High demand making Prilosec scarce
Reader Liz Cox wrote me an e-mail recently:
“Over the past two weeks (at least) there has been an acute shortage of Prilosec at stores where I shop in the Spokane Valley. The Fred Meyer at Sullivan and Sprague has been completely out for more than three weeks. I went to the Walgreen’s at Sprague and Sullivan — also completely out. Finally I went to the Albertson’s at 32nd and Highway 27 and bought the last two boxes in the store. Both were small quantity boxes, so I’ll be scouring the stores again in two weeks.
“Before stores began to run out completely, a few weeks ago all I could find were promotional boxes. So one time I bought Prilosec packaged with a free roll of 35 mm film. The next time, I had to buy a box packaged with a ThermaCare heatwrap.
“So, what’s going on? Is there a national shortage? Is this an after-effect of Pig Out In The Park?
“Seriously, since the stuff went OTC and insurance plans quit paying for it, it’s been selling like crazy.”
Here’s the story, Liz:
There is indeed a national run on over-the-counter Prilosec, which is marketed and distributed by Procter & Gamble. It’s a problem created by demand, said P&G spokesman Kurt Weigand. The heartburn medication went over the counter one year ago.
Production will be increased over the next three to four months, Weigand said.
Botox deal?
A skin treatment center in a local shopping mall recently advertised Botox for $10 per unit.
It turns out you’re going to need 10 to 20 units to erase those scowl lines. When I called, identifying myself as a newspaper reporter, they told me to expect to pay $100 to $300 for a treatment. They’ll give estimates, but the patient doesn’t really know how many units the doctor will use until he or she is under the needle.
When shopping for a Botox center, one should also ask if they dilute the toxin before injecting it and exactly which toxin they use.
Ask the boss
Got a question about Medicare? Why not ask the Big Boss himself?
Mark McClellan, head of the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, will speak with Kaiser Family Foundation’s Jackie Judd on a live Webcast Wednesday at 9:30 a.m. Send a question in advance by e-mail to conversations@kff.org. Then watch the Webcast by clicking on the link at www.kff.org.
Community building
A conference on building community collaboration will be held Nov. 8 and 9 at the Coeur d’Alene Resort.
Sponsored by Spokane’s nonprofit Health Improvement Partnership, the conference is designed for business leaders, nonprofit groups, citizens, educators and health-care professionals. Existing community groups are encouraged to use the conference as a laboratory for strengthening their efforts.
The conference will include a presentation on community-centered health-care reform by Kristen West, executive director of Choice Regional Health Network in Olympia.
Register by Oct. 15 to receive the early rate of $225 per person (or $195 per person for a group of five or more). To register online, go to www.hipspokane.org.
Know a winner?
Nominations are due Thursday for the Sister Peter Claver Award, which is given annually to the person who best embodies the qualities exhibited by the late longtime president of Sacred Heart Medical Center.
The award dinner will be held Oct. 28 at the Red Lion Grand Hotel. Nominees will be recognized at the event. For a nomination form, call (509) 474-3081.