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VPOD: #14.17. Dr. Dana Kuhn, Patient Services, Inc.

Dr. Dana Kuhn is the president and founder of Patient Services, Inc. [1], a 501(c)3 non-profit organization dedicated to assisting people with chronic illness afford treatment. Founded in 1989 in Richmond following the death of his wife from chronic illness and his own battle with chronic illness, Dr. Kuhn’s organization has helped thousands of patients navigate the waters of healthcare premiums and co-pays. In this podcast, he explains why he founded the organization, the challenges he faced getting it started, how he became involved in the development of Medicare Part D, what is the “donut hole” in prescription drug coverage, how Medicare Part D works, the future of this program given the current healthcare debate, what a patient should know about prescription drug ads, and, of course, advocating that non-profits are not the cause of increasing drug prices, but should be allowed to continue to assist people with affording drug payments.

“If [a drug] is keeping you working and keeping you a taxpayer, why penalize a person by saying, ‘If you can’t afford it, I’m not going to allow a charitable organization to help you pay for it,’” he said. “You end up in the hospital and it’s uncompensated, costing insurance companies way more money than it would have been if you simply allowed people to afford the drug.”

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VPOD can always be heard on demand [2] at Bearing Drift. Or you can take the show with you wherever you go by subscribing via iTunes [3]. Our favorite way to listen to podcasts is on the commute. A lot of cars can connect your mobile phone via Bluetooth to your car radio. Or listen using your headphones on the train. Or you can download it to your MP3 player. Or you can stream right here on the desktop by clicking the player. Whatever you do, listen and enjoy!

Links of note:

1) A primer on Medicare Part D [4]
2) The competitive market at work in Medicare Part D [5]
3) Buena Vista Labor Day Festival [6]