Landmark MD

06/08/2025

So it's time to wish Dr. Layne a Happy Birthday!!! We love you!

05/22/2025

For any of our patients who have been receiving compounded GLP-1 medications such as Tirzepatide (Wegovy) and Semaglutide (Ozempic), the deadline to comply with the FDA's cease and desist is today. Please be wary if you are ordering this medication online or from weight loss spas. The pharmaceutical companies do have "self pay" programs availble for direct shipping, and that may be an alternative.

The supply of GLP-1 drugs for weight loss and diabetes treatment is expected to tighten this week with a federal deadline to halt the sale and production of off-brand products that many patients in the United States have come to rely on.

02/07/2025

New to Medicare? Looking at options? Dr. Layne is JUST about to sign up for senior insurance! Come join Keith Mills of Mills Insurance for an informative session on Medicare and other health insurance, learn about the new Medicare Prescription Payment plan and more! Plus, Dr. Layne will be there learning what plans are best just like all of the attendees!

When: Wednesday, March 12th at 730pm
Where: Southminster Presbyterian Church, 1401 Hoffman Rd, Gastonia, NC 28054

For more information call Mills Insurance at 980-251-0504.

01/27/2025

With prescription drug costs overall on the rise; as well as the uncertainty of insurance changes, here are some tips on how to help manage your medication out of pocket costs.

1. Generic medication is always cheaper than brand name, and patients should "shop around" and compare prices. Many times grocery stores and smaller independent pharmacies are cheaper than the major chains. It may be a little inconvenient, but if going to two different pharmacies can save hundreds of dollars a year, isn't it worth it?

2. 90 day mail order medications are also a cost saving choice, and even certain controlled substance medications like those for ADHD can be sent through your mail order pharmacy. (Check with your insurance company for more information).

3. Use GoodRx. Sometimes paying cash out of pocket is CHEAPER than using your insurance benefits, especially if a medication is going towards your deductible.

4. You do NOT have to be a member of Sam's Club or Costco to use their pharmacy. A valid prescription from your provider can be taken to either of the warehouse stores and if you combine that with checking GoodRx, it's possible to find major savings over going to traditional pharmacies.

5. If you are on a brand name medication, always check for coupons and if you are uninsured/underinsured ask your provider for patient assistance options. Many people don't think they will qualify based on income, but it is always worth applying.

12/24/2024

Tis the night before Christmas and all through the office... The nurse is working, the practice manager has a stuffie and the doctor.. well.. he has an amazing staff to hold it all together! 😁

Merry Christmas from all of us to all of you!

12/17/2024

Holiday Hours Update:

We will close at Noon on Tuesday, December 24th and remain closed for the remainder of the week.

We will be closed all day on Tuesday, December 31st and Wednesday, January 1st 2025.

12/03/2024

The stockings are hung behind the front desk with care in hopes that our patients will fare healthy and well!

Landmark MD will be closed at noon on Tuesday December 24th and remain closed the remainder of the week to observe the Christmas holiday. We will return at 9:00 a.m. on Monday December 30th.

We will also close at noon, Tuesday December 31st and remain closed on Wednesday January 1st 2025 in observance of the New Year's holiday. We will return at 9:00 a.m. on Thursday January 2nd for normal business hours.

As a reminder, if you have prescription refills due during this time, please make sure to get your requests in prior to office closing as we will not receive those messages while we are out of the office. No non-emergent messages will be answered during this time.

Thank you very much for another year and we hope you have a safe and happy holiday.

P. S. Our stockings are looking a little empty.... 😂😂😂

11/19/2024

Thanksgiving 2024 Office Hours. Thank you and have a safe and happy Thanksgiving Holiday!

11/06/2024

For our Medicare patients, open enrollment ends on December 7th.

If it is affordable, it is ALWAYS advisable to keep your Medicare Part A/B and pick a Part D supplement.

Medicare Part A: Hospital
Medicare Part B: Outpatient Services
Medicare Part D: Drug Coverage.

Medicare A/B is an 80/20 plan, which means the patient picks up the 20% that Medicare does not cover. Most supplements will pick up the 20%.

**PLEASE BE WARY OF MEDICARE ADVANTAGE PLANS**

There are commercials encouraging patients to choose an Advantage Plan rather than stay with a standard Medicare plus Supplement.

While these plans may seem very enticing on paper, please do your due diligence and research. Many of them may be cheaper out of pocket, but their drug coverage is significantly worse. Patients may get a "gift card" to a grocery store, but their COPD inhalers may triple in out of pocket costs.

🎯We suggest calling Medicare DIRECTLY to discuss your options and see what plans cover what. Calling Advantage plans will result in them trying to "sell" you their plan.
🎯 Have a current list of your medications available when you call to find out what your potential costs are.
🎯 If you do choose and Advantage plan, try NOT to choose an HMO and make SURE your providers are in-network with your plan.
🎯 Not all Advantage plans are the same! There are many different choices and do your research and don't pick the one that looks the "best" first.
🎯 If you have any additional questions, please feel free to call our office and our patient advocate can help or direct you to someone trusted who can.

https://www.medicare.gov/basics/get-started-with-medicare/using-medicare/helpful-tools

09/27/2024

Landmark MD will be closed on Friday, September 27th due to the effects of Hurricane Helene. Please stay off the roads if you can and stay safe. Thank you.

06/26/2024

Landmark MD is aware, as are all offices, that there are serious medication shortages across the nation. Unfortunately, we cannot contact pharmacies to see if medications are in stock.

The FDA has a website here: https://www.fda.gov/drugs/drug-safety-and-availability/drug-shortages

You can click on the medication that you are looking for and find out when the manufacturer is making more.

Another tip is to see if your insurance offers mail order, many times the mail order pharmacies can get them easier than local.

If you are cash pay, try club stores and smaller independent pharmacies as well as large chains.

And if you have requested a prescription from our office, please check with the pharmacy directly to see if it has been filled. Many times patients wait on a message from their pharmacy indicating that it has been received, and then call our office if they do not get one. We send all prescriptions in when they are due or as quickly as possible after receiving the requests, and oftentimes patients are waiting on a pharmacy notification when their medications may have been sitting there for days.

Stay cool in this heat and have a wonderful day!

06/09/2024

Happy Birthday to the one and only, often imitated, never duplicated, "kind of a big deal" Dr. Layne!