable Membership Perks
Published
2 months agoon
February 8, 2024By
FNN SPORTS
IRVINE, Calif., Feb. 7, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — iHerb, one of the world’s leading e-commerce retailers for vitamins, minerals, supplements and other health and wellness products, announced a strategic alliance with the National Football League Alumni Association to offer its members and the general public access to a curated selection of wellness products.
To promote the newly formed partnership, iHerb Global Advisor Dr. Mehmet Oz was a featured speaker at the “Huddle for Health” NFL Alumni Health Symposium held Feb. 6 in Las Vegas. With numerous members and guests in attendance, Dr. Oz discussed the essential role vitamins and nutrients play in extending one’s longevity.
“One of the primary reasons our nonprofit organization exists is to help ensure the long-term health of our members,” said NFL Alumni CEO Brad Edwards. “As iHerb and Dr. Oz work together to make health and wellness more accessible, our members and supporters can access this platform as a crucial component of taking a proactive approach to optimizing their health and improving their overall well-being.”
Starting today, NFL Alumni members and fans are eligible for up to 15% off iHerb orders of $60 or more using promo code “NFLALUMNI.” As part of the NFL Alumni’s “Get What the Pros Get” initiative, iHerb is extending the “NFLALUMNI” promo code to the public for a limited time. A portion of the proceeds from each order will help the NFL Alumni advance its support of community organizations that serve children and families in need.
iHerb is proud to join other health and wellness providers that offer information, resources and tools to help NFL Alumni members enhance their quality of life long after their time on the field.
To learn more about the NFL Alumni and its charitable partners, please click here. To view all press releases from iHerb, please visit: iherb.com/pressreleases.
About iHerb:
iHerb is one of the world’s leading e-commerce destinations dedicated to offering a vast selection of vitamins, minerals, supplements and other health and wellness products. Supported by a global workforce of 3,000 team members, iHerb serves more than 10 million global active customers across more than 180 countries and 19 languages. iHerb’s sophistical global logistics network is anchored by eight climate-controlled fulfillments centers located in the U.S. and Asia, providing customers a seamless and reliable shopping experience. Founded in 1996 and based in Irvine, California, iHerb is on a mission to make health and wellness accessible to all. For more information, please visit corporate.iherb.com.
About NFL Alumni (NFLA):
NFLA is an organization with a nationwide reach comprised primarily of National Football League players, coaches, and other employees whose mission since 1967 is “Caring for our Own” and “Caring for Kids.” The mission of the NFLA is furthered by numerous efforts, including raising funds to support its members, their communities, and qualified youth-oriented charities. NFL Alumni Health is a wholly owned subsidiary of NFL Alumni, offering informational resources, programs, services, and other offerings for NFL Alumni members and the general public.
Health
Being Health Launches With $5.4 Million in Funding and a Mission to Bring the Best of Psychiatry and Novel Treatments Under One Roof
Published
3 months agoon
January 25, 2024By
FNN NEWS
NEW YORK–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Being Health, a psychiatrist-founded modern mental health practice, launches today to bring the best of psychiatry, psychotherapy, novel treatments (such as ketamine infusion therapy), functional medicine and wellness services (such as acupuncture and nutrition) all under one roof for a seamless patient experience in New York City. Being Health has raised $5.4 million to date in funding from 18 Park and HDS Capital.
“Opportunities for enhancing the mental health care system are rapidly expanding and we see ourselves at the forefront of these innovations”
In a world that offers one-size-fits-all solutions, Being Health was created for patients who desire a truly personalized approach to mental health care that emphasizes the impact of both mind and body on a person’s well-being. Being Health offers a multi-dimensional approach and provides access to a diversity of evidence-based treatments to patients experiencing anxiety, depression, trauma, and stress.
Co-founded and led by Cornell-trained psychiatrist Dr. Allie Sharma, Being Health’s care team includes a diverse array of clinicians – such as psychiatrists, psychotherapists, nurse anesthetists (CRNAs), functional medicine physicians, nutritionists, acupuncturists and care advocates – all working together to provide exceptional patient care and better patient outcomes.
“We are combining the best of what is tried and tested in psychiatry with what is new and novel in our field,” said Dr. Allie Sharma, Being Health co-founder and Chief Medical Officer. “More and more Americans are grappling with mental health conditions, with far too many feeling overwhelmed by the burden of navigating their own care. At Being Health we’ve created a modern mental health practice that seamlessly incorporates a diversity of therapeutic approaches including, for example, ketamine infusion therapy for treatment resistant depression or functional medicine combined with nutritional support to optimize both health and mental health outcomes, which we know are inextricably linked.”
Being Health’s modern mental health practice is guided by empathic clinicians and clinical excellence under the leadership of Medical Director Dr. Hudson Elmore. With multiple disciplines offered under one roof, Being Health’s team of clinicians collaborate with each other to personalize care according to individual needs, offering the potential for optimized mental health outcomes.
“Being Health’s integrated model of care leveraging traditional and novel treatments is positioned to play a leading role in transforming mental health care as we know it,” said Haim Dabah, founder of HDS Capital and lead investor. “By expanding the mental health toolkit and building a team of best-in-class clinicians coupled with gold standard safety protocols, Being Health can serve as a bridge to bring innovative treatments to patients in a safe, clinical environment.
“Today there are more than fifty biotech and pharmaceutical companies investing hundreds of millions of dollars into the development of promising therapeutic applications of novel treatments with approximately thirty clinical trials in Phase II and Phase III with promising results. Upon FDA approval, these novel treatments will likely require delivery to patients in clinically-monitored settings. Being Health is poised to become first-to-market to deliver these novel treatments to patients.”
Being Health offers both in-person and virtual care, with a two-story, 7,000 square foot built-to-suit clinic located in Lower Manhattan at 76 Beaver St. The state-of-the-art facility features 22 spacious rooms for in-person services. New patients can book consultations online at beinghealth.co/book-an-appointment.
“Opportunities for enhancing the mental health care system are rapidly expanding and we see ourselves at the forefront of these innovations,” said Stephen Dabah co-founder & president. “We are creating a new standard for modern mental health care and are developing an ecosystem for the future delivery of novel treatments as they become FDA-approved.”
About Being Health
Co-founded in 2023 by Dr. Allie Sharma, a Cornell trained and board certified Psychiatrist and behavioral health strategist, and Stephen Dabah, a healthcare entrepreneur, Being Health is an integrated mental health practice that leverages the best of psychiatry, novel treatments, psychotherapy, functional medicine and wellness services to personalize care and help people feel better in their everyday state of being. Being Health is setting a new standard for mental health by bringing together diverse therapeutic modalities under one roof. The Being Health team of empathic, highly skilled clinicians collaborates to optimize outcomes for individuals seeking support and treatment across a spectrum of mental health conditions, including anxiety, depression, stress, and trauma. Clinical services are offered virtually and in-person at their clinic in New York City’s Financial District, opening in January 2024. Being Health is committed to fair and transparent pricing, with prices always upfront and no surprise bills or fees. To learn more about Being Health, please visit www.beinghealth.co.
