In Health Law, Rx for Trouble [Discussion of new Flexible Spending Account prescription requirement]

[PoliticAverse]

Sandy Chung is grappling with a new kind of request at her pediatrics office in Fairfax, Va.: prescriptions for aspirin and diaper-rash cream.

Patients are demanding doctors' orders for over-the-counter products because of a provision in the health-care overhaul that slipped past nearly everyone's radar. It says people who want a tax break to buy such items with what's known as flexible-spending accounts need to get a prescription first.

Read the rest: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704692904576166554110739560.html?mod=WSJ_hp_LEFTTopStories

[FARAFIELD]

1. I dont have any sympathy for Sandy... Frankly

I have an FSA, the booklet that comes with it, comes well in advance of open season, and its about 8 pages long.. There is always one section right near the front (also in the Table of COntents) that says CHANGES THIS YEAR TO YOUR FSA.. that was the first thing mentioned.. We simply had the DR. right prescriptions for the items we use regularly, and Bada-Bing. We actually had them write them in October figuring that most people would wait till the last minute. But here it is March and Sandy (et al.) are whining. PEOPLE you HAVE To know your benefits. No diff that people that DONT deduct at LEAST the amount that will be Matched from your TSP. Also there is a DEPENDENT CARE FSA (up to 5k max per year) and MOST people dont even know about it...Sorry to be so harsh but DANG, FSA's are so easy to use and one of the few Tax Breaks afforded to regular folk, that its hard to feel bad for someone because they cant be bothered to read a couple paragraphs... FOr the Record FSA also sent out a letter at the very beginning of Open Season especially about the Prescription change.

[MedicalAdmin]

2. Dear Dr. Chung....

Please remember that you are a doctor and are supposed to be an advocate for your patients and not for the insurance companies. But given that you are going to bat for the insurance companies we can clearly see who you care about.