WSJ Article on wh patients are asking for Rx's for OTC meds

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Pretty good review of the rules changes to Flexible Spending Accounts and why patients are asking for Rx's for OTC meds this year.

 

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704692904576166554110739560.html

 

In Health Law, Rx for Trouble

small snippet...

Tax breaks for over-the-counter drugs date to 2003, as popular drugs like the allergy medicine Claritin began switching to over-the-counter status. The Internal Revenue Service loosened the rules on flexible-spending accounts so consumers could use them to buy thousands of nonprescription medications. The tax-free dollars can also go for insurance co-payments, eyeglasses and other out-of-pocket health costs.

Critics say the accounts encourage overconsumption of medical services. Since consumers typically must forfeit unused funds by year's end, they often ended up scrambling in December to drain their funds by loading up on aspirin, antacid and the like.

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Locke, MD