Primary Care Providers Deliver Continuity of Care Over Your Lifetime

By Sara May, MD
Contributing writer

It is common for people – especially young, working adults who are seemingly healthy – to ask themselves at some point whether they need a primary care provider. The answer is yes, you do, because having one will help keep you healthier throughout your life.

Numerous studies in medical journals have confirmed this, including one in International Journal of Health Services, which showed that states with more primary care providers per capita have better health outcomes, including fewer deaths from heart disease, stroke or cancer.

Governor To Sign NFIB-Backed Health-Care Costs Bill

At a bill-signing ceremony scheduled for this morning at 10:30 a.m. in his office, Gov. Jay Inslee will put his signature on a measure that NFIB led the coordination and legislative passage of: An All-Payer Claims Database (APCD) that will eventually empower everyone in Washington state to compare quality and costs among health-care providers.

“Pairing cost and quality metrics in an All-Payer Claims Database is our best hope of educating and empowering employers to identify or design health-benefits plans that meet the needs of their particular workforce, and ultimately, give families and individuals access to meaningful information to guide their health-care purchasing decisions,” said Patrick Connor, Washington state director for America’s leading small-business association, the National Federation of Independent Business.

According to a report from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, The Basics of All-Payer Claims Databases, “APCDs are large-scale databases that systematically collect medical claims, pharmacy claims, dental claims (typically, but not always), and eligibility and provider files from private and public payers. The first statewide APCD system was established in Maine in 2003 … Currently, more than 30
states have, are implementing, or have strong interest in APCDs.”

Senate Bill 5084, which the governor will sign into law today, had strong support among small businesses, health-care providers and patient organizations with 35 groups supporting the bill when it was initially heard in the Senate Health Care Committee and 27 groups signing in support of the House version of the bill. No group stated opposition to the bill.

SB 5084 corrects flaws in a law passed by the Legislature last year to establish an APCD. Among the problems with the existing law was that it lacked a requirement for all health insurers to submit their data. Experience in other states has shown that without a mandate, it is impossible to provide a comprehensive picture of the cost and quality of health care.

Data that would be submitted under the new law would include financial information, which would allow for analyses about health-care value—meaning quality and cost information about the cost of episodes of care, such as hospitalizations, which had not previously been broadly available.

Because the cost and availability of health care has been the No. 1 worry of small-business owners for 30 years, Connor took the lead in coordinating the activities of the Coalition for Health Care Cost Transparency. “It has been a two-year effort to enact and perfect the statutory framework authorizing a true All-Payer Claims Database for Washington state, but once it is fully up and running, employers, consumers, providers, and even policymakers should see the immense value of it in making health-care providers more competitive, the result of which will make medical coverage more affordable while improving outcomes for patients.”

How Could Olympia Stoop So Low? by Michael “Buffalo” Mazzetti

Why does the Washington State Legislature (WSL) want to undermine medical cannabis? Alison Holcomb and Peter Holmes with Initiative 502 clearly stated that if passed, it would have no effect on medical cannabis laws. Reassuring voters that “I-502 won't harm patients”.

Senate Bill SB 5052 is an effort by the WSL that could doom our medical cannabis patient rights. This bill could bring harm and even death to many medical cannabis patients. Why would the WSL do this? Immediately, three reasons grab my attention: knowledge deficit, power, and greed. Let’s examine this.

Knowledge deficit: The WSL is way behind the leading edge of medical cannabis study. Amazing anecdotal stories of healing are coming to the public's attention daily. Legislative bills presented in this session don’t recognize the unique organism of each individual human nor our specific medical condition. New and promising cannabis plant varieties and delivery systems are being developed as we speak. They would limit the number of plants a patient could grow to less than half the current amount-severely limiting the patient’s right and ability to find out if a high CBD plant serves them better than a THC plant, not to mention CBG, CBN or a variety of terpines.

Greed: I- 502 created a huge lobby of 502 growers, processors and retail store owners in Olympia. Many members know nothing about the exciting miracle of medical cannabis. They want to sell recreational pot. SB 5052 would force patients to purchase their medicine from recreational stores under the guidance of the Washington State Liquor Control Board (WSLCB). Growers following the guidelines of the WSLCB can produce cannabis heavily laden with non-organic chemicals (248 pesticides are approved for use). Medical patients lose again, by being forced to smoke, ingest or topically use medicine grown with chemicals known to exacerbate their conditions. The WSLCB have held secret meetings to end medical cannabis.¹

Power: Campaign contributions put and keep our Legislators in office. Public records show that the prime sponsor of SB 5052, Senator Ann Rivers-(R) 18th District, has received substantial contributions from large pharmaceutical corporations. Pfizer, Abbott and Eli Lilly have all contributed heavily to her last campaign. Big Pharma has always been opposed to medical cannabis because this natural remedy will cut deeply into their billion $ profits.

It is up to the public to hold the WSL accountable. SB 5052 has not passed the House. Please call your representative today and tell them SB 5052 is not acceptable. The legislature needs to work with cannabis patients groups to work out an acceptable way to provide safe access to quality medicine.

If these efforts fail to convince the WSL that we need medical cannabis, the public must once again take the initiative.

Citizens Initiative-1372 will strengthen and protect medical use of cannabis. You can find petitions at: www.cppwa.org. Please download a copy, sign it, get your friends to sign it and send it to the address on the petitions by June 27, 2015. This may be the only way to bring common sense regarding medical cannabis to the WSL. I-1372 creates a board made up of the state and the community to govern over all aspects of the medical cannabis market with a separate revenue to remain revenue neutral. This is something that the WSL will not do.

Still Hope For Medical Cannabis Patients In Washington State

Representatives in Olympia continue with politics as usually listening special interests and agencies that treat medical cannabis as if it has no medicinal properties. They are going against the voters by further restricting patients, and taking away their rights approved by them including proposing to drop patient limits once again, and breaking HIPPA laws by having a registy in the process with SB 5052.

The reason a person can not overdose on cannabis is because when there are high doses of THC in one's system, the brain produces pregnenolone that inhibits it.¹ The recreational user benefits from the use of cannabis because their depleted endocannabinoid system is being nourished with all the cannabinoids in the cannabis plant.²

Recreational use is “for profit”while medical use is “not-for-profit”. The Liquor Control Board is not a health care agency, and regulates “for profit” products. The LCB paid for a study to figure out the supply and demand numbers for the recreational use market³. In a presentation last December, the LCB said that at their current proposed expanded canopy of 8.5 million they expect to capture 44% of the recreational market. With such little of the recreational market captured, the LCB is not ready to handle the 17 year old medical cannabis market in this state. Besides the fact that the LCB has court cases against them for ethics charges and the implementation of 502, there are 4,000 public released pages that show how they held private meetings to end medical cannabis.⁴

The hope for patients in this state is with Initiative Measure No. 1372. I-1372 being filed on January 6^th while SB 5052 was prefiled on the 11^th gives it precedent over any law they may pass and sign into law.

I-1372 would create the first cannabis for medical use board that would be made up of the state and the community that is totally transparent with a separate revenue from the state to remain revenue neutral. It also adds in other protections for patients that would not be done in the normal political process, like preventing the use of federal drug money against those compliant with the state law.

A grassroots movement is behind I-1372 that comes from a 2011 partially vetoed SB 5073, work done in the community, as well as input from patients. Described as a well balanced and fair piece of legislation, it is also what American for Safe Access call their “perfect legislative bill with its own board, own revenue and revenue neutral.” The 20 signature and 5 signature mail-in petitions are at the web site www.cppwa.org.

Everyone is encouraged to contact their Representatives to share their thoughts and feelings about the current bill from State Senator Ann River, SB 5052. If you have already shared with your Representatives, remind them of you position. Be respective to them and their legislative assistances, your message will be better received as well as more possible to get positive results. http://app.leg.wa.gov/DistrictFinder/.

Bellevue Overlake Dental is on the Bellevue Business Directory

The newest member of the Bellevue Business Directory is Bellevue Overlake Dental and Dr. Young Lee, who have been awarded a Gold Listing (and free publicity and social sharing) for a month!

Each patient at Overlake Dental’s Bellevue dentistry clinic receives a customized treatment plan. During your very first visit to Bellevue Overlake Dental, you will receive a completely personalized experience and a breakdown of all the treatments you need to achieve your oral health goals.

This treatment plan serves as a guide or blueprint for achieving optimal oral health and may include several treatments or services, such as laser gum disease treatment, deep cleanings, tooth extractions, crowns and bridges, or orthodontic care. Many or all of these procedures can be performed in-house, and Dr. Lee is among the few dentists in Bellevue to offer several types of minimally-invasive procedures for patient comfort.

I-1372, Gathers Signatures To Protect & Strengthen Medical Cannabis

Initiative Measure No. 1372 filed January 6, 2015, will protect and strengthen the medical cannabis law, RCW 69.51A, by offering compassion, clarity and consistency through the following changes:

• Bringing Washington state law into compliance with stated federal policy


• Allowing business owners to obtain licenses for producing, processing or dispensing cannabis in a commercial manner. Using the language from ESSB 5073, specifying cannabis for medical use licensing, allowing producers and processors to deliver cannabis to any cannabis for medical use licensee, and allowing the botanical herb tax exemption on cannabis for medical use.


• Creating and empowering the cannabis for medical use board, made up of the state and the community, to govern all aspects of the market. Through licensing and regulation fees, revenue is generated for the board to regulate the not-for-profit cannabis for medical use market while remaining revenue neutral.


• Maintaining small, private residential gardens and patient cooperatives that do not violate the spirit or intent of law. As well as protecting existing cannabis farmer's markets serving qualifying patients.


• Restoring reciprocity for non-residents and other protections passed by the Legislature in ESSB 5073.


• Removing any instances of partially vetoed language. Reinstating essential definitions including cannabis, cannabis products, plant, etc., and correcting the spelling error of “useable”.


• Adding Post-Traumatic Stress and Traumatic Brain Injury to the list of qualifying conditions, as well as addresses suitability of organ transplants to ensure that medical use of cannabis can no longer be the sole disqualification for treatment.


• Extending the same criminal and civil protections to qualifying patients that prescription drug patients receive.


• Limiting housing discrimination for the medical use of cannabis.


• Restricting employment-related cannabis testing for qualifying patients.


• Requiring video proof of impairment for qualifying patients.


• Adding in protection to qualifying patients under 18 years of age, patients, legal guardians, and their designated providers.


• Expanding the tetrahydrocannabinoidols control substance exemption to health care professionals, qualifying patients, designated providers, collective gardens, cannabis for medical use licensees, licensed testing facilities.


• Limiting cooperation with federal investigations of authorized medical use of cannabis activities.

Signatures are being gathered to qualify for this November ballot. The deadline for gathering the 246,372 signatures from register voters required to qualify is July 2, 2015. There are probably that many qualifying patients who are registered to vote. If they all make sure to sign a petition once, it will qualify for the ballot. If all the registered voters in Seattle signed a petition once, it would qualify for the ballot. Petitions are at the website: www.cppwa.org

In 1998, Washingtonians overwhelming approved I-692 creating cannabis for medical use for qualifying patients. Since then the legislature and state agencies have not shown compassion, illustrating poor judgment and lack of leadership with our medical cannabis law. In the 1999 legislative session the Legislators and the Governor needed to remove cannabis from the state controlled substance schedule one list with the new law.

The legislature directed the department of health to define what a “60-day supply” meant. In 2008, they came back with 100 square foot of grow space and 35 ounces of usable cannabis. The law enforcement community dissatisfied with the amount influenced the change to the current 15 plants and 24 ounces.

http://seattletimes.com/html/localnews/2008224424_medpot03m0.html

www.scribd.com/doc/208654452/DOH-6032-Limits-Draft

In April 2011, a letter from the police enforcement union to Governor Gregorie telling which sections to veto removed regulation for the medical use of cannabis, and definitions from RCW 69.51A.

www.scribd.com/doc/151838457/WASPC-2011-Letter-to-Governor-on-Medical-Cannabis-veto

In 2014, bills proposed unwarranted searches of home gardens, reducing qualifying patients amounts again, and making it difficult for veterans to get medical cannabis. These legislative bills would have also violated monopoly, HIPPA, FDA, and DOJ laws by having a registry and combing the medical use of cannabis with an alcohol control board.

The current bills proposed for the current legislative session continue to do the same thing while violate the same laws, as well as take away patients rights like eliminating private, non-commercial, patient collective gardens and ending authorizations for the medical use of cannabis. Only one, HB 1020, writes the law not using the racial slur "marijuana".

Eye specialist Dr. Robert Abel Jr. says proper nutrition can treat and reverse common vision problems

For 40 years, Dr. Robert Abel Jr. has dedicated his professional life as an ophthalmologist to preserving vision. As a founding partner in a large eye care practice in Delaware, he operates on four hundred cataract patients a year, but he treats six times that number without surgery.

"We know that specific foods and nutritional supplements have value in treating specific diseases, and we also now know there are also certain foods and supplements that specifically encourage eye health," says Dr. Abel, author of the book, "The Eye Care Revolution."

Dr. Abel says by using an understanding of nutritional chemistry and other means it is possible to control or eliminate many of the factors that contribute to the development of serious eye diseases:

• Controlled clinical studies show that the risk of developing cataracts can be decreased by more than half by eating fruits and vegetables rich in vitamin C, as well as the antioxidants vitamin A, E, lutein, and glutathione boosters.


• The risk of developing glaucoma can be lowered by consuming high levels of vitamins C, Omega 3, and B12. Also rhythmic breathing and avoiding blood pressure medications in the evenings.


• The risk of developing macular degeneration can be reduced by maintaining high levels of vitamins A, D, E, the carotenoids zeaxanthin and lutein, DHA, and the amino acid taurine (found in egg whites).


• Diabetic retinopathy can be delayed or prevented by consuming vitamin C along with alpha lipoic acid, Quercetin, and other bioflavonoids.

What is the ideal dietary regimen for someone concerned about preserving or improving eye health? In his book, "The Eye Care Revolution," Dr. Abel lists the Top Ten Foods for Sight:

1. Cold water fish (sardines, cod, mackerel, tuna) are an excellent source of DHA, which provides structural support to cell membranes and is recommended for dry eyes, macular degeneration, and sight preservation.


2. Spinach, kale, and green leafy vegetables are rich in carotenoids, especially lutein and zeaxanthin. Lutein protects the macula from sun damage and from blue light.


3. Eggs are rich in cysteine, sulfur, lecithin, amino acids, and lutein. Sulfur-containing compounds protect the lens of the eye from cataract formation.


4. Garlic, onions, shallots, and capers are also rich in sulfur, which is necessary for the production of glutathione, an important antioxidant for the lens of the eye.


5. Non-GMO soy, low in fat and rich in protein, contains essential fatty acids, phytoestrogens, vitamin E, and natural anti-inflammatory agents.


6. Fruits and vegetables contain vitamins A, C, E, and beta-carotene. Yellow and orange vegetables, like carrots and squash, are important for daytime vision.


7. Blueberries and grapes contain anthocyanins, which improve night vision. A cup full of blueberries, huckleberry jam, or a 100 mg bilberry supplement should improve dark adaptation within 30 minutes.


8. Wine, known to have a cardio-protective effect, has many important nutrients, which protect the heart, vision, and blood flow.


9. Nuts and berries are nature's most concentrated food sources. Grains, such as flaxseed, are high in the beneficial Omega-3 fatty acids, which help lower cholesterol and stabilize cell membranes.


10. Extra-virgin olive oil, is a healthy alternative to butter and margarine.

Dr. Abel says to maintain eye health, drink six eight-ounce glasses of filtered water every day to keep properly hydrated, as water helps create the fluid in our eyes.

New Dietary Supplement for Eye Health:  Eye Complex CS (Clinical Strength)

"While we should depend primarily on whole foods to meet our nutritional needs, we should use vitamins and supplements as an insurance policy," says Dr. Abel.

For eye health, Dr. Abel has formulated a special multivitamin, Eye Complex CS, which contains important nutrients supportive of the retina and having a protective effect on the lens:

Vitamin C       250 mg    N-Acetyl Cysteine (NAC) 50 mg    Selenium         .05 mg
L-Glutathione  2.5 mg    Alpha Lipoic Acid         25 mg    Vitamin E        100  IU
Lutein           10 mg    Zinc                7.5 mg    Bilberry            40 mg
Zeaxanthin      0.5 mg    Taurine             50 mg          Riboflavin B-2  15 mg
Vitamin B-6      10 mg    Vitamin B-12            0.1 mg    Rutin              100 mg
Grape Seed Ex 25 mg    Citrus Bioflavonoids        100 mg         Chromium      .05 mg
Ginkgo biloba  20 mg        Beta Carotene            10,000 IU     Eye Bright      100 mg
CoQ10      10 mg        Green Tea Ex             50 mg

ABOUT DR. ROBERT ABEL, JR., MD (www.eyecomplexcs.com)

Dr. Abel earned his medical degree at Jefferson Medical College in 1969, completed his ophthalmology residency at Mt. Sinai Hospital and was a Cornea Fellow at the University of Florida. A board certified ophthalmologist, Dr. Abel is on the staff of the Christiana Care Health System. He is a former Clinical Professor of Ophthalmology at Thomas Jefferson University. He founded and has been Medical Director of the Medical Eye Bank of Delaware since 1981. He teaches locally and internationally on numerous subjects, including cornea, cataract and nutrition. He instructs the Cornea Microsurgery Workshops at the Academy of Ophthalmology meetings annually and has been on the Academy's Committee of International Ophthalmology.

Dr. Abel has done active research on corneal transplants, corneal pathology, contact lenses and drugs as they relate to the eye. He holds two patents on artificial corneas and has received the AAO Honor Award and the Senior Honor Award. Dr. Abel is the author of the popular new book, "The Eye Care Revolution," which teaches patients how to treat and reverse common vision problems, and he has written eight other books. Other information concerning eye care can also be found on his website, EyeAdvisory.com.  He was also voted "TOP DOC" by Delaware Today Magazine.  In his spare time, he practices Tai-Chi, and studies alternative medicine systems.