Help ARxC develop a health insurance plan that meets your needs. If you're a Georgia citizen please take the
ARxC Health Plan Assessment Survey© online today.
CALL TO ACTION to stop the increase in cost of specialty tier drugs.
1. Know the facts. Read the Specialty Tiers Coalition of Georgia's fact sheet "Specialty Tiers: What do they mean to Georgia?" to know the facts about specialty tiers and how they restrict access to medication for patients with chronic diseases.
2. Share your story. Tell the Georgia community how the increase in the cost of medication due to the specialty tier classification has impacted you or your loved ones. Share your story on the Specialty Tiers Story Submission webpage or email your story directly to ARxC at
dlg@wisdomofwellnessproject.com. If you have any questions or concerns please contact ARxC at 404-633-5843.
For an example of how specialty tiers may affect Heidi's ability to manage her Rheumatoid Arthritis read Heidi's Story.
3. Call on your representatives. Tell Georgia's Insurance Commissioner and your state representatives and senatorsto develop legislation that will end the discriminatory rise in cost of life-saving drugs for chronically ill patients.
4. Support our efforts. Help to mobilize the Georgia-wide effort by donating to ARxC. Go to our donation page to make your tax-deductible contribution today.
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ARxC Co-Sponsors the Baby Expo
IPAB will be making decisions about payment policy in Medicare that will determine whether millions of seniors have access to the care they need. The panel could therefore potentially reduce payments to providers and access to innovative therapies, thus limiting patient access. Seniors are already finding it difficult to find doctors that will take Medicare patients due to previous cuts made to physician’s payments. This situation will be exacerbated with any proposed cuts.
The following letters to Congressman Scott and Congressman Johnson outline ARxC's stance on this issue:
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Update on Piedmont Hall Closing - Grady Backs Down
ARxC was informed that, despite evidence that Grady was taking the initial steps to close the clinic, Grady decided not to close Piedmont Hall. It remains unknown what Grady's intentions are for Piedmont Hall, but at this time it has been made clear that the clinic will not be closed. Nonetheless, ARxC will continue to monitor the Grady Health System closely to ensure that they continue to provide quality health care services to the indigent patients of Georgia._________________________________________________
Co-sponsor the DREAM Act by clicking here.
The DREAM Act seeks to give immigrant students with good moral character who have lived in the U.S. for at least five years -- and came here before turning sixteen -- the chance to earn legal status after earning a high school degree and completing two years of college or military service in good standing.To learn more about the bill and how you can get involved in promoting the legislation please go to www.dreamact.info or sign the petition directly by Co-sponsoring the DREAM Act.
_______________________________________________Arthritis Walk
As a lifetime member of the Arthritis Foundation and the head of the foundation’s advocacy chapter, Dorothy organizes the Wisdom Walkers ARxC to walk every year at the Arthritis
Foundation’s annual fundraising event. Last year ARxC walked with the Wisdom Walkers and helped to generate over $3000 to go towards the Arthritis Foundation, a service-oriented non-profit organization that works to end the pain of arthritis. The event proved to be a fun opportunity for all who participated.
This year ARxC will again be walking with the Wisdom Walkers. The event serves as an opportunity for us to have fun, assist with the dissemination of advocacy news and updates (including ARxC’s Health Plan Assessment Survey©), network with other chronic illness organizations, and, most importantly, MOVE as a means to reduce the pain or prevent the pain of arthritis.
In support of developing policies to advance the fight to end the pains of arthritis, please urge your congress members to join the Congressional Arthritis Caucus. Sign the Arthritis Caucus Letter today. You may send the completed letter independently to your congress members or return it to ARxC via email (to arxc.healthrights@gmail.com) or via fax (to 404-321-5952) for us to forward to your appropriate congress members.
ARxC Appeals to the Fulton Board of Commissioners to Keep the Grady Health System Accountable
While ARxC continues to work towards finding a solution for the Grady dialysis patients, we continue to hold Grady Hospital accountable for serving the indigent residents of Fulton and Dekalb counties (see Letter of Support to Commissioner Emma Darnell).
ARxC will continue to work towards keeping the Grady Health System accountable and if they cannot be, to take action and insist to the Fulton and DeKalb Boards that their funding to operate these clinics cease. For the welfare of the patients who use these clinics and to reduce the financial burden on taxpayers, we support the clinic funding that GHS would receive to instead go to establishing a National Health Clinic for Georgia or a Community Health Center or partner with an existing Community Health Center to take over operations of the Otis Smith and South DeKalb clinics.
For further details please read the statement that Dorothy Leone-Glasser presented to the Fulton County Board of Commissioners on April 25, 2011 by clicking this link: April 25, 2011 Statement to the Fulton County Board of Commissioners.
You can also read an article published by the Atlanta Progressive News by clicking this link: Grady Plans to Close Community Clinics, Fulton Opposes Closures.
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ARxC Protests the Closing of the Grady Health
System Primary Care Clinics
As advocates for all patients of Georgia, ARxC works to hold Grady Hospital accountable to their mission statement of providing medical care to the public. Please read the April 3, 2011 Press Release to become better informed about ARxC’s approach to ensure that all patients have access to the care they need.
Commissioner Emma Darnell of Fulton County, a long time partner with ARxC, has spearheaded the effort to hold the Grady Health System accountable to their targeted population. In a Commissioner Darnell's Letter to ARxC, Commissioner Darnell strongly supports ARxC’s demonstrations and efforts to protest the rights of the poor and underserved. To learn more about Commissioner Darnell’s record in upholding access to health care for Georgia’s indigent please go to her webpage.
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What do you want from your health insurance?
Tell ARxC what the best health insurance plan looks like to you.
Go to https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/NQ88GSM and taking the ARxC Health Plan Survey©.
The purpose of the survey is to find out what residents of Georgia want included in their health insurance so that the people of Georgia have a voice in the development of the state-based health insurance plans that will become available in 2014.
The survey responses will be compiled in a report which will be made available to Georgia's elected officials so that they may make informed decisions on what health insurance options will be made available to Georgia citizens.
ARxC will also advocate in favor of a consumer-centered health insurance plan that meets the needs of Georgia citizens and promotes health and wellbeing as a means to address the health disparity due to class, race, and ethnicity in Georgia.
You must be at least 18 years of age and a legal resident of Georgia to take the survey.
It is your choice to participate. There are no risks or immediate benefits to taking the survey.
Further details about the survey can be found online at https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/NQ88GSM.
Please help us develop the best practice model of health insurance for Georgians by taking our survey today at https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/NQ88GSM.
Thank you.
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CALL TO ACTION!
ARxC Press Release to Grady Health System
(Please click this link to read ARxC's press release on the Grady Health System (GHS) closing of two primary care clinics.)
Help us hold Grady Hospital to their mission of providing health care to Georgia residents.
Grady plans to close the South DeKalb and
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Grady to Close Clinics Without Addressing the Concerns of the Community
Two articles were recently published by the AJC that highlight Grady's decision to close two primary care clinics in the Atlanta area:
- March 7, 2011 - Hospital authority: Grady should justify clinic closures
- March 3, 2011 - Grady to close clinics, increase prescription drug copays (Gallery: Grady cuts discussed at emergency meeting)
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"Healthy Wealthy and Wise" by Jerry "Pops" Barnes RN, BSN
Click the link above to read an article by Jerry "Pops" Barnes that provides health education to help you make healthy lifestyle changes and become better informed about your health care decisions.
Jerry “Pops” Barnes writes a weekly health column for the Columbus Times. Mr. Barnes also serves as Councilman for District # 1 in
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The Honorable John Lewis at the National Civil Rights Access to Justice at Emory School of Law
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GHLF Press Release
ARxC has championed preserving the doctor-patient relationship by alerting consumers to illegal drug switching by health insurance providers or other parties. This drug switching of brand-name drugs is done without the prescribing doctor's permission. The switch occurs by the insurance provider in order to save money; leaving the doctor uninformed and threatening the safety of patient care. Please read the Press Release Advocacy Alert by our partners, The Global Healthy Living Foundation and visit them at www.failfirsthurts.org. Please pass this alert onto your family, friends and physicians.
Please click the link above or click here to read the Global Health Living Foundation Press Release.
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Please donate to help Patricia's fight to stay alive!
ARxC is currently collecting funds to sustain dialysis treatment for Patricia, a former Grady dialysis patient. Patricia needs our financial support to pay for her vital treatments. If she does not receive her Dialysis treatments she will die in two (2) to three (3) weeks. Click here to read Patricia's story.
Help us to keep Patricia alive and to renew our faith in the care of each other by going to our Donate webpage and making a contribution today.
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Medicare's Free Screenings Let Older Adults Get a Jump on Diabetes
Did you know that a significant number of
In Atlanta, former Atlanta Hawks forward and Basketball Hall-of-Fame Dominique Wilkins and the Medicare Diabetes Screening Project (MDSP) are teaming up with city officials, senior centers, churches and other community-based organizations on “Get a Jump on Diabetes,” a campaign to promote use of Medicare’s free diabetes screenings and the importance of prevention.
ARxC is a local partner of Medicare Diabetes Screening Project. To learn more about Medicare’s free screening benefit ask your doctor or health care provider and visit www.screenfordiabetes.org.
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Health Insurance Plan Selection
Many Georgia workers and their families are getting ready to consider their health insurance options for next year. It’s the annual open enrollment period, during which important decisions about health care will be made that will affect millions of Georgians.
Unfortunately, sometimes these decisions often are made quickly and with little examination of the health plan’s details. A recent survey conducted for MetLife found that three out of four workers will spend no more time than they did last year on a health plan selection; only 13 percent will spend more time.
Take the time to review your health plan. The open enrollment periods provide the time, the resources and the accessibility workers need to choose wisely.
What should you look for when selecting a health insurance plan? Please click the link below to review ARxC's advice on how to select a health insurance plan.
ARxC 2010 Annual Open Enrollment Alert
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Check Your Medications
As a patient advocacy organization, ARxC receives many calls and e-mail asking questions about prescription drugs, substituting medications and problems with prescription compliance by the Insurance Provider and Pharmacists.
The attached documents are tools for you to utilize
to ensure that you receive exactly the medication specified by your physician
Check Your Medications __________________________________________
Patient Rights
ARxC feels it is critical that all people in the United States become familiar with the American Patient Bill of Rights. Please review the following document to ensure your rights as a patient are upheld.
Patient Bill of Rights
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