Stop the Opiate Tax aka The Lifeboat Act
Public Comments (806)
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Jun 5th, 2016Someone from Tignall, GA signed.
Jun 5th, 2016Someone from Old Monroe, MO writes:
This is ridiculous, why do us, the chronic pain suffers, seniors and disabled need to pay because those who most likely not supposed to take the pain meds or maybe for only a short period of time didn't do so RESPONSIBLE! It's their addiction and they not have to take responsibility for their own actions! Seriously, and I sincerely don't believe all the money will go for what you, the government, says it will go for. Just look at Social Security, excellent example of how the government spend money that isn't theirs! Why not take a pay cut if you all are really concerned! Oh that's right, you can't live on your measly salary of $174,00 plus! I'm sick and tired of the government taking good hardworking people's money to continue their greed ways! WE MUST STOP THIS! And honestly they all need to go!Jun 5th, 2016Someone from New London, IA signed.
Jun 5th, 2016Someone from Clarkston, MI writes:
I use my medication responsibly. I have chronic pain due to the fact I have MSK and have been symptomatic for over 13 years, which means I have kidney stones always everyday. I have medical bills that have I HAVE PAID responsibly for this entire time. We have rolled with the punches of the changing economy and medical insirance system by continuing to do with less. That's what we do because we're responsible people. Now you want MORE. I was born with a kidney defect and it is getting harder and harder to recieve adequate care because we are going broke. I can't afford to fund one more cent to any rehabilitation centers or addition taxes. I should not be taxed for needing to take pain medication on top of the hardship I live with already.REPORT COMMENTS
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No, CancelJun 5th, 2016Someone from Tampa, FL writes:
Please do not make our chronic health care cost more.REPORT COMMENTS
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No, CancelJun 5th, 2016Someone from Manchester, TN writes:
Let's see if I understand your thinking. You want 95% of us to pay extra for our medication to punish the 5% who abuse opioids? This is ludicrous!REPORT COMMENTS
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No, CancelJun 5th, 2016Someone from Manchester, TN writes:
Let's see if I understand your thinking. You want 95% of us to pay extra for our medication to punish the 5% who abuse opioids? This is ludicrous!REPORT COMMENTS
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No, CancelJun 5th, 2016Someone from West Haven, CT writes:
Tax every drug or no drug. Totally unfair.REPORT COMMENTS
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No, CancelJun 5th, 2016Someone from Joliet, IL writes:
Why are chronic pain patients being expected to pay for someone's addiction treatment? Only 3-5% of chronic pain patients under a doctor's care become addicted to the medicaton. Most addicts get their first prescription drugs off the street, not from a legal, valid prescription obtained from a doctor. Medical costs for chronic pain patients are already more than most can afford, and this is just another failure of the system that will prevent patients from getting safe, legal medications, and drive them to cheaper street drugs. Suicide rates of chronic pain patients has already risen since the institution of the CDC guidelines. We should be implementing strategies that truly decrease addiction, not create more addicts or raise the suicide rates even more by denying pain patients a basic human right- the right to not have to suffer constant, excruciating pain because you are denied access to the medications that can relieve it.REPORT COMMENTS
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No, CancelJun 5th, 2016Someone from Seminole, FL signed.
Jun 5th, 2016Someone from Speedwell, TN signed.
Jun 5th, 2016Someone from Hot Springs, SD writes:
tax those who break a leg or arm have teeth pulled! ridiculous! chronic pain patients many born from congenital disease many injured in the military or other work! those with true pain less than 2% ever get addictions or even a high from pain medications! You will need pain medications or family at one time or another too this is ludicrous !!REPORT COMMENTS
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No, CancelJun 5th, 2016Someone from Arlington, TX signed.
Jun 5th, 2016Someone from Groveland, CA signed.
Jun 5th, 2016Someone from Morgantown, PA writes:
It is horrible that Congress would think it is OK to put a tax on the back of people with chronic pain. People that already are just about surviving financially. Seems like the compassion in the USA is non existent anymore.REPORT COMMENTS
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No, CancelJun 5th, 2016Someone from Pittsfield, MA signed.
Jun 5th, 2016Someone from Streamwood, IL signed.
Jun 5th, 2016Someone from Fort Walton Beach, FL signed.
Jun 5th, 2016Someone from Pittsburgh, PA writes:
As a pain patient. I can't believe you would even consider taxing our meds. IT's not as if we're taking them recreationally, as if we have a choice! IT's not like cigarettes or alcohol for heaven's sake! We need these meds to have any chance at having some sort of quality of life. Most of us a disabled by our pain, and barely get by as it is, and you want to tax sick, crippled people on their medication? Really, is this what the US has come to? I think you should be ashamed to even suggest such a thing. Some day it could be YOU needing this type of medication, or someone you love. IT's a very difficult, stressful, and overwhelming thing to deal with. I pray you have an ounce of compassion somewhere in you for people who suffer unimaginably and will reconsider doing this. God help you to sleep at night. Megan BichselREPORT COMMENTS
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No, CancelJun 5th, 2016Someone from Rayle, GA signed.
Jun 5th, 2016Someone from Bellevue, KY signed.
Jun 5th, 2016Someone from Strongsville, OH signed.
Jun 5th, 2016Someone from Isle, MN signed.
Jun 5th, 2016Someone from Isle, MN writes:
How can you just across the board add a tax when many people who are justifiably using these medications maybe on there last dollars to get by. To say everyone is an addict is to say politician is corrupt!REPORT COMMENTS
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No, CancelJun 5th, 2016Someone from Okoboji, IA writes:
Our medications are too expensive already. If you think that our insurance companies will pay, then our premiums will go up.REPORT COMMENTS
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No, CancelJun 5th, 2016Someone from Angola, NY signed.
Jun 5th, 2016Someone from New Paltz, NY signed.
Jun 5th, 2016Someone from Crystal Bay, NV writes:
Stop treating us as drug addicts. I realize there are some out there but the vast majority of us use our pain medications appropriately & shouldn't be punished for the few. I'm always amazed that, by government records, alcohol related deaths/disease are 7x higher than opioid deaths. Yet, alcohol is available in the grocery stores. Unless the US Government has been holding back on new pain medications we just have the old ones to get some quality of life back. You don't like opioid meds, then find an alternative for those of us with chronic pain!! This taxation is wrong! Many of us are on fixed income as it is! Meds aren't cheap, is Medicare prepared to pay the tax?? Shame on the US Government for insurance fraud. Insurances are NOT going to pay this tax.REPORT COMMENTS
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No, CancelJun 5th, 2016Someone from Cypress, TX signed.
Jun 5th, 2016Someone from Decatur, AL signed.
Jun 5th, 2016Someone from Marietta, GA writes:
These criminals who tried to sell their baby for drugs are some who would directly benefit from this "tax". http://www.wsbtv.com/news/trending-now/couple-tries-to-sell-baby-for-drugs-police-say/324427755 Why do the innocents who use these medications lawfully have to pay to support criminals like these? Addiction rehab has a notoriously HIGH failure rate. Addiction is choice more than chronic pain. There are many FREE programs for addicts. Why further punish people who have ZERO CHOICES in being actually ill with a disease for which there are no choices? This is discrimination of the worst sort against a minority who are trapped with diseases for which there is no cure. Let the addicts pay for their treatment just the same as those in chronic pain must pay for their own treatment.REPORT COMMENTS
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No, CancelJun 5th, 2016Someone from Greenville, SC writes:
I respectfully ask that no such fee be added to legitimate uses of such medications needed to cope with daily life. I'm 40 years old and have had 4 very painful back surgeries. I'm now in worse shape than I was before the surgeries. I would not be able to take the severe, cronic, and debilitating pain that I have without pain medication. In addition, I cannot afford it. My family is struggling on one income. I've been going through the SSDI procedures for over 2 years and I am waiting on my disability hearing. Our finances are already taking a hit. I understand that there is a widespread issue with opiate abuse, but people who have legitimate need should not be faulted or take a hit financially to support any program to combat these issues. Thank you!REPORT COMMENTS
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No, CancelJun 5th, 2016Someone from Houston, TX writes:
As a Disabled Veteran who no longer uses opiate pain medication, it is time to quit punishing those who are already living in pain! This tax represents a violation of one of the framing planks of our Constitution, "Taxation without representation" and it disadvantages a select group of people who are not even the offenders! Shame on You!REPORT COMMENTS
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No, CancelJun 5th, 2016Someone from Renton, WA signed.
Jun 5th, 2016Someone from Houston, TX signed.
Jun 5th, 2016Someone from Natick, MA writes:
Do you not realize how expensive our medications already are? A good portion of my family's monthly budget is set aside to deal with the copious number of pills I have to take in order to function. How dare you keep restricting us in even more ways than you already do? Many people cannot afford medication as it is. Don't prohibit us further.REPORT COMMENTS
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No, CancelJun 5th, 2016Someone from Mantua, NJ writes:
Current Congressmen has shown their personal hatred and contempt for America's most vulnerable, the elderly, disabled and the handicapped yet once again with the introduction of this bill. I cry for my country. Stop this bill.REPORT COMMENTS
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