Making drug info
Also:
■ Student health
■ IRS scam
easy to read
PACKAGE INSERTS that accompany prescription states to develop laws addressing the health prob-drugs, usually written in such small print that a magni- lems of young people.
fying glass is needed to read them, will soon be The problem seems to be growing, because
rewritten and redesigned to meet federal guidelines. many students work only part time or have jobs that
This is to help both doctors and patients get vital infor- don’t offer medical coverage. Experts fear the prob-mation in a form that is easier to read and understand lem has now reached dangerous proportions, and it
to prevent dangerous errors in dispensing and use. must be dealt with by state and federal agencies.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will
oversee and write the new rules on labeling and Don’t bite on this bait
inserts. Government estimates show that new label- Identity-theft scammers are
ing could prevent about 300,000 cases of death or posing as the Internal Revenue
injury that occur each year in U.S. hospitals and Service (IRS). In one scheme,
wherever professional prescriptions are prescribed. scammers notify taxpayers that
But why the FDA has waited so long to change drug they may be entitled to an out-labelsisamystery. standing tax refund and urge
Dr. Janet Woodcock of the FDA said in a press them to click on a link lead-release that the rules are designed to eliminate much ing to an official-looking
of the required legalese that has dominated and elon- Web site. The site then
gated the multipage inserts. For example: solicits the victim’s Social
• Molecular diagrams of the drug’s chemical struc- Security and/or credit
ture, currently on opening pages of the pamphlets, card number.
will be moved to back pages. In a variation, crim-
• More up-to-date and easy-to-read information inals use e-mail to tell
about the drug will now be up front. taxpayers that they
• Boxed highlights will be given prominent ex- are under audit and
posure and will spell out the most important infor- could clear up the
mation about a drug’s risks and benefits. problem by divulg-
“Sometimes less is more—less information, but ing selected private
highlighting it in a better way, sometimes better con- financial information.
veys important risk information,” according to an However, the truth is
FDA medical and scientific affairs deputy. that the IRS doesn’t use
The next obvious important step for the FDA is e-mail to notify taxpay-to work the same overdue magic on all medications. ers about their accounts.
It seems obvious that packaging for all drugs should If you ever have any
be simple to understand to promote safety. doubt whether a contact
from the IRS is authen-
The ills of student health coverage tic, call toll-free 1-800-
Many college students are in a quandary because 829-1040. C
health coverage under their parents’ policy can require that they maintain a full academic load. When
a student falls victim to a serious illness or injury, it David Horowitz is a leading consumer advocate.
frequently requires extended sick leave from classes. His “Fight Back!” commentaries are heard daily on
AM Y CAN TRELL
If coverage is subsequently cut, it leaves students un- the Jones Radio Network. For stations and times,
insured and vulnerable at the time they need the check the radio page at www.fightback.com.
coverage most. © 2006 FIGH T BACK! INC. ALL RIGH TS RESERVED.
Ask David
Horowitz
I AM GOING car shop-
ping and have excellent
credit. I want to test-
drive several cars, but
I understand that dealer-
ships make a copy of
your license and run a
credit report right away.
Can they do that? Can I
refuse to let them copy
my license?
Philip
Houston, Texas
PHILIP, dealerships have
a right to document your
driver’s license to prove
your eligibility to drive.
The dealer should inform
you if they copy it, and
you should request the
photocopy back after
taking a test drive.
But you don’t
need to provide
bank information
or a Social
Security number
unless you are
ready to make
a deal and the
information
is needed for
the contract.
The dealer may
not run a credit check
without your permis-
sion. If you decide to
buy the car and allow
them to run your credit
report, they should dis-
close the results, as it
may affect the terms of
the loan.
If you’re turned down,
you have the right to find
out why and get a free
copy of the file from the
credit reporting agency.
For example, in a recent case a 22-year-old New
Hampshire student was forced to maintain a full
class schedule while undergoing aggressive treat- Do you have a question for David?
ment for cancer. She had to either maintain a full Just log on to www.fightback.com and “Ask David.” He will personally respond to
course load or pay about $550 a month to remain your problem if you follow the instructions printed on his Web site. (Costco members
covered under her mother’s health insurance. receive a rebate off the normal fee.) Questions and answers of the greatest interest to
It was apparently too much for her. She died while Costco members will be used in this column with the permission of the contributor
undergoing treatment. Her case has prompted many and will be posted on www.fightback.com.
