text:
Florida DOs welcome, wary of constraints under new 'pill mill' law
- Posted Sept. 1, 2011, 4:05 p.m.
- 46 comments
A number of osteopathic physicians are concerned about the unintended consequences of legislative efforts to rein in pill mills. (Photo by Jennifer Durban/Flickr)
In late February, federal and local law enforcement agents raided more than a dozen pain clinics in southern Florida, arresting 22 people, including five physicians. Seven other physicians voluntarily surrendered their federal licenses to prescribe controlled substances. The culmination of a two-year investigation led by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, the sweep was the first in a series that has resulted in more than 350 arrests.
During the sting, known as Operation Pill Nation, narcotics agents pretending to be patients made hundreds of purchases from 60 physicians at 40 clinics in Florida. The arrested physicians have been charged with prescribing and dispensing oxycodone hydrochloride, a Schedule II drug, and other controlled substances without legitimate medical justification. The DEA estimates that 86% of oxycodone is prescribed in Florida.
"Prescription drug abuse is our country's fastest-growing drug problem, and pill mills such as those in Florida are fueling much of that growth," DEA Administrator Michele M. Leonhart said in a statement after the initial raids. "Rogue doctors who run these operations violate their professional oaths and are, in fact, drug dealers. Florida today is 'ground zero' in the fight against pill mills."
While Florida is considered the epicenter of prescription drug trafficking and addiction, the problem is nationwide. In April, the Obama administration released an action plan aimed at "cracking down on drug diversion and protecting delivery of effective pain management." One of the plan's goals is to require that physicians undergo specific training prior to obtaining DEA registration to prescribe Schedule II and Schedule III opioids.
Buttressing the federal crackdown, Florida Gov. Rick Scott signed the state's latest "pill mill bill" on June 3. The new law tightens the reporting requirements for the state's prescription drug-monitoring database, increases penalties for overprescribing oxycodone and other controlled substances, and bans most physicians who prescribe narcotics from dispensing them. The law also requires that physicians write prescriptions for controlled substances on new counterfeit-proof pads that are available only from specific state-approved vendors.
Federal proposals, Florida's pill mill legislation, similar recently passed laws in Washington and Ohio, and several related bills in other states are drawing mixed reviews from DOs. Although concerned about the role of pill mills in prescription drug abuse, a number of osteopathic physicians express concern about the unintended consequences of new laws, the loss of physicians' prescribing autonomy, and patients' diminished access to needed medication. The most aggressive of the proposed measures being considered by the U.S. Congress and state legislatures would limit the prescription of controlled substances to certain medical specialties and subspecialties.
Requirements, penalties
Florida's William H. Stager, DO, describes his state's new drug legislation as "very controversial" because of the "additional hoops physicians must jump through" to care for patients and the steep penalties that will be imposed on physicians who do not comply. While the law's requirement that every patient be evaluated for pain be given a physical examination is sound medical practice, the paperwork created by the legislation is excessive, says Dr. Stager, who practices family medicine and neuromusculoskeletal medicine in West Palm Beach, Fla.
Among other requirements, Florida's law mandates that DEA-registered physicians do the following when treating patients for chronic nonmalignant pain:
- Document the nature and intensity of the pain, current and past treatments for pain, underlying or coexisting diseases or conditions, the effect of the pain on physical and psychological function, previous diagnostic studies, and any history of alcohol and substance abuse.
- Document a plan for assessing the patient's risk of aberrant drug-related behavior, then follow through on the plan, which may include patient drug testing.
- Discuss the risks and benefits of controlled substances with the patient or the patient's caregiver.
- Require the patient to sign a written agreement that outlines the patient's responsibilities.
- Monitor patient compliance.
Physicians who violate the law will be suspended from practicing medicine for at least six months and will have to pay a fine of at least $10,000 per violation.
Family physician Michelle R. Mendez, DO, of Jacksonville, Fla., welcomes the tighter requirements. "An estimated seven people die every day in Florida from prescription drug abuse," she says. Previously, Florida physicians with DEA registration were allowed to dispense narcotic medication as they saw fit, notes Dr. Mendez, a former AOA health policy fellow who wrote her thesis on pill mills. As a result, drug dealers would join forces with unethical physicians to prescribe and dispense pain medications at storefront clinics that often did not even perform physical examinations.
"I'm glad that the law restricts physicians' dispensing authority, " Dr. Mendez says. Allowing only licensed pharmacies, hospitals, nursing homes and limited other entities to dispense these medications will make it much more difficult for pill mills to operate in Florida, she explains.
46 Responses
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robert migliorino,d.o.
on Sept. 2, 2011, 1:16 p.m.
Excellent!Finally it is put in writing.Over 40 years I have seen too many physicians prescribing indiscriminately so that they can buy their next Mercedes or Rolex.Many are new but,many are not. They live in fear that some admin bean counter will note decreased production numbers.No,I am not rich & never had lines extending out of the office.But then,most never had mine position that I retired from…Medical Director in the Federal Dept of Justice.My guests were serving a "vacation" of 25 years to Life for their indiscretions.They had lived the good life for a few years but ,are paying for it now.The Florida law is reflecting what should have been in place years ago.Unfortunately,the situation is universal.Many states are 25 years behind the times.While working as a contract locums,I nearly was fired because I refused to write for Controlled Substances w/o a State CSR.The Admin & B/C Med Director blithely told me that their locums had been doing this for the past 3 years!Ignorance of the law is no excuse.In other cases ,I was ordered to write for seniors & others so that they would be quiet & sleep better.In fact,soporfics were prescribed for months or years on end.The threat always was,"if you don't give it,they'll go to someone else who will".I could rant on,but the law simply puts into black & white what should have been done for decades.
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robert migliorino,d.o.
on Sept. 2, 2011, 1:30 p.m.
Another point,word gets around swiftly that one writes and/or dispenses indiscrimately.Sooner or later,anumber of "new" patients will be State Police and/or DEA undercover agents. One won't know it until at 3 AM comes a knock on the door during a roundup.At trial,the Admin or ancillary will sit in the courtroom….in the gallery as an observer.
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robert migliorino,d.o.
on Sept. 2, 2011, 1:36 p.m.
Limiting prescribing to a few specialties is a joke.They can write for more than is being done now.BC/BE has nothing to do with it,the question is ethics & morals.It is no different than giving B12 injections & charging for them because the red color & injection make a person "feel good".
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Bruce D. Latham,DO
on Sept. 2, 2011, 3:11 p.m.
Over the last 4 years I have witnessed the death of several young mothers and children as a result of over dose from diverted narcotics. I work with over 100 narcotic dependent patients now who are trying to reach sobriety. It is interesting to see the changes that come as these people leave their life of drugs and again become gainfully employed and develop stable relationships. Most are more than willing to give me the names of those who supplied them their drugs. One individual was making $12,000 per month on her sales of Oxycontin in just 2 days, thats more than I make as a physician in a month. I recently discovered another clinic was prescribing #720 Methadone per month to one patient. The pharmacist was told that the clinic had been treating heroin addicts for years but calling it "pain management". When I called DEA, I got the response, "What do you want us to do." I had discovered over 50 dealers in our area, and turned over the names, cell phone numbers and dates of delivery to law enforcement. When I finally asked to have a meeting with the agents I was informed that they were going after the "Big Fish". Unfortunately, when I discharge a patient for selling, buying, or abnormal drug screen, they call the Board of Medicine on me because now they are forced to go back on the streets to get their drugs, and I get investigated. I guess one benefit to caring for most of the law enforcement personnel in my region, and being a former prison doctor, I can usually call their probation officers, report their cocaine use, and they are pulled back in for violating their parole. I would welcome the legislation and would love to work with government in taking care of diversion while preserving the individual doctors right to provide adequate pain relief in legitimate cases.
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Pedro Sanchez DO
on Sept. 2, 2011, 3:52 p.m.
I too have cried along with patients and friends whose children I knew and are now gone due to this greed and obsession with intoxication. Manuel Noriega once commented "Americans make up four percent of the people on earth but consume sixty-five percent of the drugs" I don't know if his figures were correct, but the point stuck. But now consider my 78 year old little lady from rural florida with spinal compression fractures and severe DJD of hips, knees, and shoulders?NSAIDs too risky,not a good surgical candidate, PT tried with little success. The nearest pain specialist or physiatrist is 38 miles away. Let's not forget her and 300 like her that trust and rely on me. The DEA issued us certificate to use our expertise for the benefit of our patients. The osteopathic oath is very clear in showing us a shinning path! Practice assuming each patient were your family ,but don't let the times strip us of who we are and the privileges we have earned!
Ve -
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robert migliorino,d.o.
on Sept. 2, 2011, 4 p.m.
Dr.Latham's note is unfortunately true.Similarly,30 or 90 day addiction programs are woefully ineffective.It is true most go after the Big Guy as dealers are small fry.A lot has to do with the outrageous number of frivolous suits on the docket,mostly from inmates of all levels,for which action you can thank the Supreme Court.Many states have also drug enforcement as a side line,although they are starting to recognize the huge increase in incidents.If DEA ,in my day,answered as Dr.Latham described;the FBI would be on them so fast one's head would spin.Re enforcement,look too at who is running the show now.Could they be the same generation who were at Woodstock & hung on every word from Chip Munk & Wavy Gravy or watched Cheech & Chong in a haze of smoke?Similarly,one bashes education & teachers as a cause,yet if you asked a third grader to multiply 7 x 4,he would take 30 minutes & still give the wrong answer.Yet,if you asked the same person to calculate the cost/kg of 2.37 kg of weed times cost of 23.74 kg of rock,he would have the correct answer in 60 seconds or less.Many are into it for the quick buck,auto,shoes etc.If Medicine boards Investigate you,as described,and you are innocent,then you should report that to the IG,AG or Internal Affairs.Time to play hardball.Unfortunately,there are too many huggers around & its always the monolithic state vs the pooor ,downtrodden masses yearning to be free.
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on Sept. 3, 2011, 6:48 a.m.
It is not just Florida with this problem. Here in
Delaware most pain management Dr's only want
to do procedures because of the reimbursement.
Prescription refills fall back into the laps of FP/IM.
The local DEA are constantly looking at your records
to catch you in a mistake. As always the few bad apple
patients have made us all leary of prescribing
appropriate medications. -
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joe white, d.o
on Sept. 4, 2011, 7:43 a.m.
As a monolithic hugger who has been investigated by the New Jersey State Board as a consequence of my own questions to the DEA about questionable patients. I am pleased to see something done by such a feckless soul as Govenor Scott to curb rogue pain control in Florida. Local dealers have confessed to me they bought the oxycodone quite cheaply from persons in FL.
What is sad is to see so many doctors prescribing benzodiazepines and drugs that act identically, e.g., soma, to patients on opiates. No one is looking seriously at the body of data reffered to as "rational polypharmacy", whereby prescribers can mix adjuvants with opiates that stabilize nerves and prevent ephatic nerve transmission. -
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robert migliorino,d.o.
on Sept. 4, 2011, 8:22 a.m.
To Scott & Dr.White,as you see,the problem is universal.But,I also see several sides to the story as previously described.BTW,I am a native NJian who got out due to outrageous taxes,greedy hospital admins,etc.One other area not mentioned is the realm of the Dentist.No one questions their fee schedules,their prescribing practices,or what they do.If you think Blue Cross Bldgs are upscale or lavish;take a look at Delta Dental's office bldgs around the country.At least,in Dr.White' case,NJ now has a Governor compared to priors.If the Board investigated you then ,perhaps a letter or call to his office might stir the pot.Some years ago,in NJ at the Shore,an MD had lines streaming out of his door.It took some time,but he was arrested by State Troopers & his license revoked.After several years his license was reinstated but CSR/DEA was not. So…no more lines…after a few weeks he was not seen,police found him in a closed garage, sealed auto with motor running.i know this because his office was 3 miles south of mine & I passed it daily.
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on Sept. 5, 2011, 7:35 a.m.
While all of the comments are well thought, the bottom line to this travesty is the DOH and BOM.
Many warning's were give to all physician's in Florida, after the "dispensing" qualification became available for $100.00. This qualification, was a nice idea for both office income and patient convenience, it went very south. And, had the DOH and BOM disciplined their peers appropriately, I do not think we would be where we are today. Peer review in the State of Florida has failed. -
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robert migliorino,d.o.
on Sept. 5, 2011, 7:52 a.m.
Mo,that may very well be true. However,if Fla is like most states,their staff is limited.But,if indeed they only deal out a slap on the wrist,then I can see where you're coming from.Perhaps hospital insurances can become involved,as they currently are in determining staff composition & requirements.
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on Sept. 5, 2011, 9:30 a.m.
Robert – it is true. I have attended many full board BOM meetings, and have witnessed first hand the "dispensing" cases. Also, trended the data of cases brought to the BOM and dismissed. Astounding. In addition the BOM attorney states – "if we didn't think it was a problem before, we can't now".
The DOH and BOM is the ONLY agency that can stop this travesty. Our police officers can not arrest the doc's because they do not enforce Administrative Code. Only our "appointed" representatives can. Now with the Statute change, our officers can do more, other than arrest our kids for possesion, and knock on doors notifying parents of their child's "accidental" OD. Where is the DOH and BOM in all of that? Reactive, and not proactive.
Again, only physicians can stop this. Physician organizations are the stongest political group there is. it is up to you to save the citizens of Florida, as this is a State problem – 98 of top 100 physcians are in Florida. It is also up to the physicians to uphold the Hippocratic Oath, and the DOH to uphold their mission of protecting the public health safety of it's citizens. There is no other answer. Administrative Code vs. Statute. Technically speaking, we should need such a strong Statute if Florida physician peer review, disciplining and/or revocation occured. -
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on Sept. 5, 2011, 9:36 a.m.
Bottom line:
"Can't have a pill mill without a physician".
Regardless of ownership, "standards of practice", imposed limitations, or any other attempt to end this travesty….
It is up to Florida physicians to end this gross daily mortality.
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on Sept. 11, 2011, 11:36 a.m.
In 2000 I was taking percocets for pain not very high dose of a pain killer but it was treating my pain well. My Dr says to me he was going to fix me, my problem witch is rare 21 known cases 2 wks latter he shot corterzone in my back and was my 1st day early to pain management sayin to him somethings wrong! He took 1 loook at my back and said no more shots for you and prescribed me take 3 diluadid 8mg 4x a day 360 a month with morphean lollipops 4 brake through. Even though I had on my record I was in recovery for cocain and I reminded him of that fact as well with him stating Im not going to give you no cocain! Ok so being in an extraordinary amount of pain I take what prescribed and fastly become addicted. Within 6 months I was shotting it with track marks ev ery were drs still prescribed. Today I go to the Methadone clinic and even though they say its more adictive its monitored with nurses and drs erveryday and I am no longer having to do ileal thinkgs to get a fix.. Class 2 drugs my point is should be i;llegal, they are more addictive then any coke Ive even done in my past.Even when taking as directed u still get addicted
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robert migliorino,d.o.
on Sept. 13, 2011, 9:02 a.m.
Sounds like the "pain clinic" was a "pill mill'.You also need to use spell check.Another area of addiction is phenobarb used in seizure disorders. i had a patient who was on it for 25 years ,seizure free.Referred him to Neurologist who weaned him off it. Weaning took 20 months.
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Margaret Dunn
on Sept. 28, 2011, 11:24 a.m.
I am visting my sister in Palm Coast, I have been here for 1 month and had planned on staying for another 2 months but I must go home (New Jersey) because the prescription that my Phila. doctor wrote for percorcet can not be filled because it was not written on tamper proof paper which is not a law in Phila. but it is a law in New Jersey and when I take my prescription to CVS in New Jersey where I live they fill it. If Florida still wants tourist to come here they should fix the law so when your not from Florida you can still get the medicine you need. New Jersey does they let you go to the doctor you perfer not only the ones in the STATE OF NEW JERSEY. If there was a problem with something on the script the pharmacist should be able to call doctor from that state. I told the pharmacist that I get my perscription filled at CVS in New Jersey every month from the same doctor can she just look it up and she told me nothing matters because it not written on tamper paper and I should maybe go to Georgia to fill it. I don't think that was funny that was a insult to me. I am here visting family. I AM NOT A DRUG DEALER OR ADDICTIVE TO MEDICINE but this is unfair to anyone from another State because we don't know the law changes. So for now on I am able to visit my family for 1 month because I can't get the medicine I need. SHAME ON YOU FLORIDA
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robert migliorino,d.o.
on Sept. 28, 2011, 3:47 p.m.
Mrs. Dunn:There are hundreds of Florida physicians who can write a new prescription for you.If you have the finances for an extended stay plus travel,then you have the finances for a new prescription.By the way, I am a NATIVE New Jerseyan,so just to set the record straight I am not a rube from a town named "Resume Speed".When I was in practice,I am now retired,patients in other states such as Florida would write or call for refills.I would refuse & tell them to see a local physician.I know that this cost me patients but,I would rather be legal than accommodating.Another thing,Snowbirds upon returning "Up North" would talk about how poor treatment was & how excessive fees were during their hiatus in the South.Yet,my colleagues in the South would tell me that these same people would state the exact same thing to their physicians there regarding treatment & fees "Up North".I also found this to be true while practising in a Clinic in NW Indiana run by two large & well known steel companies.Retirees outside the local area would get prescriptions from the clinic physicians to tide them over for 6 or 7 months until they returned North.So don't give me the old song & dance about being unable to get your meds.You simply were looking for the cheap way & now that method is gone. This applies not only to Controlled Substances but,meds requiring follow up as well which are non narcotic.
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robert migliorino,d.o.
on Sept. 28, 2011, 3:56 p.m.
I also noted the old standard line,"I am not a drug dealer or addicted".That line is used by many. You are probably physically and /or psychologically dependent on the Percocets. Remember too that there are 49 other states besides New Jersey.
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robert migliorino,d.o.
on Oct. 2, 2011, 8:07 a.m.
See also article in /28/2011 issue of JAMA about this worsening problem in Florida
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robert migliorino,d.o.
on Oct. 2, 2011, 8:08 a.m.
that is september
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Joe M
on Nov. 4, 2011, 11:56 p.m.
I was investigated by the FL DOH and BOM. Anyone who is investigated will be punished
as much as they can muster. I was given an Emergency Suspension Order 15 months after
I left pain management. I was in for 2 days a week for 16 weeks.
I decreased doses on all patients who entered, and if they would not take reductions, I discharged them. I discontinued many opiods and balanced their overall medication intake.
The FL statues say you will not be judged by chronicity or amount of medications but by
the results of treatment – but you can forget any of that being considered.
They have another statute which is a legal presumption that says anything they say that is
excessive levels is considered outside your regular practice [like on the street], and any high doses [their call on the amount] are never in the interest of the patient regardless of
the physicians intent.
The presumption is put into every complaint they can get by with. Next year they have plans to follow that by recommending criminal prosecution for every board discipline containing that statute. The doctor will be charged with drug dealing as if he was on the street dealing.
Do a google search for Bernard Cassidy, a Florida attorney who directly accused the FL DOH of corruption and wrongdoing on an ongoing basis.
All this clamping down sounds good but the real problem is no education of the doctors about pain management. I mean no practical education of what is best practice and why it is so.
I would hesitate to go to Florida to practice because they show no mercy and if you are caught up in the system on a pain related matter you will get the maximum. I was recommended a fine of 47000 and fees of 7000. 4 years of monitored probation, a medical records course and a controlled substance prescribing course which they recommend for several thousand dollars each.
Come on down to Florida and enjoy the sun as a visitor but don't jump into practice without long consideration. -
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on Dec. 30, 2011, 12:12 p.m.
To everyone who seems to believe this is the way curtail our nations drug problem. You are all full of it and rightly so. If you are sick you have all kinds of access to the world of medications. Yesterday I visited my primary care physician where I informed him that I has having terrible head aches. His response was basically "don't look at me, you have to go to a pain specialist now". I can't write you any prescription for pani meds due to the new law. I knew the new law would scare the ligitimate doctors into hiding. DEA is good for that, but then what do you expect from an agency that was created in the back unlite halls of the whitehouse. I will end up going to a pain management center but meanwhile what's next? Doctors no longer want the responsibility of managing their patients pain. It's become a legal and monetary nightmare for them.
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e roberts
on Feb. 3, 2012, 11:40 p.m.
to suggest that a pain doctor buys a mercedes or a rolex by over prescribing class ii narcotics is stupid, doctors get paid for prescribing ten oxycod or 100, because they get paid for the patients visit only.s. . i did have a back operation 4 ears ago, but not from either of those doctor the only doctors who i have dealth with, that i question their ethics is a DO.one told me i needed to replace both hips, but i went to another one who said he would not replace by hips for a million dollars. he said my pain was radiated from my back, sinal stenosis from birth. th one who wanted to replave my hips required a 900.00 mri the second said you only need an xray to diagnose hip problems. i also had a neck peration abd a titanium plate abd removal of a vertafre and replaced with a cadava vertabreay for that disagnosis. that was ten years ago and i still have my hips. there are more bad doctors than good ones, bad meaning the ones who get sued over and over, but doctors and/or the medical boards don't take their license and th good ones won't testify against them. doctors only can clean up the mess. every doctor i ever got pain medicine frm never gave me to many pills and they reluctantly gave me any, it was MRI, EPEDURALS, BURNING NERVES, BEFORE I GOT PILLS. I HAVE NEVER BEEN ADDICTED TO ALCOHOL AND NEVER SMOKED ANY MARIJUANA CIGARETS.
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on Feb. 12, 2012, 12:39 a.m.
I have three chronic spine and bone disorders. I live in pain 24clinic hours a day. I have also had cancer twice, with it possible to come back at anytime. I go to a pain clinic and have to be prescribed pain medicine just to make it thru the day, and 4-5 hours of uninterrupted sleep. I have had these conditions for over six years and have been thru many surgeries only to have it increase the pain that was already there. It is sad that people and doctors abuse the medications. I take my medication as prescribed to dull the pain. It is now more expensive and harder to find due to people from out of state coming to my state to get prescriptions to sell, abuse or whatever they are doing with them. I have a MRI,CAT,and a PET scans done every year with new tumors, severed nerve in spine or outher painful abnormalities showing up. It has made it harder on me to find my medication's and I do not take oxycontin. The doctors should not prescribe anything without proof of a medical condition that causes ligament ironic pain.
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Free American
on Feb. 15, 2012, 11:13 p.m.
I read a quote recently that said "you are not addicted if the medicine is for a justified cause" Just as a heart patient needs their medication and the diabetes patients needs insulin, a person in chronic pain needs pain medication. Why can't we be rational? If a person has been responsible in taking their medication, why punish them? If they stayed consistent with their doseage, and have a "true" history of justified pain – WHAT IS THE PROBLEM? Seriously, this has all gotten so far out of control. I really do understand why something had to be done… BUT again, we are punishing the people who actually do need it. And, to the person who thinks that saying "I am not addicted" is a crap line, just ask a person with another chronic illness if they are addicted to their medicine and they will say "no, but I do need it". What is the difference? A need…. is a need! Try walking a day in the lives of someone with chronic pain. Well, heck, I will give you a week in mine. (without the medication of course… so that you can true effect) I haven't had a problem with my medication, Thank God, but I do pitty all out there who are fighting for something that should be a given. If there is a medication out there that stops the effects of whatever you are going through, then, so be the Free America – Gosh Darn… Why don't they just let you have it! Trust me, after walking that week in my shoes, you would understand.
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on Feb. 17, 2012, 8:51 p.m.
Having arthritis for 30 years and taking regulated pain medication the new laws raised my Dr. visits 73%. I have no history of abuse and my physician is outstanding. I agree the mills needed to be shut down however there are thousands of legitimate patients who see their family Dr. now once a month to obtain medications to function daily. Our Dr.s are under extreme pressure and they have been virtually stripped of their ability to practice their profession with out fear of government intrusion. Shame on us all for letting criminals and reprobates impact services so desperately needed by so many in true need. Where do we go from here?
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on Feb. 25, 2012, 7:19 p.m.
In 1989 I was diagnosed with HIV (17yo). In 1994 I was considered AIDS. I have been in and out of the hospitals in Miami for numerous opportunistic infections. I've had cancer cut out, stroke, blood vessel rupture in my brain (right occipital lobe) so I have lost some vision. Im on my last HIV medication cocktail because I have taken everything and become resistant…I even remember when AZT was the first and new thing; it made me sooo sick. My vascular system is shutting down. Right carotid artery is closed. The list of other ailments goes on…ect..ect…ect
I have been put on painkillers throughout the years and have always stopped them until the next catastrophic problem came my way. The nuropathy in my feet and legs have really kick in within the last few months even spreading to my hands and wrists. I was on Lortab (vicoden) 10mg, 2 tabs every 4 to 6 hours. Doctor initially wanted to put me on Oxycontin but I asked for Lortab because I know about Oxycontin and problems you can have on it. Now because of Rick Scott and the other GOP religious right (wanna be) do gooders put this new law in place in Florida my doctor completely cut me off of Lortab cold turkey two days ago. He put me on Tramadol and Neruotin. Made me feel like I was a junky because I cried in his office. He said and I quote, " My hands are tied because of the new laws" and "If I write you a prescription for Lortab you have to be within 6 months of death". This last quote was BS to me. My labs show my t-cells above 200 so Im not at 6months to live. I may have 7 months to live if I stop my HIV meds today. I recently worked with a Nurologist who tried me on Lyrica, Tegretol, Depakote, and Neurotin and many other seizure meds—they all made me so sick. These medicines will make you insane, nauseous and dependent. I had an awful time going on, then going off was harder.
This is horrible that patients who need medicines are getting squeezed. I am disability and still work a part time job. I dont want to lose my job…If I do I cant cover rent and food with just disability. I never drank or did drugs…been with my doctor for 15 years…he knows my history. What is going on??? THe lawmakers are saying it wont effect the needy — but they are lying.
DO's out there — show some mercy to the people with chronic pain.
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on Feb. 25, 2012, 7:56 p.m.
Also…forgot to mention that when my primary care doctor of 15 years referred me to a Neurologist he was able to wash his hand of me and my chronic pain. It is now legally another doctors responsibility, my neurologist. Since my neurologist wasn't able to help me with the seizure medicines he pushed me back to my primary care doc. My primary care doctor can now refuse to treat me for pain because he can say its my Neurologist So now im out in limbo with my pain issues. It's what the doctors do to get rid of you. The DO's out there like you when your just coming in to get your 3 month lab results and all they have to do is give you numbers. But when it gets rough for you and there is a little more paperwork to do they want nothing to do with you.
Suggestions to DO's … Stop taking 10 patients an hour and give yourself time to comprehensively give your patients care. And, yes, this does include the paperwork and reporting that goes with it. Its part of your job like it or not. Things change in every profession and we still have to do are job just the same, especially when your dealing with patients who come to you for help in their lowest moments.
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robert migliorino,d.o.
on Feb. 27, 2012, 8:14 p.m.
DJW,stop whining. First of all,the religious right has nothing to do with this.Re your suggestion about D.O.'s not seeing 10/hour,better to chastise the admins who specify PRODUCTION in the contracts.Perhaps seeing a dentist for your pain would be better,no one regulates their charges & you can get controlled drugs OR Mexican pharmacies sell them OTC.BTW,there are hundreds of clinics & agencies that treat HIV & its associated conditions at absolutely NO charge for labs & meds throughout the country.After all,the squeaking wheel did get the most grease.
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on March 17, 2012, 8:31 p.m.
I live in Florida and have been taking morphine, by injection for several years. I am obviously physically dependent at this point. I should add I have a brain tumor and failed every medication, narcotic and nonnarcotic before taking the morphine. I went from two years in bed, being fed and bathed by my husband to becoming human again. I have had no side effects, have never had an increase in dosage and my qualify of life has improved immeasurably. Now my primary care doctor says he can't write narcotic scripts anymore. Well, sorry I didn't die like everyone expected but it seems my demise will be certainly hastened by the abrupt cessation of this med. What about all the really sick people in Florida?? Where do we go and who is brave enough to take care of us. It sickens me and frankly I wish I had died rather than having to go through this. I hope you catch all the drug abusers but you'll have to step over the bodies of the real sick people to get to them.
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on March 18, 2012, 3:37 p.m.
I am a Delaware resident and also have lived with chronic pain for almost ten years now, spinal fusion, herniated discs, ruptured discs and now carpel tunnell syndrome, and what has happened in Florida is now happening in Delaware and I am just here to say that what the DEA is doing to people have legitamate pain issues just is not fair I started out ten years ago with physical therapy, tens unit and after those treatments didnt help me I was then prescribed 10mg percocet after ten years I now take 30mg oxycodone 4x daily, in my opinion the Dr's did go through the correct measures in order to evaluate my pain and prescribe accordingly, now after being on the oxycodone for approx. 4 yrs, the Dr's are scared to death and are taking the medications that truley helped me to function and maintain a "Quality of life" and prescribing morphine which all I want to do is sleep all the time, how am I supposed to go to work, and be available to my family if I am tired all the time and in pain? what the government is doing is taking our freedom of choice away, the freedom to recieve the medical treatment that we as americans deserve!!!!!
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on March 22, 2012, 4:04 a.m.
Same issue. Chronic pain for 7 years. Was on Oxycontinn and switched myself to Morphine as I am disabled and cannot afford Oxycontin when in the Donut Hole. I had a nice Doctor who was origonally in Pain Management but got out and became an Internist. Up until Dec 2011 she prescribed my meds and would give me 3 scripts (90 days)as I was considered stable. In Dec she gave me a letter that the entire practice (10 Doctors) would no longer treat Chronic Pain patients. The practice had done this before but she still treated me because I never had any "The dog ate my script" excuses. Now I go to a pain clinic and pay $40 a month copay, had to fill out 15 pages of paperwork, get my picture taken and am seen by a Nurse Practioner for 10 min and pick up my script. I hope that my new Doctor does not get raided or become ("Dr. Feelscared" By Maria Szalavitz Feb 2002). I cant beleive my regular Doctor dropped Chronic patients and did not help them out until they could find the right doctor. I feel like I am going to a pill mill. I asked my regular Doc to carry me for a couple of months until I could find a better Clinic and she refused. Isn't that unethical? She is the one who started me on the drugs and she is also qualified to get people off of pain killers. I just dont get it. The Doctors should stand up and fight. I know the patients would be happy to be wittnesses for the effort. Scott and Bondi have taken this way to far and the DEA is going against thier own philosophy that a good Doctor should have nothing to fear. Check out some of the articles about Pam Bondi firing 2 attorneys for doing to good of a job in an investigation involving foreclosures where she has friends working at the companies being invstigated. Huff Post 10.12.2011. Florida is creepy and I have lived here since 1966.
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on April 18, 2012, 4:57 p.m.
So where do we go from here, real patients with thick files on the only course of treatment we can afford or is effective. I just want enough relief to continue working and contribute to my family and community. The fact I take 3 10/mg Lortabs for 10 years is hardly consequential in the big picture when considering the value of a mans life. I have never played games, been arrested or had any negative consequences associated with my pain management. There is no other viable solution or medication I can take. What now? We all need a miracle, either a cure or super drug that criminals wont kill for. I have about 8 years left and I would very much enjoy the ability to help my family and continue working.Thoughts?
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robert migliorino,d.o.
on April 20, 2012, 6:38 p.m.
John,sorry to say that there is NO panacea.I am surprised that your 3 Lortabs/day did not appear on company drug testing,or doesn't your company do drug testing?Your description of your saintly life is impressive but,others numbering in the thousands or more have proclaimed the same innocence.True,a miracle is indicated but, none are forthcoming at this time.
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William Faber DO
on June 1, 2012, 3:36 p.m.
Pain pills do not cure pain. At best they give temporary relief. Osteopathic Medicine was discovered nearly 150 years ago by A.T. Still MD because of the need to give patients relief. It is well documented that he did so very often without drugs and surgery. He named his science and methods Osteopathic Medicine. The art and science of Osteopathic Medicine is practiced today giving those in pain, illnesses and disability relief without drugs and surgery. I recently completed a book along with Jason Haxton M.A. and other osteopathic physicians decribing the principles of Dr Still and how they were used successfully over 100 years ago and how they are used today to give needed relief to those suffering and not finding relief. That is how I came into Osteopathic Medicine. I suffered 24/7 pain and disability @ 18 years of age. I went the allopathic route with hospitalization, multiple medicines, physical therapy and back braces and was advised for a spinal fusion. At that point I entered the osteopathic world. The rest is detailed in the book along with many other actual cases histories of those suffering and finding no relief in pills and surgery. The road out is described in the "OSTEOPATHIC MEDICINE ADVANTAGE: How Medical Miracles are Made." It is available on Amazon and Kindle in seconds.
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Susan Gleason
on April 3, 2013, 4:11 p.m.
The new pill law, though beneficial for some is crippling for others. And of course the now "pain management doctors" are doing a booming business. I truly resent the fact that the state government can control my health, not my primary physician. What next?? Limiting the amount of wine served in church, oops does this harm or set the younger generation on the path to alcohol addiction. My having to go to two separate doctors, primary and pain management, is not exactly easy. But this law also is making the statement that your primary doctor cannot be trusted, only Big Brother. Get rid of this before we lose our good doctors.
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on April 30, 2013, 11:18 a.m.
I don't drop many responses, but i did some searching and wound up here The DO | Florida DOs welcome, wary of constraints under new 'pill mill' law. And I actually do have 2 questions for you if it's allright.
Could it be simply me or does it look as if like some of these
comments look like written by brain dead people?
:-P And, if you are posting on additional social sites, I'd like to follow anything new you have to post. Could you list of all of your community sites like your twitter feed, Facebook page or linkedin profile? -
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on July 8, 2013, 8:31 p.m.
Everyone will get used to it. It's been like this in Jersey for years. It's a good thing when you think about it! Everyone who has chronic pain should see a pain specialist, sometimes there are other avenues to explore other than just meds, and if you need them the pain specialist will give them to you as long as you're not shady! It's all good peeps!
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on Dec. 2, 2013, 3:47 p.m.
A good, no, GREAT DO kept me going for a decade, but following a badly botched epidural, it was Pain Management for me. I've been in pain since 1975. I can never have the life I would like, but I can have some quality of life of ai take the proper amount of pain medication . Thanks to government pressure, I have had an awful te getting my prescriptions filled ( they are prescribed by an anesthesiologist who is now a pain managemt specialist.
I have been to over fifty drugstores…and have been treated shabbily by many.
The mom and pop store that had filled my Rx's the past few months, is telling me that they are being pressured by the DEA to not fill my scrips. Because of my zip code?! There is no state or federal law that specifies (I am in Floridida)how close one must live to the drugstore to get an Rx filled.I am at the end of my wits. What would you do if you were me? If your mother needed pain medicine in order to function?
The problem for patients inFlorida is terrible. I should not have an intrusive government agency between me, my doctor, the pharmacy, and my quality of life.
The last time I went without my medicine for ten days, I sobbed myself to sleep clutching a loaded 38 cal. Revolver to my chest…the pain was out of this world. People should not have to suffer to the degree that suicide seems like an option when they have a valid, much needed Rx in hand.
I tried every conservative treaent over a twenty year period before I ever took a pain pill. So don't suggest to me that my character is weak or that addiction is involved here. Have some empathy if you can. Pain does not discriminate among persons. It can happen to anyone. You could be next.
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hector p
on Dec. 26, 2013, 6:19 a.m.
Bruce D. Latham,DO Robert migliorino,d.o
u both are poster-child i didn't take long to find u two Dr. who care only about them self and to hell with there patients. Latham u should go into being a prosecutor to put more minority in prison your description and outlook already has us tag as user addicts etc. The fact that Florida did not have tight law for pain management Dr not the patients fault that falls on the idiotic politician. there was a loophole the size of Texas and people took advantage of it. but let get this straight the % of patient who abuse the med are small between 5% to 10% , not the other way around but listening to ur opinion hell 90 out of 100 people coming to u for help with pain are liar and criminals. very sad indeed u are more of the problem u and the DEA who lost the war on st drugs a long time ago now target Dr. and patients bully Dr. so bad Dr. are afraid of their own shadows, in America land of the free the law enforcement entity decided who need legal prescriptions drug and who doesn't with dr. like u who has ur head so far up there asses us real patient who thru no fault of our own are going to go on suffering until death give us the relief. our govt is out of control.
Dr. like yourself should be barred from practice or just quit all together ur patient are better served going to the street and getting some weed making Brownies or just get a bag of heroin and use very carefully because with this witch hunt that going on the millions of USA CITIZENS OF THIS SUPPOSE FREE COUNTRY!!!!?????? are getting shafted, mistreated ostracized but more important are not getting treated for their condition and all we have to look forward TO IS A Miserable LIFE OF PURE HELL PAIN 24 HR A DAY 365 DAY OF THE YR SLEEPLESS NIGHT, ANXIETY, MADNESS, DEPRESSION , HELPLESSNESS AND ABOUT ALL FEEL BETRAYED BY THE SAME DR who TOOK A OATH TO PUT THE PATIENT 1ST ABOVE ALL ELSE, WITH U AND UR PARTNER IN CRIME Robert migliorino,d.o + DEA THE PEOPLE WHO SUFFER IN SILENCE AND OUT LOUD DON'T STAND A CHANCE ON LIVING A DESCENT PRODUCTIVE LIFE AND WILL BECOME FODDER FOR THIS EVER GROWING PRISON NATION.
we have let our govt create until we as American grow a pair and start reminding all official that they work for us not the other way around and if they keep on this track we kick them there families and especially the Dr in league with them to the curb. So we can prove to all of them that we the people have the power to make changes and especially make sure that Dr. like u TWO never practices another day in this lifetime. But unfortunately we are scared of our own govt / who use the Gestapo tactives from Hitler day to keeps us inline. One day in the future we be so much in pain and feel so abused that we no longer fear death when that happens then we can rise as one and throw the bums (DEA) Politicization and make sure u two never see another patient so u wont label him a addict or criminal because no one would step foot into ur office u both are a joke and poor excuse of a Dr. i will from this moment until, I pass away pray every day for both of u to get , develop, fall break anyway have major chronic pain like me every min every day every second no letup and ur pain never dips under a 9 on the scale so u can get feel get treated the way u treat people now i know there a god who make sure those who injure there brother receive injury onto himself well that my rantP.S
Bruce D. Latham,DO
Most are more than willing to give me the names of those who supplied them their drugs. You're a Snitch on top of everything else huh plus being a horrible Dr.30 or 90 day addiction programs are woefully ineffective.
30 or 90 day addiction programs Because they are woefully underfunded and under staffed something about WAR ON DRUGS AND PRISON MORE IMPORTANT LARGE $$$$$$ FOR FRIENDS OF THOSE IN POWER??? HUHRobert migliorino,d.o
o just to set the record straight I am not a rube from a town named "Resume Speed". When I was in practice i am now retired
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r. migliorino,d.o.
on Jan. 2, 2014, 2:39 p.m.
guess that you haven't taken your medication recently!
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P.Murphy DO construction of hard knocks
on April 16, 2014, 7:10 p.m.
I could wrote a essay of being a victim of the anti narcotic freaks. Aka my primary for over 20 years who ignored my words of chest pains and other descriptions that could be tied to you guessed it myocardio infarction. Screw spell check. He was nice enough to say heartburn and prescribe the purple pill. Even after prep for torn bicep rotator etc… showed high bp abnormal EKG he let me be in Jan 13 I had the stent in a 95% clogg the 100% right coronary been clogged to long the collaterelles will have to do. Oh I wo not even mention my spine the torn hip the return shoulder the hernia repair there's more but my primary the vice on the Virginia medical board has only prescribed a narcotic 2 times in 20 years roughly. Oh 5 mm 3mm etc kidney stones he is anti narcotic and is on the board we are so screwed. A doc that who he made sure in his words won't practice again figured out my heart and prescribed nitrous which saved my life. I took his kids on cubs out and boy scout camp outs with his wife who died recently five months ago.I think just making me feel good she died cause he is such a blank blank blank.
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on July 4, 2014, 11:31 a.m.
I don't care how many young Mothers died from prescription drugs or children of lousy parents that didn't bring them up right who die from same. THEY SHOULD DIE. THEY are the ones who have made me lose my hope of having another child and even being able to walk and play with the one I have.
I HATE ALL OF THEM. Sick scum that play with drugs people like me NEED TO LIVE, for their own selfish benefit or pleasure. They don't need rehab, they need PRISON. We don't need to lose our pain relief by making it hard to obtain narcotics. We don't need to be punished THEY DO!!! MAKE THEM GET 10 YEARS IN PRISON FOR NARCOTIC ABUSE and allow Narcotics to not be so hard to get.
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DR Michael DO
on Aug. 20, 2014, 3:20 p.m.
Declare War on everything. That is the answer by supposedly educated peoples. Why not declare Peace first as the good Lord intended. These substances were made by God as a gift for alleviating suffering but as usual mankind goes and messes it up. Genesis states He created herb for the service of mankind Just becase there is bad in the world it does not change our inalienable right of free will. To relieve one's pain is not only a right but a bodies natural function and when the bodies natural opiods and other chemicals are not sufficient we trust a natural substance to help. Dr Still was a God faring man but today's DO has abandoned the techniques and methods of our profession. I think mankind is very confused and afraid of the liberty a sound mind is given so he attacks that which he is afraid. So kindness and peace and understanding are part of what heals my friends. Like the NRA do we need an NOA to protect our right to use the opiod that is a part of our natural makeup.Moderation works. We are healers but have lost our way in a world full of violence. How many DO's practice OMM? That is a shame on you because stimulating the bodies endogeous opiod system helps so many diseases. Dr Still knew there was so much more to learn and condensed this knowldge in a short lifetme. We must learn how to truly care for each other instead of the fear that continues to permeate the practce of Osteopathy and medicine in general. So much to learn and so little time! The damage done can continue or true healing can begin it is the age old problem that plagues us. I can go on about why the cost of medicine is so high and all the Real Ill's I see in our society because of intolerance, greed, corruption. Believe me this will only get worse no high horse can cure that mankind can create. It has already been created for us. Heroin use and death continuse to soar so when will we truly get it right. We are America the Land of the free lets not confuse Liberty with lack of reason. Oh and I have no healthcare or work after more than 25 years of education. That is the American dream. Because I cared at 40 to go fulfill a lifelong dream in medicine, an Army medic a public school teacher after Viet Nam, college professor and now healer a good one but not one rferral to have OMM done which I know has saved the few by my hand from the surgeon's blade. Perspective is a funny thing one sees something entirely different from another when looking at the very same thing. Why? God bless us and open our minds but most of all our hearts. Thank you Dr. Still the learning continues.Get it right!
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on Oct. 17, 2014, 3:04 a.m.
I can understand why and what the law inforcment is doing what they are doing,but in the same understanding.They also need to realize that some average normal people like me with copd lung desease,Four rubtered dise in my back,deteriating joint and bone deseace,pad desseace,gaut,autheridous,….Well I could go on,but my point is, I only get $400 a month and now have to drive 65 miles from where I live to a pain clinic just to get my meds…Well hopefully theirs just a hand ful of use that will have to go threw this.If so its worth it I guess…
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on Nov. 8, 2014, 12:36 p.m.
Let's work more on the diploma mills too.


text:
Home warranty-- what a scam!
Just a warning for those of you out there...we recently utilized our home warranty and had to pay a $100 deductible to a heating/cooling company to come out and inspect our broken air conditioner (lived in house 4 months).
The home warranty people (seperate from the heating/cooling company) then told us that what was wrong with the air conditioner wasn't covered by the warranty! (it has rusted out, basically). The rep read the "fine print" part to me.
They then told us that the heating/cooling company could replace everything for $5500.
As you can imagine, we are furious!
Last week I had a roof leak. The house is now out of the builder's warranty but under the 2/10 Company warranty. They don't cover roof leaks conveniently and have heard from a neighbor that something they needed to have done wasn't covered either. Luckily the builder fixed the problem for me anyway free of charge and fixed it quickly at that. But I'm convinced those warranty programs aren't worth the paper they're printed on.
First time poster. We just closed on our house June 8th. Within two weeks the air-conditioner bit the bullet. Dragged out the home warranty (house was only 5 yrs old). Mind you, we live in Las Vegas and it was 112 for the entire week. Monday I called warranty co, they gave me two numbers of local repair places that they use, first woman said couldn't get someone out for 4 days, second co says can't give you an exact time or day when we can get out. I was furious. I mean I expected a day or two, not four days. To save ourselves the aggravation we called our own guy and had the system replaced the next day. Home warranty = waste of $$$$.
The buyers threw in a home warranty when we purchsed this house. Since the house and it's systems were 12 yo, we were due for some problems. We had 2 appliances, gas furnance, and AC go out in the first 18 months. Sure, we had to pay a $50 service call fee but parts alone would have been several hundred dollars plus labor.
The tradeoff is sometimes you have to wait for service, which you do anyway unless you have a prior relationship to the repair company. Other times, I've had a service call made the same day I called.
We had to use our home warranty the first year we moved in with some electical wiring. I started reading the fine print on ours and it was ridiculous! It almost seemed like it said "unless your problems happen on a Tuesday while it's raining on even months, it's not covered" Luckily ours was covered (don't know how that happened!) and we just had to pay the $50 service fee. I don't think they're worth the paper they're printed on either.
We needed a new water heater because the unit was not putting out enough water for a single shower. Poor 90 yo father-in-law would freeze! So we read our warranty and learned that the working parts have to stop working for the warranty to work. In other words, low hot water output does not qualify as "not working". We replaced it ourselves.
Last week I heard a waterfall sound from the basement and checked it out. The sound was coming from inside the cabinet of the furnace/air conditioning cabinet. DH called the next day and got the name and number of their contract HVAC guy and he came out the next day. Only a plugged drain. The tech only charged $70, instead of the $95 the HMS the warranty called for. I guess I can be happy that the unit did not need major repairs. At least DH learned that there is a drain, it can plug, and where it is!
We've had home warranties on our last two houses. Service call was $45. We had several major repairs made and really had not problems with it. The biggest problem was on our dishwasher parts (not labor) were still under the dishwasher warranty so we had to order those parts and then home warranty installed. That was a big delay.
We also had problems with our home warranty (AON) but luckily the seller's agent worked with our buyer's agent to get what we needed. Our A/C went out about two weeks after we moved in. It took two weeks to get someone to look at it. They claimed to have fixed it. Then a month later, the A/C broke down again. Another two weeks before someone could look at it. Different A/C company. They fixed that. Two weeks later, A/C breaks down for the third time (!). This time the technician came the next day. He told us he couldn't fix it because it was a maintenance issue !! Charged us the deductible anyway. My husband called AON to complain and they then allowed that if the A/C isn't working then it had to be fixed so they called yet another A/C company to look at it. This one said the A/C had to be replaced. AON said they could replace it but they only covered about $800 so we had to fork over $3500!!
That's when the RE agents got involved. Two weeks later, AON said they would cover all the costs of replacement IF we went with their stuff or we could get cash. We grabbed the cash.
I'm just grateful that the agents on both sides of our home purchase transaction went to bat for us. I don't know how common that is. It certainly got things going for us
Well, I was convinced our home warranty, thrown in by the sellers, would be worthless.
I was wrong!
Our a/c broke (crack in the evaporator coil pan) and I carefully checked the fine print and it wasn't clear about whether it was covered or not, so I called them and asked if it was covered. Turns out it was.
I paid 45 dollars to have their guys come out and take a look at it. As it turns out, I didn't like the guys that came out and I called the warranty company back (American Home Shield) and said, they're idiots, I don't want them in my house (I have a rudimentary knowledge of HVAC).
They said, "Oh, would you like the cash option?" I said "heck yeah!" (I had no idea there was a cash option). They told me how much they'd pay the idiot to come out, and that they'd send me a check in that amount, and to fax them the invoice from my ac guys once it was fixed.
So, it ended up costing me money, but I got the repair done with the people I wanted to use, and from my perspective got a big discount on it because of the warranty.
Some tips:
1. Call the company first and ask if it's covered before they send someone out.
2. Ask if there's a cash option because they use the cheapest idiots to do the job.
I just had a new hot water heater put in by AHS, but I really had to work for it. Took them several times to come out and try to piece it together, but overall, I think I'm still in the black with the whole home warranty thing. I just had to pay extra to bring it up to code, but I can see why they wouldn't cover that. I've always been a little leary about the heater/air conditioner thing, but I hear as long as you have it serviced regularly, they will honor their end of the bargain.
I don't like the way they won't finish plugging up holes that their plumbers make. They left a pretty good mess on one plumbing visit and it took me a while to fix it between the baseboard and the spackling. They only do "rough finish" work.
Here is a link that might be useful: http://hmsfraud.com
I've heard several complaints about HMS. I've never had a problem with AON myself. AHS gave me a little bit of trouble but eventually I got them to see my side. They will usually deal with RE agents because if they are bad for customers, they will definitely not get any recommendations from us.
Here is a link that might be useful: Home Warranty Reviews
He sounds disgruntled.
I always found the home warranties to be more trouble than they're worth with the problems I had, but when I moved into my new place and we couldn't get the furnace started, they did manage to get someone out there on a Saturday on short notice. (We got it escalated to an "emergency" because we had a baby and it was cold.)
Even so, they were a pain in the rear to deal with...but we got our short-notice Saturday repair, and the service fee was still slightly less than the motel room.
Here are some other Home Warranty Companies. I'm not affiliated or have any interests in these companies, FYI only.
A couple not agree more. I had my Hot water heater go out and it took 20 days to get it fixed. I have 2-10 as my company, sellers of the house gave it to us with the sale. Nice thought, bad pick. I did find a good source of help in fighting with them while I was working through this. Site was www.homeshieldscam.com. Site focuses on trying to keep these companies honest by educating consumers. Link to the 2-10 page that I used is attached below, they have info on a lot of other companies though, so hunt a little if you can't find what you are looking for.
Here is a link that might be useful: 2-10 Home Warranty Scam Link
I myself have had very good involvements with Home Warranty Companies..Central Mass Home Warranty has helped my wife and i for the last 3 homes we owned..Not only are they service friendly But they also have a Claims Limit of $5000. this saved us one year when our well pump died and we needed the whole thing replaced..They changed it out within 5 days at $3800 bucks....Most warranty companies Claims Limit is less than $1500..
Here is a link that might be useful: Home Warranty
They are not actually warranriews, but tightly written service contracts.
Many of the companies will repair over and over if it is cheaper than replacing.
The contract then expires and the owner is still left with replacement costs.
They are (at best) a marketing gimmick.
I disagree as a 'Marketing Gimmick'..I do agree there are 75% of these companies cant afford to pay their rent ..BUT the other 25% of these companies are legitimate corporations in which some are accredited by the BBB..The top 30 companies all have something(atleast 1 good thing) about them...If they are not accredited by the BBB and with atleast some good reviews then i would never chance a contract withg them...
Any one loking for a quality warranty shall most certainly google the company name for complaints and or scams ...
Here is a link that might be useful: Quality Home Warranty
Calling a maintenance contract a 'home warranty' puts it well into the area of gimmickry.
If "75% of these companies cant afford to pay their rent" that is pretty bad odds for getting anything truly useful.
They are a gimmick to try and create an appearance of safety for the buyer.
The 75% Of this type of company are relatively new companies coming on board to try and open a new very large growth company in a very short period of time..Suprise!
Here is where things get complicated for them and sometimes can put them behind the 8 ball prior to having any customer growth..
First they have to obtain a 'Certificate Of Authority' In each and every state they decide to do business in or to sell warranties in.In order to get this document a corporation has to show proof of relatively high Liquid asset.Then have to also show Proof that they can operate efficiently and provide proper service to their customer base.They also have to have multiple other proof of operations and history of such. This Documentation has to be presented to the Division Of Insurance.The head Man himself has to sign this document personally. There is also a period of time before they can get this document(atleast 90 days)Then of course there is a FEE for this document .A non refundable $3500(approx)..
Large providers that are Nation Wide can usually support their call to action for service calls on account of the shear size of the corp.To begin with..The smaller providers with in 2-3 states are usually the ones to be careful of...Im not saying any of the Big or Small companies are Good Or Bad.I am trying to stick only to the facts here..
Here is a link that might be useful: home Warranty
brickeyee: "They are (at best) a marketing gimmick."
As I wrote in the other thread about home warranties, I used to think so too, until I received a check for $2,714 last month from one for a 20-year-old wall oven that they couldn't repair because parts were no longer available. And I had already had several other items repaired or replaced during the course of my first year of ownership of this house. I'm glad the previous owner sprung for the $599 policy as part of the closing. My out-of-pocket expenses were limited to $55 service call fees.
"As I wrote in the other thread about home warranties, I used to think so too, until I received a check for $2,714 last month from one for a 20-year-old wall oven that they couldn't repair because parts were no longer available. "
And for every repair that costs them more than the premium there are multiple others that are done in the cheapest way possible to avoid payouts.
These are money making companies, just like the rest of the insurance industry.
They have to collect enough money across ALL the customers to have any chance of surviving the few big payouts.
I'd heard that we were supposed to call them service contracts, too, but I just looked at a brochure from one of the biggest ones, & it says "XYZ Warranty".
I love those things;
they are not insurance, as they don't replace like with like but with builder-grade (if you have a 50 gallon, $800 water heater, you'll get something like a $400 one), *but* they fill a gap in protection for homeowners.
If you have a loss that would be covered by your insurance, by all means turn in the claim;
your insurance company is designed to indemnify, ie, to put you back where you were before the loss, as nearly as possible & within the terms of the policy (you'd still have a deductible, for instance).
Depending on the company, you may also be able to add coverage for refrigerators, washers & dryers, pool equipment, etc.
but broken air conditioners, water heaters that wear out or overheat & burn out, termite infestations, broken dishwashers & ranges are not covered under your insurance policy.
If you have a warranty/service contract, you call in a service request, & a contractor will come out & repair or replace the item or, if you request, the company will write you a check for what they would have paid, & you can replace the item with a better-quality one if you wish.
The service fee, usually $60 to $75 in this area, is all the homeowner pays.
Years ago, when our Association first began urging us to place warranties (as they were always called then) on every home we sold, I had mixed emotions.
However, the very first time I placed one, the buyer dropped into the office in less than a year to thank me & the seller;
the air conditioning went out the first summer, & the company repaired it, & both water heaters had gone out & the company had replaced them.
brickeyee: "And for every repair that costs them more than the premium there are multiple others that are done in the cheapest way possible to avoid payouts. These are money making companies, just like the rest of the insurance industry. They have to collect enough money across ALL the customers to have any chance of surviving the few big payouts."
You're statement that they have to take in more in premiums than they pay out is true, of course. Just as it is true with auto, home, and health insurance companies.
So, what's your point?
sylviatexas: "they are not insurance, as they don't replace like with like but with builder-grade (if you have a 50 gallon, $800 water heater, you'll get something like a $400 one)...."
That wasn't my experience. As stated previously, they offered to replace my 20-year-old wall oven with a top-of-the-line KitchenAid appliance or the cash equivalent ($2,714). They also replaced a 20-year-old toilet that couldn't be repaired with a Kohler one-piece, low-profile fixture that also definitely was not builder grade.
My daughter's recent experience with AHS, and mine throughout several years, have always been positive. She's had a troublesome 4 year old LG french door fridge. This fridge had replaced a 1 year old LG fridge that LG replaced - long common story - fire in the fridge. So...this replacement fridge had several service calls through AHS - finally it was determined that the part needed was no longer available - on a 4 y.o. fridge!! AHS offered to replace it in kind - that is, a current model stainless french door fridge, or the equivalent in cash. My daughter took the cash and purchased her own new fridge - only adding money because she went up to a 36" in size. NOT an LG!!
We've had several experiences with our HVAC system - AHS has always come through. When we had a problem with a room thermostat they replaced it with a very upscale digital model.
NAYY....just a very satisfied client of AHS.
"You're statement that they have to take in more in premiums than they pay out is true, of course. Just as it is true with auto, home, and health insurance companies.
So, what's your point?"
That they are NOT in any way or shape a 'warranty', and marketing them as such is at best misleading.
If you want to sell 'repair insurance' under the guise of a maintenance contract, call the product what it is, a maintenance contract.
Sale would probably be less, and that is why the misleading name continues.
Just like the original name for Health Maintenance Organizations (HMOs) was 'prepaid medical care'.
It did not market well so HMO was coined.
No, the contractors didn't have "extras on the truck." In fact, the contractors couldn't have immediately provided me with replacement equipment even if they wanted to. They both had to report the issues to the home warranty company and wait for the warranty company to authorize the replacements. And as I stated previously, in one case I took the money rather than the appliance.
But let me be clear: I did not get upgrades. What I received were replacements of equivalent value. I'm sure that if I had builders' grade equipment/appliances in the house, then that is what I would have received. My point is that the warranty company did not replace a top tier appliance with a builders' grade appliance.
I just pulled out my policy and here is the language contained therein:
"REPAIR/REPLACEMENT/UPGRADING: We have the sole right to determine whether a covered system, appliance or component will be repaired or replaced....We will not upgrade any covered item...We reserve the right to provide cash in lieu of repair or replacement...We are responsible for providing installation of equipment comparable in features, capacity and efficiency, but not for matching dimensions, color or brand."
As noted above, the policy states that they will replace equipment/appliances with comparable -- not lesser--equipment.
I don't know whether this language is unusual; all I know is that I was pleasantly surprised when I was offered my choice of either $2714 or a brand-new KitchenAid combination wall oven for my 20-year-old dinosaur.
Being forced to use the Home Warranty's "authorized servicemen" is one of the main problems I've encountered. It seems to be a major issue with many of the complaints I've read, and in my own personal experiences as well.It appears this type of company has an excellent eye for picking from the bottom of the barrel when finding their service contractors.
For instance: the authorized AC "engineer" who had been assigned to my home operates from 45 miles away and has either tried to dodge my phone calls, kept me in limbo, missed appointment times etc for the last few months. On August 16th, he finally found the time to drag himself down to my house to install my new outside unit that had been ready for pick-up since August 5th. When I arrived after he'd left, the unit was leaning at a 25 degree angle, was placed about 2" away from our house, one end on the dirt, and the other on the concrete pad, was connected to the fuse box without a cap and the bare split wires exposed, plus he'd used higher powered electrical wire (60) connected to two different size and much smaller fuses! There was no insulation on the connecting pipes, and several other major issues, plus the cardboard box, the wood pallet, and all wrapping debris was all over my yard. I knew enough that from what I saw that it looked all wrong. After taking numerous pictures, I contacted my City Inspectors and they came out and said it was in no way up to code and was dangerous.
Come to find out, the "authorized" service tech hadn't even applied for a license in our City to do anything, and had no intentions of doing anything else until the next day (on 8/18 - two days later) - UNTIL - I told him that I was going to contact the State of Alabama Board of Heating & Airconditioner Contractors. The man was down in less than 30 minutes...
I'm ill with these people now because they have been patching (they call repairing)this unit since May, and we have been without airconditioner all summer long. I'm hot, I'm old, and I'm not putting up with this foolishness any longer.
Take good pictures of work these people do - before and after - call your city for license checks, check with your State to see if shoddy AC/electrical work can be reported -write or email the BBB and file a complaint and follow through, and make sure the work they do is up to code in your State. If the Home warrenty people continue to force "their authorized repairmen" down our throats then at least make sure these repairmen do it right.
Here is a link that might be useful: www.hvac.alabama.gov
I've had a warranty on my home since the time the builder's warranty ran out. I've paid more in premiums than I've gotten back in repairs, but not by much, and I like the idea of the fixed cost. I've only ever had one claim denied, and for an extremely stupid reason. Our toilet was clogged, and it turned out to be because of the plastic holder for a toilet cleaner (the kind that hangs in the bowl). They would have covered it for a paper clog, but not that. Makes no sense.
However, over the years they're repaired leaky pipes, the hot water tank, the A/C, electrical problems, the dishwasher, and probably something I'm forgetting. Some contractors are much better than others. When our microwave outlet melted due to incompetent original installation, the electrician sent out by the warranty company also did some work in the panel that wasn't directly related to the issue but that would have caused trouble down the line. I'm not sure how she coded it to get them to pay, but she did.
The only thing I really hated was having the A/C break down late on Friday and not being able to get it serviced til the following week. If I was self paying, I would have gotten an emergency service place out. It was not pleasant to wait in Florida in August!
We're buying a new house, and I'll likely get a warranty once the builder's coverage expires for that one, too. My opinion will change if we ever have a really bad experience, but so far so good. We use 2-10, which I think had some affiliation with our original builder.
When I purchased a new home 2 years ago, my agent threw in a home warranty. The house was a short sale and I knew that the ac/furnace were old. In the first winter, my one of the furnaces quit. I called the warranty company and they sent someone out. When he showed up at the door I was a little concerned as he did not seem to be the sharpest tool around. He said it needed a new control panel (i think that is what it was) and it would have to be ordered. But in the mean time, he was able to do something to get it going. About 10 minutes after he left, the doorbell rang. He had come back and said he would have to turn it off. Apparently, he had spoken with his supervisor and the supervisor told him to come back and disconnect. I suspect that what he had done to get it to work was most likely a safety hazard and I could have either ended up dead or my house burned down.
I decided then that I would let my warranty lapse and hire contractors that knew what they were doing. I suspect that the warranty companies hire the cheapest contractors that they can find, not the most qualified.
Depending on what warranty company you use, you can ask them to switch contractors. We've had one particular company come out for multiple repairs, and we really like them. It's a large firm with a good overall reputation in the area.
However, when our A/C died, the company initially gave us a vendor I never even heard of that had no website and very little internet presence, other than a series of complaints. I actually suspect the "company" was someone farming out work to various people from his house. I tried to get them to switch to the vendor I liked, but they initially said no. After a weekend without A/C and no response from the new place by Mon. afternoon, I insisted on it. I would have felt totally uncomfortable with the other place doing any work in my home when they apparently can't even run a business (I'd left a message with a live person twice, and two on voicemail, because they said you can't call them to make an appointment; they have to give it to a scheduler to call you back, and there were many, many people ahead of us...say what? The other place just gives you an appointment when you call).

subset: commoncrawl


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The IAPD Magazine, April/May 2012 issue special feature Product Focus — Plastics in Transportation
Technical articles are welcome from members on the many uses of plastics in transportation. Articles must be educational in nature and not commercialized. No trade names may be used in the articles. However, trade names may be mentioned in photo captions.
Articles can be from 800-1500 words long and may include images. The deadline for the first draft is Wednesday March 14. If you are interested in writing for this issue, contact Liz Novak, IAPD Managing Editor, +913.345.1118, email@example.com as soon as possible so space can be reserved for your article.
The advertising deadline for this issue is March 23. For further details, contact Dave Blackhurst, IAPD Sales Manager, +913.387.1116, email@example.com


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"My Daughter Disappeared"
What made her say yes to the trip? For the first time, the mother of Natalee Holloway tells the inside story of the search and how she finally found peace of mind.
By Beth Holloway
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January 2007
I'm the parent who got the dreaded call the one whose phone rang out of the blue in the middle of the day, who heard a voice at the other end saying, "Your daughter is missing."
Now the day has come when I must pack up Natalee's belongings, which have remained untouched since she left on her senior class trip to Aruba on May 26, 2005. My son, Matt, and I are moving to a new house.
Everything in the room represents Natalee. Light purple (her favorite color) and delicate greens predominate. In one corner, a purple curio cabinet holds her Wizard of Oz memorabilia. Her graduation robe hangs outside the closet door, the honors cords still around the neck. She was full of life, smart, gutsy, determined, and dependable. And so independent that I used to joke, "Natalee, just ask me some questions so I can feel like I'm your parent. Humor me."
Thank goodness there was something she needed me for: her clothes. Almost every Saturday morning, she'd appear in the kitchen in a fleece jacket with her hair tied up, face freshly washed. We'd head out for a day of shopping together at our favorite stores near our suburb outside Birmingham, AL. In the car, between stops, we'd talk about anything and everything. Those are the memories I cherish most.
In October 2004, Natalee asked me if she could go on the senior class trip, an exotic four-night stay on the island of Aruba. The trip was a Mountain Brook High School tradition. Her stepbrother, George, had gone two years before, and if I could swing it financially, I wanted Natalee to have the experience.
In the weeks before her graduation, I attended two parent meetings hosted by Jodi, the travel agent who handled the Aruba trips and whose own daughter was scheduled to go that year. We discussed payment, roommates, and other details. The position of the chaperones was made clear: They'd be there for emergencies such as lost passports, but they wouldn't be conducting bed checks or roll call. In addition to the seven adults, more than a hundred of Natalee's senior classmates were booked to go. It was comforting to know there'd be safety in numbers.
Natalee was 18, almost grown. But I still reminded her to make personal safety her first priority, and to stay with people she knew. She hadn't had a real boyfriend, and confided to me that she was a virgin. I let her know I was glad about that, and mentioned my worries about what she might encounter in Aruba's clubs and casinos. When a former Mountain Brook student came back from his class trip, he'd told us about a chilling incident at a nightspot called Carlos'n Charlie's. Some locals had tried to get a couple of girls in his class to leave with them. This young man stepped in to help defuse a potentially dangerous situation. "I know when you're there you're of legal age," I said. "But someone might try to take advantage of the situation or even put something in your drink. You need to be on your guard." Natalee acknowledged my warning with the typical teen reply, "Mom, I know. I'll be careful." I felt better after reminding her again about possible dangers she could face. She'd proven to be responsible all her life. I trusted her to be able to take care of herself.
In the wee hours on Thursday, May 26, I dropped Natalee at a friend's house for the ride to the airport. As she gathered her things from the car, she looked up long enough for me to kiss her on the cheek. "I love you! Have a great time!" I told her. She replied, "Bye, Mom! Love you!" She slung her purple duffel bag over her shoulder and made her way to the front door. As I turned the car around to leave, I caught a glimpse of her entering the house, not knowing it would be the last time I would ever see Natalee. By Monday morning, she was missing.
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Mods. An example of a world generator mod (custom Indev map generator) Mods (short for modifications) are anything that changes Minecraft's game content from what it originally was.
Mods are becoming increasingly popular and in-depth, adding whole new experiences and goals to the game. [edit] Purpose of mods Most mods in Minecraft add content to the game to alter gameplay, change the creative feel, or give the player more options in how they interact with the Minecraft world. Most people who mod Minecraft use Mod Coder Pack to do so. YogBox 1.0.0 [v1.2.1] - A carefully-chosen compilation of good mods. 0.0] Tale of Kingdoms Version 1.3.0 pre3. Tale of Kingdoms [1.2.4] Walkthrough 1.1 (as of 12/11/2011) [AUTHOR'S NOTE1: I have just recently updated to version 1.2.4.
Much of this walkthrough was written based on experiences with pre-1.2.0 versions--specifically the Guild and Honor systems. However, I have completed Tier 1 on 1.2.0, and base all my experiences on the Town/City/Kingdom to 1.2.0, and the last several days playing through ToK 1.2.4 with Minecraft updated to the 1.0 release. Any 1.3.* version (which does not exist at the time of this writing) will likely have some differences, and some things in common with this walkthrough.] [AUTHOR'S NOTE2: I did not create Tale of Kingdoms, nor did I take place in its development, have knowledge of or contact with TyberAlyx (ToK's Author).
1] Millénaire - NPC village (2.1.2: Automatic language setting, bug fixes) Note regarding the wiki: it's getting quite out of date, help with it is very welcome.
Translations of the main pages to other languages would also be useful. Note regarding translations: many of them are somewhat out-of-date. Updates would be welcome. Wiki. Millénaire aventure serie special episode Millénaire is a single-player and multi-player mod for Minecraft, a 3D sandbox game.
It aims to fill the "emptiness" of worlds by adding NPC villages to it, with loose 11th-century Norman, North Indian, Mayan, Japanese and Byzantine themes and additional cultures planned. Villages are populated with men, women and children of various kinds, who perform tasks such as trading with the player, expanding current buildings or improving existing ones, cultivating crops such as wheat in Norman villages and rice in Indian ones, and crafting tools and powerful amulets, etc. The VoxelModPack - The VoxelBox Wiki. Overview The VoxelModPack is a set of client mods chosen specifically to assist users of multiplayer creative servers.
It is the perfect companion for any builder. 1] Dynamic Lights. Announcing: The AWESOME update - rewritten from scratch to be a FML Coremod for Minecraft 1.4.2, requires Forge - boosted efficiency A LOT, I'm positive it cannot be done any better now :3 - Dynamic Lights is now modular!
See readme! - configuration files for Dynamic Light modules can now be found at /config/ - global toggle Button can now be configured via Controls Menu For those of you that don't know what FML Coremod means...DRAG AND DROP INSTALL, YE GODS I'll just put the readme here. 0.0] AETHER - V1.04_01 Launch Bug Fixed - BUG FIXES - Crystal Trees, Enchanted Grass, White Apples! Hello everyone!
Sorry for the delay in the patch; the team has been very busy wrapping things up with the new mod version, and of course some of us have to attend to real life. However, we have finally finished the patch, and it is now available for download! Not only have we fixed a huge amount of bugs, but we've also added new features, tweaks and balance changes to freshen up your Aether experience. 1, 12w03a] TooManyItems in-game invedit *Jan 19* Marglyph's TooManyItems Create and enchant items in-game, including mod items.
Save and load entire inventories. Create unlimited stacks and tools. Switch game modes, test mods, create huge survival worlds, and more. [V1.1] Risugami's Mods - Everything Updated. Everything updated for 1.6.2.
The mods directory will now be located in the same directory as minecraft jar, unless the default game directory is changed, where it will act like it had on older versions. Read this entire post. All of it. Downloading the mods means you agree to the disclaimer. You can skip the FAQ, but if you have an issue, consult it first, before consulting us. Minecraft: How to Install Mod Loader & AudioMod (by Risugami) MCEdit: Minecraft World Editor (Compatible with MC Beta 1.8!) MCEdit, a Minecraft World Editor MCEdit is an open source world editor for just about any version of Minecraft.
MCEdit was first created to allow players to preserve anything built with several old versions of Minecraft and take them forward into newer versions of the game. It also aims to be forward-compatible with future (or even modified) versions of Minecraft. It has since been improved with brush tools for laying down blocks in different shapes, integration with the Minecraft Server to generate terrain using Minecraft's own seed algorithms, support for multiplayer worlds, and editors for certain blocks including chests and mob spawners. To get an idea of what MCEdit can do, just watch this tutorial/walkthrough by a famous mapmaker: 1.0] Single Player Commands [V3.1] Single Player Commands (SPC) Version 4.9 for Minecraft 1.6.2 If you're looking for a server, or need to contact me, currently the best place is through this PvP survival server: pvp.darkmines.net.
Download Automated Installation [COMING SOON]Click here for a video tutorial on how to use the installer Download Manual Installation [Preferred] - [Alternate]NEW INSTALL INSTRUCTIONS - CLICK HERE Release DetailsSpotlightCommand ListItem and Block codesDownloadsInstallation InstructionsTroubleshootingInstallerMinecraft Coder Pack (MCP) CompatibilitySpecial ThanksWant to play SMP with me? 1.0] The Official PokeMobs .5. Today I began an ambitious project to Create a mod that puts all 151 of the original pokemon into minecraft.
I finished a few today but I realized I may need some help considering this is a huge project. So I am using this post as two things, an announcement of this exciting project and also a call to you guys for support. Current Coders.


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What was condescending to you in my remarks ? My twist at satire and the mirror ?
If so, that's not condescending, it's sad on your part for having a lack of humor.
Be a part of the community.
It's free, join today!
And she's a g damn liar too. She can buy birth control pills at theTarget store in the strip mall right next to the G town campus for Nine dollars per month. Rubbers are one dollar apiece.
you people are ******* animals. Act like that and expect respect? Who the hell do you people think you are anyway?
Lets concentrate on the testimony. All her anecdotes were "I have a friend". She apparently has no personal knowledge of the issue. Virgin? Homosexual? Or distancing herself from lies?
She cited a poll taken at Georgetown about how much of a burden it would be for a woman to buy birth control.The answer was 40 percent? You believe that?
She noted that another "friend" takes birth control pills to stop cramps. That is not birth control, that is cramp control.
Now here are the real kickers. Three thousand dollars. A thousand a year for three years.. Guess what? Its a bald faced lie.
Sandra Fluke, labeled as a "reproductive rights activist" (whatever the hell that is) said in Congress:
(I love how she adds in that "as you know". Translation-"you idiot")
John McCormick of Weekly Standard went right down to the far end of the Georgetown Campus to the Target.
Birth Control Pills at that Target, with NO insurance-straight cash-NINE Dollars for a month supply. Nine dollars
Now lets do that math, we gotta get to 3 grand. Three years X 12 months per year=36 months.
9 dollars per month X 36 months= Three Hundred Twenty Four dollars
She was wrong by a factor of ten.
Tatonka, why WHY would she lie like that? Why? ORR, is she Stupid?
WHY do you have to LIE about this issue? WHY????
OK so lets go one more step. Lets say three hundred is too much money for a struggling Georgetown Law Student that just CAN"T stop *******.
Charlie Cook at National Review wanted to see how expensive birth control was in his neighborhood in Chelsea (not DC, but play along). He stopped counting when he got to around three hundred free New York City rubbers and he did it in one single afternoon just a couple blocks from his house. Lets do that math. 300 X0 = ZERO.
So birth control can cost a Georgetown law student nothing. ZIP
(They are so easy to get that Cook found a bowl of free NYC rubbers in a shoe store. A damned shoe store)
WHY all the LIES Tatonka James? Why all the lies?
See i know why. Let me ask you-why didn't you mention that Rush Limbaugh took back what he said during the monologue? Did you listen to it? Did you read it? You didn;t did you?
This entire issue is a fraud. Based on a fraud (Obamacare), by fraudulent people.


text:
A Plymouth resident, and long time Red Sox fan, Billboard Bob was bitten by the pop music bug when he first heard "Sea Crusie" by Frankie Ford (it reached #14 in April 1959). Over the years, he began to associate certain songs with certain life experiences, and then — he discovered the charts.
"Being a baseball fan lends the opportunity to analyze statistics, so why not translate this practice to music!" thought Billboard Bob.
Thus, began a relentless study of the billboard charts, which eventually led him to WOMR.


text:
Get involved
We are reliant on the generosity of alumni and corporate supporters to ensure that we continue to grow as an alumni association and educational charity. All funds raised will be directed to support education at the School of Real Estate & Planning helping to provide student bursaries, additional career development activities, outreach projects, advisory boards and an Alumni Association. If you would like to support RREF please see Make a Gift.
However, a donation made to RREF is only one of many ways to help:
Thank you for supporting RREF
Our students, staff and Vice Chancellor explain in their own words how those who have supported RREF have benefitted individuals, the department and the Henley Business School, University of Reading.
Visit Events to see upcoming events planned for both alumni and corporate contacts.
Become a Mentor
Volunteer your time and mentor a current full-time Real Estate & Planning student.
Become a Year, Country or Regional Rep
Represent your graduation year, country of residence or region in the UK and be a point of contact for RREF and relevant alumni.
Support the Access Internship Scheme
We are looking for a number of firms to host a student for a four week placement over the summer period in 2012.
Be represented at the Careers Fair
Raise your company profile to students with a stand at our Careers fair in October.
Take part in the Evening Lecture Series
Exclusive to Corporate Patrons, present graduate opportunities to students and give insight to current projects and issues with an Evening Lecture.
Advertise a Graduate job
Recruit some of the highest achieving and most aspiring students in the UK and advertise a graduate vacancy.
Nominate your mentee for Mentee of the Year 2014
Nominate your mentee today
Nominate your mentor for Mentor of the Year 2014
Nominate your mentee today


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The Office of Agriculture, Biotechnology and Textile Trade Affairs (ABT) is part of the Bureau of Economic and Business Affairs at the U.S. Department of State. ABT works to advance the State Department's critical global trade and food security goals by:
- Advocating for transparent, science-based regulatory systems,
- Supporting harmonization of international standards,
- Participating in the Food Assistance Convention which coordinates the international response to emergency food situations,
- Challenging unjustified barriers to agricultural trade, and
- Promoting open trade of staple food commodities.
[This is a mobile copy of About the Office of Agriculture, Biotechnology and Trade]