Dr. Gary Kaplan was back at CES 2020 exploring the latest advancements in digital health technology.
With over 100 million Americans in daily, and sometimes debilitating pain, there is an urgency to find viable, drug-free products for people to manage their pain and overall wellness.
Two companies of particular interest to Dr. Kaplan were Sana Health, Inc.* and URGONight. These companies make wearables with the ability to modulate pain perception and sleep patterns.
For people in chronic pain, these products have the potential to improve their day to day lives without the side effects of medications. As the opioid crisis grows larger each year, finding practical solutions for drug-free pain management is critical.
A recent article in the Washington Post rightly expressed outrage on the massive amount of money Americans are spending on dietary supplements each year. In this country alone, $35 billion dollars of our hard-earned money is being pumped into in an industry that has little oversight and is selling products that for the most part have no known benefits whatsoever.
I completely agree with the fact that the overwhelming number of supplements taken by Americans are pretty much worthless if not outright dangerous. The majority of the supplements sold and discussed in this study are for weight loss, muscle building, and sexual enhancement. Studies have repeatedly shown that these products are frequently not what they claim to be. Many are adulterated with medications that can potentially harm the people who are taking the supplement. Many have other potentially harmful contaminants. Most of them have little if any scientific support for efficacy.
Is there a time and place for supplements?
Absolutely. Caveats abound, however. The FDA does not regulate over-the-counter nutritional supplements. One study showed that many over-the-counter melatonin supplements did not contain the dose advertised on the label with ranges from 0% of the advertised supplement to over 200 x the dose. This can be an especially serious problem in taking a supplement like vitamin D where overdoses can have serious health consequences. So, the first caveat is that you need to know if you can trust the manufacturer.
The second caveat is – why are you taking the supplement? For people on a healthy diet, a general multivitamin is not necessary. Supplements should address specific issues and be monitored appropriately. Is there any research that the supplement is helpful? At what dose for which patients? The research is ongoing, conflicting, and ever-changing so you really need to be talking with someone who is knowledgeable about supplements if you are going to be serious about improving your health.
The third caveat is – are you on the right diet for you? The definition of a healthy diet is changing and as we get better with genetic and other testing methods, we are learning that one diet fits all is not true. It turns out that foods that might be excellent for one person, such as a paleo diet, may be a disaster for another, resulting in gout and heart disease. Also, the diet that is appropriate for you today might not be appropriate when you are sick or after a major illness. This gets complicated and you need a good coach who can help tailor a proper diet for YOU.
The supplement issue is complicated. If we are going to take supplements, we are going to need to be smart consumers and treat them as seriously as we would anything else that we put in our bodies.
Are you paying too much to fill your prescriptions? Is your co-pay too high? There are some alternatives and tricks to getting better rates on your medications that insurance companies, and sometimes even your pharmacy, don’t want you to know (or are legally not able to disclose).
Here are a few tricks to make sure you get the best rate* on your prescriptions:
TIP # 1: Discuss with your physician whether generic medications, if available, would be appropriate for you.
Generic formulas tend to be less expensive than their brand name counterparts and may be just as beneficial.
TIP # 2: Ask the pharmacist whether the cash price for your medication is cheaper than your copay price.
We believe that drug benefit plans pay the largest portion of prescription costs and that copays are the most practical way to pay for prescriptions. That, however, is not always the case. Pharmacies are restricted by law from disclosing the cash price for a medication that may actually be less expensive than your copay. If you specifically ask for the cash price, they are allowed to tell you. It is worth asking. It just might be cheaper to pay for the medication without going through your insurance.
TIP # 3: Look into getting a discount card.
You may have seen commercials for companies such as GoodRx that offer discounts cards, coupons, or apps that allow you to check pharmacy prices and get the best deal in your area. There are a number of companies offering this service now. Here is a partial list for your convenience:
The Kaplan Center has available to you GoodRx and SingleCare cards available in the office. If interested, please ask and we will gladly provide them to you.
If you feel like you’re being taken advantage of by our healthcare system, the best thing that you can do is talk to your physician and your pharmacist and ask questions. We encourage you to share this information with your friends, family, and neighbors. Let’s help everyone get the best and cheapest medications possible.
By Nash Nortey
Medical Assistant Supervisor
*While it may get you a better price, keep in mind that when you pay by cash or use a discount card for prescriptions, your purchases will not be applied towards a deductible. If you have a high deductible and numerous medical expenses, it may make more financial sense to pay with your insurance.
CES 2020: Dr. Kaplan Spotlights Pain & Sleep Modulating Devices
/in Lifestyle, Treatments, Uncategorized, Wellness/by Kaplan CenterDr. Gary Kaplan was back at CES 2020 exploring the latest advancements in digital health technology.
With over 100 million Americans in daily, and sometimes debilitating pain, there is an urgency to find viable, drug-free products for people to manage their pain and overall wellness.
Two companies of particular interest to Dr. Kaplan were Sana Health, Inc.* and URGONight. These companies make wearables with the ability to modulate pain perception and sleep patterns.
For people in chronic pain, these products have the potential to improve their day to day lives without the side effects of medications. As the opioid crisis grows larger each year, finding practical solutions for drug-free pain management is critical.
Supplements Offer Value, But Come With Caveats
/in Nutrition, Wellness/by Gary Kaplan, DOA recent article in the Washington Post rightly expressed outrage on the massive amount of money Americans are spending on dietary supplements each year. In this country alone, $35 billion dollars of our hard-earned money is being pumped into in an industry that has little oversight and is selling products that for the most part have no known benefits whatsoever.
I completely agree with the fact that the overwhelming number of supplements taken by Americans are pretty much worthless if not outright dangerous. The majority of the supplements sold and discussed in this study are for weight loss, muscle building, and sexual enhancement. Studies have repeatedly shown that these products are frequently not what they claim to be. Many are adulterated with medications that can potentially harm the people who are taking the supplement. Many have other potentially harmful contaminants. Most of them have little if any scientific support for efficacy.
Is there a time and place for supplements?
Absolutely. Caveats abound, however. The FDA does not regulate over-the-counter nutritional supplements. One study showed that many over-the-counter melatonin supplements did not contain the dose advertised on the label with ranges from 0% of the advertised supplement to over 200 x the dose. This can be an especially serious problem in taking a supplement like vitamin D where overdoses can have serious health consequences. So, the first caveat is that you need to know if you can trust the manufacturer.
The second caveat is – why are you taking the supplement? For people on a healthy diet, a general multivitamin is not necessary. Supplements should address specific issues and be monitored appropriately. Is there any research that the supplement is helpful? At what dose for which patients? The research is ongoing, conflicting, and ever-changing so you really need to be talking with someone who is knowledgeable about supplements if you are going to be serious about improving your health.
The third caveat is – are you on the right diet for you? The definition of a healthy diet is changing and as we get better with genetic and other testing methods, we are learning that one diet fits all is not true. It turns out that foods that might be excellent for one person, such as a paleo diet, may be a disaster for another, resulting in gout and heart disease. Also, the diet that is appropriate for you today might not be appropriate when you are sick or after a major illness. This gets complicated and you need a good coach who can help tailor a proper diet for YOU.
The supplement issue is complicated. If we are going to take supplements, we are going to need to be smart consumers and treat them as seriously as we would anything else that we put in our bodies.
Gary Kaplan, D.O., DABFM, DABPM, FAAMA
Medical Director Kaplan Center for Integrative Medicine
The Kaplan Medical Center Store offers a variety of supplements from trusted suppliers. Click here to visit the store.
3 Tips on Lowering Prescription Costs
/in Lifestyle, Wellness/by Kaplan CenterAre you paying too much to fill your prescriptions? Is your co-pay too high? There are some alternatives and tricks to getting better rates on your medications that insurance companies, and sometimes even your pharmacy, don’t want you to know (or are legally not able to disclose).
Here are a few tricks to make sure you get the best rate* on your prescriptions:
TIP # 1: Discuss with your physician whether generic medications, if available, would be appropriate for you.
Generic formulas tend to be less expensive than their brand name counterparts and may be just as beneficial.
TIP # 2: Ask the pharmacist whether the cash price for your medication is cheaper than your copay price.
We believe that drug benefit plans pay the largest portion of prescription costs and that copays are the most practical way to pay for prescriptions. That, however, is not always the case. Pharmacies are restricted by law from disclosing the cash price for a medication that may actually be less expensive than your copay. If you specifically ask for the cash price, they are allowed to tell you. It is worth asking. It just might be cheaper to pay for the medication without going through your insurance.
TIP # 3: Look into getting a discount card.
You may have seen commercials for companies such as GoodRx that offer discounts cards, coupons, or apps that allow you to check pharmacy prices and get the best deal in your area. There are a number of companies offering this service now. Here is a partial list for your convenience:
GoodRx
SingleCare
HelpRX
ScriptSave WellRx
RXsaver by Retailmenot
The Kaplan Center has available to you GoodRx and SingleCare cards available in the office. If interested, please ask and we will gladly provide them to you.
If you feel like you’re being taken advantage of by our healthcare system, the best thing that you can do is talk to your physician and your pharmacist and ask questions. We encourage you to share this information with your friends, family, and neighbors. Let’s help everyone get the best and cheapest medications possible.
By Nash Nortey
Medical Assistant Supervisor
*While it may get you a better price, keep in mind that when you pay by cash or use a discount card for prescriptions, your purchases will not be applied towards a deductible. If you have a high deductible and numerous medical expenses, it may make more financial sense to pay with your insurance.