Guard right to choose health pros Editor: Many recent articles about generic ge-neric drugs forget to point out that when health professionals are allowed al-lowed to select which drugs the patient will get, the patient usually usu-ally gets good quality at a low price. Nearly all of the generics on the market are good. Problems can happen with generic or brand name drug products. Pharmacists are in the best position to know which version of the various drug products prod-ucts are safe and effective for a particular patient. One big problem is that insurance insur-ance companies may force pharmacists pharma-cists and physicians to select drugs that may not be the best choice for the patient. Insurance companies need to limit costs because health care has gotten so expensive. Often it's just fine to use the lowest priced drug, but other times it's not. When insurance companies refuse ref-use to pay the full amount for certain cer-tain drugs, pharmacists may be forced to give patients lower-cost drugs. Should insurance companies and governmental agencies be allowed al-lowed to select which drug a patient pa-tient gets? Isn't the physician in a better position to diagnose the patient's ailments, and the patient's pharmacist in a better position to decide which version of a drug product will work best for the patient? pa-tient? In fact, insurance companies and other third-party payers are now interfering with the selection of drugs, and with many other health care decisions. For example, insur ers are telling physicians wh treatment they can prescribe ai they are telling patients whu pharmacies they can or cannot to. If a patient has a pharmaci that gives good care, why should i insurance company be allowed force the patient to go elsewheri Some insurance companies a now making their enrollees m their prescriptions off to some f away pharmacy. But, patier should be allowed to get their pi scriptions filled where the phi macist knows the patient s dr allergies, brands, doses, and all t other information needed so pharmacist can talk with the f tient about the medication, bavi a little money for the insurar company is not worth chancing medical problem. Make sure hat you tell y employer's personnel departm that you don't want any insura company to take away your ngw select your own health profess als. If they tell you to use a dm ent doctor or a different pharn cist, tell them to use a diner insurance policy. Your best protection aga problems that may occur in Products is to have a perj Physician and a personal pharn cist that are knowledgeable care about you. And, these Pro' sionals must be allowed to care you without interference fro" surance companies or other tm party payers. BeaS pharrnac