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Bloomberg Slaps Down Criticism of Painkiller Restriction Plan
Politicker ^ | January 11, 2013 | Colin Campbell

Posted on 01/13/2013 12:15:01 PM PST by Tolerance Sucks Rocks

Yesterday, Mayor Michael Bloomberg and city officials unveiled a new initiative to limit supplies of prescription painkillers in the city’s emergency rooms as a way to combat what they described as a growing addiction problem in the region. Some critics, as documented by The New York Times, however, felt the move would unnecessarily hurt poor and uninsured patients who use emergency rooms as their primary care doctor. Needless to say, Mr. Bloomberg was not swayed by this line of argument.

“The city hospitals we control, so … we’re going to do it and we’re urging all of the other hospitals to do it, voluntary guidelines. Somebody said, oh, somebody wrote, ‘Oh then maybe there won’t be enough painkillers for the poor who use the emergency rooms as their primary care doctor,’” the mayor said on his weekly radio show with John Gambling. “Number one, there’s no evidence of that. Number two, supposing it is really true, so you didn’t get enough painkillers and you did have to suffer a little bit. The other side of the coin is people are dying and there’s nothing perfect … There’s nothing that you can possibly do where somebody isn’t going to suffer, and it’s always the same group [claiming], ‘Everybody is heartless.’ Come on, this is a very big problem.”

In the same interview, Mr. Bloomberg stressed the initiative’s simple rationale is to prevent extra pills from piling up in the cabinets of New Yorkers who no longer need them, where they can pose a health risk if they’re abused.

“We talk about drugs, heroin and crack and marijuana, this is one of the big outbursts–and it’s a lot worse around the country than it is here. It’s kids and adults getting painkillers and using them for entertainment purposes, or whatever field of purposes, as opposed to what they are designed for,” he explained. “If you break a leg, you’re going to be in pain, nothing wrong with getting something that reduces the pain. But if you get 20 days worth of pills and you only need them three days, there’s 17 days sitting there. Invariably some of the kids are going to find them, or you’re going to take them and get you addicted.”

Mr. Bloomberg also argued the number of pain pills currently being prescribed had even contributed to an uptick in violent crimes outside of pharmacies from robbers looking to steal the drugs.

“You see there’s a lot more hold-ups of pharmacies, people getting held up as they walk out of pharmacies,” he explained. “What are they all about? They’re not trying to steal your shaving cream or toothpaste at the point of a gun. They want these drugs.”


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Government; News/Current Events; US: New York
KEYWORDS: bloominidiotberg; bullystate; hospitals; michaelbloomberg; nannystate; painkillers
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POS.
1 posted on 01/13/2013 12:15:06 PM PST by Tolerance Sucks Rocks
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To: Tolerance Sucks Rocks

Break a leg Mr. Bloomberg!


2 posted on 01/13/2013 12:17:59 PM PST by Paleo Conservative (Just because you're paranoid doesn't mean they're not really out to get you.)
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To: Tolerance Sucks Rocks

He looks like the type who would slap around his “domestic partner.


3 posted on 01/13/2013 12:18:37 PM PST by BenLurkin (This is not a statement of fact. It is either opinion or satire; or both)
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To: Tolerance Sucks Rocks

Now wait just a darn minute...

Obama said people might just have to take a pill instead of have surgeries. Now this guy is limiting pain meds?


4 posted on 01/13/2013 12:28:39 PM PST by berdie
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To: Eric Blair 2084; Lazamataz; SheLion; Gabz; Hank Kerchief; 383rr; libertarian27; traviskicks; ...

POS Bloomberg strikes again.

Don’t break a leg in New York City.

Nanny State PING!


5 posted on 01/13/2013 12:31:59 PM PST by Tolerance Sucks Rocks (Happy New Year!)
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To: Eric Blair 2084; Lazamataz; SheLion; Gabz; Hank Kerchief; 383rr; libertarian27; traviskicks; ...

POS Bloomberg strikes again.

Don’t break a leg in New York City.

Nanny State PING!


6 posted on 01/13/2013 12:33:08 PM PST by Tolerance Sucks Rocks (Happy New Year!)
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To: Tolerance Sucks Rocks

This is now hysterically funny. About 10 years ago the concerned and academics were hammering us for NOT adequately addressing pain. So they made pain the “5th vital sign”. We have ask EVERY patient in the E R what their pain level is, document it, address it and show improvement.
So I can’t tell you how often I walk into a room with someone laughing or texting with a normal pulse, BP and no evidence of distress at all and their pain is a 10 out of 10. DEMANDING narcotics. Of course nothing else works at that point. So guess what happens when they get a “ customer ( note not patient) survey? Bad surveys can get you fired.
And now insurance and Medicare are going to pay based on “ perceived value and satisfaction”. This is significantly hurting the bottom line for many hospitals. So what’s happened to narcotic use in the last 10 years?
It’s exploded. The US has 5% of the world population and consumes 85% of the worlds narcotics.
So now the same idiots who forced this mess in the first place are about to try to legislate the answer.


7 posted on 01/13/2013 12:36:31 PM PST by Kozak (The Republic is dead. I do not owe what we have any loyalty, wealth or sympathy.)
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To: Tolerance Sucks Rocks

“The city hospitals we control, so … we’re going to do it and we’re urging all of the other hospitals...

WE control your life you will do as we say.
Wake up America before their asking to see your papers. Oh wait we are talking about NY, Never mind.


8 posted on 01/13/2013 12:37:26 PM PST by bikerman (What ever happens from now is all OBAMA's fault. Obama lied,economy died)
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To: Tolerance Sucks Rocks; CatDancer

“They’re not trying to steal your shaving cream or toothpaste at the point of a gun. They want these drugs.”

What? What gun? I thought NY was a gun free zone...

Personally, I think “they’re” looking for a biggee cup.

Sigh. I was recently rx’d one of these types of drugs, after a number of others of these types of drugs haven’t worked.

The first time having it filled, the pharmacy didn’t have any in stock. It would take a week to get it in. They ended up sending me to another in-network pharmacy that did happen to have it stock, and assured me they would order it so they would have it on hand. We had a blizzard in the middle and a resulting delay of 4 days due in part to weather, and in part to them trying to find another pharmacy with it in stock.

Well, the dr. decided to increase my dose after two weeks. I called the pharmacy to make sure they had gotten the order in. No, it had been cancelled due to a new DEA regulation. Since I had the original rx filled at a different pharmacy, the policy resulted in the order to their pharmacy being cancelled.

They told me they would check around for the closest one of their locations, and I could take it there. Well, the closest was 100 miles this time, instead of 25. So, they were going to try to order it again, but it would be a week, if they could even get it.

That was Jan 4. I’m still waiting...

Obamacare = take the blue pill -/- New DEA regulation = you can’t get the blue pill


9 posted on 01/13/2013 12:42:04 PM PST by green pastures (Cynicism-- it's not just for breakfast anymore...)
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To: berdie

See my post at 9. Not just this guy.

The govt., too. New DEA regs are limiting amounts of pain meds pharmacies can have on hand.


10 posted on 01/13/2013 12:44:25 PM PST by green pastures (Cynicism-- it's not just for breakfast anymore...)
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To: Tolerance Sucks Rocks

Why does anyone still live in that sh*thole, California, New Jersey or Illinois. Could someone please explain?


11 posted on 01/13/2013 12:46:12 PM PST by 2ndDivisionVet (I'll raise $2million for Sarah Palin's presidential run. What'll you do?)
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To: Tolerance Sucks Rocks
I have a hard time feeling any sympathy for New Yorkers who
elected and re-elected this statist midget to rule over them.


12 posted on 01/13/2013 1:20:11 PM PST by TigersEye (Free fetus disposal is not a right.)
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To: Tolerance Sucks Rocks

Have you ever noticed how poorly self-styled “progressives” always react to criticism of any kind?


13 posted on 01/13/2013 1:20:19 PM PST by Standing Wolf
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

They made the mess. Don’t give them any ideas about leaving it behind for others to clean up.


14 posted on 01/13/2013 1:22:25 PM PST by cableguymn (The founding fathers would be shooting by now..)
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To: Tolerance Sucks Rocks

I truly think this man has lost his mind.

The Little Dictator Syndrome.

Astonishing—telling doctors how to treat their patients.

.


15 posted on 01/13/2013 1:30:35 PM PST by Mears
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To: Tolerance Sucks Rocks

Doomberg needs some pain inflicted on him.


16 posted on 01/13/2013 1:37:56 PM PST by crosshairs (They are only assault weapons in the hands of tyrannical governments and criminals. Ban both.)
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To: Tolerance Sucks Rocks

What is this little pissant, “Mayor For Life’’?


17 posted on 01/13/2013 1:47:47 PM PST by jmacusa (Political correctness is cultural Marxism. I'm not a Marxist.)
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To: Tolerance Sucks Rocks
I think he is on something...
18 posted on 01/13/2013 1:55:58 PM PST by pepperdog ( I still get a thrill up my leg when spell check doesn't recognize the name/word Obama!)
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To: Tolerance Sucks Rocks
“If you break a leg, you’re going to be in pain, nothing wrong with getting something that reduces the pain. But if you get 20 days worth of pills and you only need them three days, there’s 17 days sitting there. Invariably some of the kids are going to find them, or you’re going to take them and get you addicted.”

What a bunch of garbage. Invariably, Bloomberg is a condescending low life and believes his minions must be protected from themselves.
19 posted on 01/13/2013 1:58:04 PM PST by microgood
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To: Mears

That’s nothing. He told NY city hospitals to limit baby forumula being handed out to new moms because he thinks nursing is better for babies.

The man is a lunatic, drunk on power.


20 posted on 01/13/2013 2:03:27 PM PST by Girlene
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