FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Karla Pratt
Interim Executive Director
[email protected]
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: August 25, 2020
DOCTORS FOR AMERICA STANDS WITH THE USPS
WASHINGTON, DC (August 25, 2020) – Doctors for America (DFA), an organization that works with doctors, doctors in-training, and health advocates in all 50 states to put patients over politics and to improve health across the country, demands that the US Postal Service be restored to its full capacity. All medical societies should join DFA in its effort.
Americans depend on mail order medications. Studies suggest that mail order pharmacy utilization is correlated with better medication adherence for patients with chronic conditions and patients from across the nation are reporting medications delays or that they are arriving in improper conditions.
For many patients, obtaining their prescriptions at a brick and mortar pharmacy is not feasible whether because they live in rural or remote areas, or that their insurance company will not pay for medications not ordered by mail.
Dr. T Domi Le, from Oregon says, “As a gastroenterologist, I know medications like Humira used to treat Inflammatory Bowel Disease – Crohns or Ulcerative colitis – are often exclusively delivered by mail in refrigerated packages – so timely delivery to patients is critical to avoid disease complications. As a parent of a child with asthma, I also know that it’s cheaper, and more reliable to get a 3-month supply of inhalers mailed – yet insurance doesn’t allow “early order” of medications to potentially prevent a problem due to mail delays. Parents and children are stuck with the anxiety this provokes and it is unacceptable.”
Read the full DFA statement urging all medical societies to advocate for our communities and demand that the US Postal Service be restored to its full capacity. Our health and our lives depend on it.
About Doctors For America
Doctors for America (DFA) is an independent non-profit organization of over 21,000 physicians and medical students across the country who are trained to mobilize so that patients are put before politics and profits and that the health of our patients, communities, and nation is improved.
For more information, please visit www.doctorsforamerica.org.