Author: Dr. Hayley Miller

Dr. Miller grew up in Buffalo Wyoming and received her undergraduate degree in Nutrition and Food Sciences from the University of Wyoming. After garnering her M.D. from University of Washington School of Medicine, she completed two years of Internal Medicine residency in La Crosse Wisconsin & accepted a fast-track fellowship position in Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City. During her training, Dr. Miller participated in many aspects of research, but her true passion has always been patient care. She has given a number of talks to both patients & providers about healthcare innovation, optimizing diabetes management, insulin pump therapy, continuous glucose monitoring, insulin intensification and weight management.

The Cost of Healthcare is Too Darn High!

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The Cost of Healthcare is Too Darn High!

Healthcare and health insurance costs just keep going up. So what’s one to do when wages aren’t keeping up? We have some solutions for you!

Inflation is pretty high right now. Healthcare costs generally follow suit, but they take a few months to catch up. As costs climb, what are your options? What can be done to keep your bills to a minimum, but still receive the care and medication you need? Well, we have the answers!


Membership Based Healthcare – Traditional hospitals can be difficult to navigate, expensive, and hard to see a doctor for more than a few minutes. The membership based model, like Mountain States offers, makes sure you know exactly what you will pay, and you get far more than a few minutes with your primary care doctor.

Co-Pay Cards – Drug manufacturers know that the costs of prescription drugs are high. To encourage you to choose their drug, many of them offer co-pay cards. These cards will reimburse you for your co-pay when you opt for their brand; your insurance covers the rest, so it’s essentially a no out-of-pocket option for you.

Prescription Assist – Here in Missoula we have a great pharmacy called Prescription Assist. For a flat $25 fee this company ensures paperwork is filled out properly to get medication from the drug companies at no cost. Email them at rxassist@yahoo.com, or call 406-829-3993, for details as every individual case is different.

GoodRx – The popular website GoodRx.com has coupons for just about every prescription, at just about every pharmacy. Simply show the cashier the coupon code, and you can save huge off the sticker price. One of our clients saw a $363+ medication drop to $28 using GoodRx.

The way we receive healthcare is changing. Using membership based programs means you can often receive better care without the worry that you’ll be hit with a huge medical bill.

Are you a member yet?

Hayley Miller MD

PS – Summer doesn’t officially end until the 21st. And there are so many events in the Missoula area this month!

Montana Shakespeare in the Parks – For more than 50 years volunteer thespians have brought the works of William Shakespeare to the people of Montana (and Idaho) for free. They believe that Shakespeare belongs to everyone, and they present world-class performances in the parks. The final two days of the season, September 6th and 7th, bring you Twelfth Night, and King Lear at the UM Oval. 

Flogging Molly & The Interrupters – An Irish-American punk rock band that’s been amping up the crowds for 20+ years, Flogging Molly puts on a great show. Have a pint of ale and enjoy the music on September 13th at the KettleHouse Amphitheater. Details on LogJam Presents.

Fall Harvest Festival – Who doesn’t love a good festival? The Fall Harvest Festival on September 25th is one of the best. As the weather cools, the harvests abound, and we look forward to the falling of the leaves. Learn how to press cider, shop the craft market, and grab a bite from a food truck. It’s free if you bring a non-perishable food item for the Missoula Food Bank. 

How to Save Money on Diabetes Medications

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Did you know that the patent for insulin was originally sold for $1? In 1923, the scientists that discovered insulin sold the patent for $1 each to ensure that everyone who needed insulin had access to it. As you know, times have changed.

Although the price of diabetes medications continues to rise, you can use several resources to reduce your out-of-pocket costs at the pharmacy.

Good Rx App:

  • Check this app for the cash price of your medication at your local pharmacies.
  • If the price with insurance is higher than GoodRx price, ask them to run the prescription with GoodRx instead.
  • If the medication is significantly cheaper at another pharmacy, call that pharmacy to request a transfer (they’ll do it for you!)

Copay Cards

$99 insulin programs

  • My99Insulin offers 3000 units of insulin for $99 (may be combination of Tresiba and Fiasp/Novolog)
  • Lilly Insulin Value  offers any Lilly insulin product (Humalog, Lyumjev, Basaglar) for $35/month regardless of insurance coverage
  • Sanofi ValYou Program offers $35/month price for Lantus  (site has not been working)

Free Insulin (one time fill): 

You can get 3000 units of insulin for free one time per year us ing a copay card at the pharmacy. To do so. . .

  • Go to Help with Cost – Immediate Supply
  • Do you have insurance (either answer is ok)
  •  Click – Still don’t see affordable option (below the my $99)
  • Click – Are you at risk of rationing you insulin? See how we can help..
    •  you will have the option to print or download copay card – give this to the pharmacy.

The Link between Exercise and Mental Health

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May is mental health awareness month, let’s all strive to be better and help one another.

Even a quick hike with your family can contribute to your mental wellness.

Humans are social creatures.

If we learned anything from the COVID pandemic, it’s that isolation and uncertainty intensify underlying mental health issues that more than a fifth of American’s live with every day.

Yes, 20% of US citizens experience mental illness.

We know about it, we have some treatment for it, so why is Mental Health Awareness Month such a big deal?

We must continue to advocate for mental health as:

  • Mental illness is still stigmatized. We wear glasses to see clearly; we use mental healthcare to think clearly.
  • Mental illness is still ignored. It’s easy to see injuries or illnesses of the body; not so much of the mind.
  • Mental illness is still underfunded. Healthcare in the US has come a long way in recent decades; but there is less of a focus on mental healthcare.

What can you do about it?  If you struggle, you can dampen the effects of the illness through exercise.

Exercise relieves depression.  15 minutes of daily exercise reduces the risk of depression; endorphins are natural chemicals that make you feel better.

Exercise reduces anxiety.  Anxiety can be caused by over-thinking situations; focusing on the exercise takes your mind off whatever is bringing the anxiety.

Exercise fights ADHD.  Physical activity creates dopamine, norepinephrine, and serotonin; these three chemicals improve focus and attention.

There are many, many more benefits; the bottom line is that we can all benefit from more exercise.

Start where you are, and add a tiny new habit each day.  It can be as simple as doing a single pushup, walking for a few minutes, or standing instead of sitting.

Start small and you’re more likely to stick with it.

Yours in health,

Hayley Miller MD

One more thing!

Community is one of the best ways to keep your mind functioning at a healthy level.  Here are a couple of events in May that you can attend with friends to keep that mind in peak performance mode.

Backcountry Brewfest: Missoula has more craft breweries than anywhere else in the state!  Enjoy a pint with friends over at Caras Park; May 13th, from 5pm to 9pm.  More details here.

TGIF Mountain Bike League: Every Friday from May 13th to June24th you can get out and ride with friends!  Discover the world, get some exercise, and see if you can win the race.  More details here.

Backcountry Hunters & Anglers Rendezvous: The North American Rendezvous hosted by Backcountry Hunters & Anglers, the voice for our wild public lands, waters and wildlife. The biggest party of the year will be held May 12-14, at Fort Missoula  More details here.

 

Stress Awareness Month – Meditation Practices to Bust Stress

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April is stress awareness month.  It’s where we have to get real with ourselves and admit pent up stress is taking a toll on our bodies. We’re all aware of stress, but a lot of us don’t take the steps we should to diminish, or eliminate, the stress all together. Because stress is such a big part of our lives, it doesn’t seem as though getting rid of it is even a possibility! But study after study shows the same thing: stress leads to deadly results – heart disease, diabetes, depression, and more. We can’t avoid stress.  We can, however, manage it through diet, exercise, and meditation. Last month Mountain States Diabetes entered into our second year serving the Montana communities with a newsletter about eating and sleeping better. Next month we’ll turn our focus to exercise and mental health.  This month let’s take a peek into the world of meditation as a means of managing stress. Sit and Breathe Meditation: one of the simplest forms of meditation is to find a comfortable spot, and focus on your breathing.  When thoughts sneak their way in, acknowledge them, and return your focus to breathing. Walk or Run Meditation: combining exercise with meditation builds a stronger body and mind.  Walk or run with your focus on your breathing, how your body feels, and become aware of yourself. Read and Reflect Meditation: reading helps to expand our minds, but often we just read to have read.  Instead, read a short section of any book you choose, and then reflect on the meaning and application for a few minutes. Gratitude Attitude Meditation: science tells us that grateful people are happier, healthier, and live longer.  It’s as simple as finding the good in everything, and focusing on gratitude.  It will take time to make it a habit, but stress dissolves when you’re thankful. Determine which meditation practice is best for you, and then build it into your life as a non-negotiable habit.
Stressed Out
Yes…I get stressed too!
  On of my favorite ways to get rid of stress is to get out there and do something! Each Thursday night in April The Old Post on Spruce Street hosts a Jazz Night; let the music melt your stress. Comedian Dan Cummins will be at The Wilma on April 23rd; laughter is a great stress buster!