BY

NORMAN J CLEMENT RPH., DDS, NORMAN L.CLEMENT PHARM-TECH, MALACHI F. MACKANDAL PHARMD, BELINDA BROWN-PARKER, IN THE SPIRIT OF JOSEPH SOLVO ESQ., IN THE SPIRIT OF REV. C.T. VIVIAN, JELANI ZIMBABWE CLEMENT, BS., MBA., IN THE SPIRIT OF THE HON. PATRICE LUMUMBA, IN THE SPIRIT OF ERLIN CLEMENT SR., WALTER F. WRENN III., MD., JULIE KILLINGWORTH, EDWARD HARDY, WILLIE GUINYARD BS., JOSEPH WEBSTER MD., MBA, BEVERLY C. PRINCE MD., FACS., GLINDA DAMES-FINCHER BS., ADRIENNE KINCAID, RICHARD KAUL, MD., LEROY BAYLOR, JAY K. JOSHI MD., MBA, ADRIENNE EDMUNDSON, ESTER HYATT PH.D., WALTER L. SMITH BS., IN THE SPIRIT OF BRAHM FISHER ESQ., MICHELE ALEXANDER MD., CUDJOE WILDING BS, MARTIN NDJOU, BS., RPH., IN THE SPIRIT OF DEBRA LYNN SHEPHERD, BERES E. MUSCHETT, STRATEGIC ADVISORS

We owe a great debt of this article to the works of: 

Adrienne Kincaid, Glinda Dames-Fincher, MT(ASCP)
Volunteer Medical  Adviser
Kincaid’s Kindred Spirits, Inc Adult Sickle Cell Support Group 501(c)(3) non-profithttp://www.kks4scd.org 
Please Donate Blood.https://www.redcrossblood.or

THE AMERICAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION ON SICKLE CELL ANEMIA TREATMENT

“We know that this has harmed patients with cancer, sickle cell disease, and those in hospice. The restrictive policies also fail patients who are stable on long-term opioid therapy.”

A major issue, according to the AMA’s June 2020 letter to the CDC, is that many states, health plans, and pharmacy chains misapplied the CDC guidance to institute strict, specific limits on opioid prescribing—for example, Walmart and CVS Caremark placed a 7-day hard threshold on prescribing, and more than 30 states have enacted laws with opioid prescribing restrictions ranging from 3 to 14 days, including many with morphine milligram equivalents (MME) limits and other restrictions. “CDC’s threshold recommendations continue to be used against patients with pain to deny care,” Mukkamala wrote.

Instead, patients with pain continue to suffer from the undertreatment of pain and the stigma of having pain,” he continued. “This is a direct result of the arbitrary thresholds on dose and quantity contained in the 2016 CDC Guideline. More than 35 states and many health insurers, pharmacies, and pharmacy benefit managers made the CDC’s 2016 arbitrary dose and quantity thresholds hard law and inflexible policy.”

AGGRESSIVE OPIATE OR OPIOID TREATMENT FOR SICKLE CELL IS FUNDAMENTAL

WHO DECIDES PATIENT PAIN CARE? YOUR HEALTHCARE CLINICIAN? OR LAW ENFORCEMENT?

From “American Agony The Opioid War Against Patients in Pain,” by Helen Borel, RN, Ph.D.:

“When a Sickle Cell Crisis occurs, so severely painful and disabling as it is in these acute phases, the disease itself progressively worsens as it continually impacts these sufferers’ lives.

Sickle cell disease (SCD) Canada Problem #2

https://www.ctvnews.ca/video?clipId=2226104&jwsource=em

Importantly, due to the 7-to-10 range of SCD pain, only pure opioid medication, not combination drugs, should be given. Due to drug tolerance and longstanding illness, these patients of requiring higher opioid doses.

And, because of the hypoxemic (low blood oxygen level), despite the introduction of an intravenous narcotic, some Sickle Cell patients may need to swallow their narcotic or get it subcutaneously ( shot in and under the skin)”

Meet Edward F. Hardy

Hospitalized several times with near-death experiences, Edward is the face of sickle cell.   Born and raised in Cleveland, OH, where he was diagnosed at 6 months old with the disease.  He currently resides in Cleveland, Ohio with his wife and 2 children.  He desires to see this foundation thrive with opportunities to assist, and resources, instilling hope in the sickle cell community.

One of the goals of our foundation is to form strategic Partnerships with Community Organizations to provide avenues of care for sickle cell patients.  Your Link To Health is one of those partners.

Dr. James R. Alberty and Dr. Artour D. Wright came together with a mission to establish an elite rehabilitation facility,  Your Link To Health.  

After a chance meeting with Dr.Ricquetta Carpenter (one of the Dr.’s on staff at Your Link to Health), Edward F. Hardy was invited to experience the facility and services first hand.  Right away he saw how many of the services offered could be combined into a unique package specifically targeted to help the sickle cell community.  From that encounter, a meeting was held with Mr. Hardy and the Staff to see how the two organizations could partner together to develop that program.  Please call: 843.855.9982 to find out more.

A SICKLE CELL CURE

The Mission

Advocacy

The mission of the Edward F. Hardy Sickle Cell Foundation is to break the cycle of mistreatment towards Sickle Cell patients, raise awareness of Sickle Cell disease to the world, and deliver support to the Sickle Cell population and their caregivers, aiding in a longer life span.

The Edward F. Hardy Sickle Cell Foundation is a 501(C3) non-profit organization.  This foundation was started in 2011, inspired by Edward F. Hardy to enlighten, encourage, and give support to sickle cell patients, their families, and caregivers affected by it, along with making changes in the health care system, aiding in a longer life span.  His vision is to educate, increase awareness, and provide a second voice to advocate the concerns of sickle cell patients.  

CONGRESS: CLEAN UP THIS MESS

It is past time for Congress to correct the mess they have made of the regulation of opioid pain relievers. Here is contact information for your Senators, Representatives, and governor’ offices. Call them and demand that they:

1. familiarize themselves with the problems they have created by reading this article in STAT news.
2. begin work on legislation to force the repeal of the CDC Guidelines
3. reign in regulators and drug enforcement authorities from their senseless and unfounded persecution of doctors.

To make it easy for them here is model legislation that, if enacted, will do all of the above.

FOR NOW, YOU ARE WITHIN

THE NORMS