This is a personal opinion:

Or just make it so that my meds that go over the counter will no longer be covered by insurance...grrr.

"Editorial: FDA prescription drugs plan would empower you"
http://www.usatoday.com/news/opinion/editorials/story/2012-05-06/drugs-over-the-counter/54791606/1

Quote
Now, some of the same naysayers are trying to derail a Food and Drug Administration proposal that could make more prescription-only drugs — such as those to treat asthma, migraines, high blood pressure and elevated cholesterol — more accessible without visits to a doctor. Today is the deadline for public comments.

I'm not posting a personal opinion, just linking an article.

THANK YOU for posting!  Here is direct link for all details.

http://www.aanma.org/advocacy/aadch/


May 9 & 10, 2012.

Allergy & Asthma Day Capitol Hill 2012 - Contact Your Representative!


Dear AANMA Members & Friends:

On May 10, 2012 AANMA goes to Capitol Hill for our 15th annual Allergy & Asthma Day Capitol Hill (AADCH) with a message for Congress:

Ensure patients have access to

-Asthma and allergy care that meets national guidelines and
-Current, approved, life-saving technology.

New technologies inform and improve physicians' abilities to diagnose and treat asthma and anaphylaxis. However, new proposals being considered by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) would remove physicians from the process -- and put patients in the position of self-diagnosing and self-treating at the pharmacy (for more information, visit www.aanma.org/advocacy/fda). You can help us make sure that all patients, regardless of income or insurance, have access to their physicians, guideline-level care, and new diagnostic and treatment technologies. 

In Washington, DC: Join us on Capitol Hill on Thurs., May 10, 2012 as we present this urgent message to Congress (here are the event details). This year we also celebrate innovations in asthma and allergy technology and honor the winners of AANMA's Ultimate Inhaler Contest. Come for the Congressional Briefing at 9 a.m., and/or the Health and Technology Fair at 11:30 a.m. Attendance is free! 

From home: Join our nationwide virtual march to Capitol Hill on Wed., May 9, 2012! You can help spread our message without going any farther than your computer, phone, or smartphone. It takes about 5 minutes, tops. Here's how:

1.      Use this link to look up your Congressional representative: www.house.gov/representatives   
2.      Write a quick e-mail or call your rep. See our sample e-mail/phone call below - for e-mail, just copy and paste then fill in the blanks.

Contact me at sfwalker@aanma.org or 800-878-4403 ext. 1524 if you have any questions. I'd love to hear how your representative responded and if you'd like us to follow up with anyone from their staff. Thank you for taking the time to speak out on behalf of people and their families who live with allergies and asthma. Together we can make a difference! 

Sincerely,
Sandra J. Fusco-Walker
Director of Patient Advocacy


Sample e-mail/phone call:

Hello, I am a constituent and would like to ask my representative to please support ( http://www.aanma.org/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/Dear-Colleague-letter-2012.pdf ) and attend Allergy & Asthma Day Capitol Hill (AADCH ). A Congressional briefing will be held at the Rayburn Building on Thurs., May 10, 2012 at 9 a.m. in Room 2103, and the Innovations in Technology Fair at 11:30 a.m. in the Rayburn Foyer. 


(I/my child/my patient) have/has asthma and here's how it affects our lives. (Share your story.)

New technologies inform and improve physicians' abilities to diagnose and treat asthma and anaphylaxis. However, recent proposals being considered by the Food and Drug Administration would put patients in the position of self-diagnosing and self-treating asthma and anaphylaxis. Please help us ensure all patients, regardless of income or insurance, have access to their physicians, guideline-level care, and new diagnostic and treatment technologies.

Please attend AADCH, which is sponsored by Allergy & Asthma Network Mothers of Asthmatics (AANMA), a national nonprofit organization. If you would like to learn more about AADCH, please visit www.aanma.org/aadch or contact Sandra Fusco-Walker, AANMA's director of patient advocacy, at 703-641-9595 ext. 1524.

I look forward to hearing back from you and hope that my Representative will sign on as a sponsor of Allergy & Asthma Day Capitol Hill 2012 and attend the briefing and fair.

Sincerely,

(Your name
Address
Phone number/E-mail address)