Starting in January several parts of the massive federal health care reform bill will take effect. While the legislation aimed to make health care benefits more accessible and affordable, some say a new restriction in the bill will do just the opposite. If your employer offers a flexible spending account, under your health insurance plan, your FSA won't have the same kind of flexibility it's had in the past.

Some people are allergic to pets. Some, to certain foods, and others to what's in the air.

"And many of those patients don't have a severe form of allergic rhinitis or allergies, and they can use over-the-counter medications," said Dr. Ed Arreaza of Rochester General Hospital.

Over-the-counter antihistamines help millions of people control their own allergies.

"The patients are using them for a medical condition and there is a need for them," Arreaza said.

That's why most insurance companies covered these medications under employer provided tax free flexible spending accounts. Starting in January, to get reimbursed, you'll need a prescription. It's a change patients, doctors, and pharmacies are just finding out about.

"I'm convinced that this is going to cause havoc with people," said Nancy Adams of the Monroe County Medical Society.

Medical advocacy groups are working to help their members figure out how to handle the volume of new prescription requests all while trying to figure out why the change is happening.

"It's a benefit. People are putting money aside they have a receipt to show that they purchased the medication. Why are we adding this extra layer? I don't have an answer for you," Adams said.

According to government estimates tightening up the tax breaks on over-the-counter purchases will generate an estimated five billion dollars in federal revenue through 2019. With less then two months left those with FSA's are advised to stock up.

"If you have money left, and it's not going to get used, I think this is a great way to use it. And you'll avoid some of this hassle down the road," said Adams.

In the meantime, doctors are preparing for more paperwork.

"It's going to be more work for us because we're going to need to write more prescriptions," Arreaza said.

Those at Ferris Pharmacy in Greece said they’ve been getting pages of documents from the federal government outlining the new restrictions. But exactly how they're supposed to process the new over-the-counter prescriptions is still confusing.