SHOULD PATIENTS PAY A FEE TO DOH FOR THEIR CARD?

I have heard noise about DOH charging a fee to the patient to obtain their card similar to those that pay for a personal production license. Similar to some of the other MMJ states. I am against this move. The money for the LNPP license renewal fees already is derived from revenues received from the patient. Everything is on the backs of the patients. I oppose any more fees being assessed period. If they cannot run this program on $300,000 to eventually $600,000 (and more when they add new producers) then there is an enormous problem. What say you? Should we, the patients, have to pay a fee to the NM DOH in order to obtain a medical cannabis card?

Your right CFO we should not have to pay any more . We already pay taxes on meds that we get from producers.But if it was more taxes or no program I guess I would have to go along.

I'm not a card holder or live in a state where it's issued.. I can say this. If it were to be legalized in my state? Then I'd have to jump on the Band Wagon, and RIDE!

The fee will go to the community and the taxes besides the state tax will to to the Government. Can you see how many palms are up? We gotta give a little to be able to recieve.

I would become a MM grower for any card holder,within the guidlines of # of patients that one would be able to have. Where I am,though... Who Knows???

Ga.

Thanks for your input GaGrown. I am stunned that there has been only one response from the NM MMJ patients. This was proposed at the last meeting with the Secretary of Health. IMHO the patients are already funding the program when the producers pay these huge license renewal fees and sales tax. Additionally, some of the doctors (again, IMHO) are practicing unethical procedures when they charge the patient anything more than a regular office visit to sign the paperwork that is certifying the patient has a qualifying condition. I have friends who go to their doctor, have insurance, but instead of the doctor submitting the info for reimbursement of same to the patient's insurance company, they are charging $150 - $250 just to sign the papers!!!! Talk about greed rather than compassion! OMG! Will start another thread asking if the patients believe this to be an ethical practice.

I agree that we pay enough to get licensed with the dr visits and all. I would hate to see more fees. I would especially not be happy about the fees unless the state wants to back us against the feds. I can't see any new fees unless the classification changes. I still would not be happy about that but would pay it to be legal.

If the fees were to go towards a medicine quality inspection and control board or committee of some sorts then I would gladly pay them. Also, @ CFO, I think that the money spent towards obtaining a doctors recommendation is valid, under my assumption that many insurance companies would not work with the doctors if they were to learn that the visit was for medicial marijuana recomendation. Many insurance companies are not based out of New Mexico and therefore conflicting interstate laws may cause doctors to be a little wary of submitting a payment request to an insurance company for a medical marijuana recommendation. Although there has been no history of prosecution in the state as far as doctors are concerned...who's to say there won't be in the future? IMO, everyone's just trying to cover their behinds the best they can under the circumstances. $150.00 - $250.00 in my experience is less than the price for a regular visit to the doctors office without insurance for an ear infection or something...so not too bad considering. I will say that relative to California, our prices and waiting times are ridiculously high...but we also haven't seen any federal raids or warning letters sent out....

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Originally Posted by shadowyazn

If the fees were to go towards a medicine quality inspection and control board or committee of some sorts then I would gladly pay them. Also, @ CFO, I think that the money spent towards obtaining a doctors recommendation is valid, under my assumption that many insurance companies would not work with the doctors if they were to learn that the visit was for medicial marijuana recomendation. Many insurance companies are not based out of New Mexico and therefore conflicting interstate laws may cause doctors to be a little wary of submitting a payment request to an insurance company for a medical marijuana recommendation. Although there has been no history of prosecution in the state as far as doctors are concerned...who's to say there won't be in the future? IMO, everyone's just trying to cover their behinds the best they can under the circumstances. $150.00 - $250.00 in my experience is less than the price for a regular visit to the doctors office without insurance for an ear infection or something...so not too bad considering. I will say that relative to California, our prices and waiting times are ridiculously high...but we also haven't seen any federal raids or warning letters sent out....

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My complaint is that patients are going to their regular doctor or their pain specialist and being charged these outrageous fees. The patient isn't going solely to have a form completed by the doctor. They should be having an examination of some sort to include vitals. This would constitute an exam. The CPT and/or diagnosis code (purpose of visit) would be whatever the underlying condition is (MS, PTSD, Pain, ALS, etc.) and then the charge would be for an office visit. Instead....the doctors refuse to even see the patient without advance payment in cash. Am I really the only one that sees this as wrong?

No your not wrong again CFO but It is still against the federal law for them . You have to understand if the feds really wanted to get nasty they are in the picture.So if they are willing to risk even if it is real low their license Then ??????

shadowyazn your so right

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Originally Posted by CFO

My complaint is that patients are going to their regular doctor or their pain specialist and being charged these outrageous fees. The patient isn't going solely to have a form completed by the doctor. They should be having an examination of some sort to include vitals. This would constitute an exam. The CPT and/or diagnosis code (purpose of visit) would be whatever the underlying condition is (MS, PTSD, Pain, ALS, etc.) and then the charge would be for an office visit. Instead....the doctors refuse to even see the patient without advance payment in cash. Am I really the only one that sees this as wrong?

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I totally understand, when I went in for my PTSD eval I had paid a month in advance! The $250.00 I spent, from what I'm told, was divided between the 3rd party that put me in touch with the doctor and the doctor itself. That is fair to me, in my eyes because I know everybody has to get paid to survive no matter how compassionate and helpful they are. However, my psychiatrist was very kind and welcoming and seemed to me to really be in it to help patients. I've had exams in CA where the doctor looked like he was about to die and all he did was take your blood pressure ask you about respiratory problems then sign your paperwork and off you go! Dispensary upstairs. Like i mentioned before, I think everyone's just trying to cover their ass. Which is why you dont see the actual doctors themselves advertising marijuana recommendations in the paper, it's all these middle men companies.

Shadowyazn That is one of the thing that this group would be able to help with FINDING a doctor that will help.The middle man will not be needed.Like I am saying the groups main mission would be to help other patients.