Non-Medical Switching: No Big Deal?
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A letter from Dharmesh Patel, MD:
At the Partnership to Advance Cardiovascular Health, our mission is to advance policies and practices that encourage patient-centered care.
One practice that we increasingly see among heart patients is non-medical switching. That’s when a health plan switches a clinician-prescribed therapy for another therapy for reasons that are strictly financial – not medical.
Health plans and policymakers may think it's "no big deal" to switch people from the medications that keep their hearts healthy. They're wrong.
For heart patients and their providers, this can be:
Disruptive after years of hard-won progress.
Dismissive of clinician-patient decision-making.
Disempowering for patients who want to control of their own health.
Dangerous when a gap in treatment occurs.
With that in mind, PACH is launching an advocacy and awareness campaign about non-medical switching. And we need you to get involved.
Dharmesh Patel, MD
President, Partnership to Advance Cardiovascular Health
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Suggested Social Media
When your health plan switches your heart medicine, it IS a big deal. Join @advcardiohealth in speaking out on non-medical switching. https://www.advancecardiohealth.org/no-big-deal #NoBigDeal
Ever chosen a medicine with your doctor, only to have your health plan override your decision? Share your non-medical switching story here: https://www.advancecardiohealth.org/no-big-deal #NoBigDeal
You’re not just another heart patient. So why should your health plan treat you like one? Learn more: https://www.advancecardiohealth.org/no-big-deal #NoBigDeal
Disempowering patients. Dismissing the doctor-patient relationship. Disrupting years of hard-won treatment progress. Yet non-medical switching is #NoBigDeal for health plans. Speak out for policy change: https://www.advancecardiohealth.org/no-big-deal
If health plans think switching the drugs that keep patients safe from heart attacks and strokes is #NoBigDeal, they should think again. Learn more & share your story. https://www.advancecardiohealth.org/no-big-deal
Sign the Petition
Non-medical switching is unfair, illogical and potentially deadly. Add your name to the petition to tell insurers they need to focus on saving lives, not boosting corporate profits.
About Non-Medical Switching
For many patients, the process of identifying the right medication takes considerable effort. Imagine then how patients feel when their insurance company forces them to change their medication on the basis of cost.
The practice is called “non-medical switching.”
