I just came across an Associated Press article with the title: "US Prescription Drug Sales Growth Slows." (Key work: Growth)
Gee! I was wondering why I saw so many FULL PAGE ads for Lipitor in my local newspaper.
Not to mention the Wall Street Journal article (2/22/08) about the increases in drug prices, specifically stated: "Pharmaceutical companies increased wholesale prices for the 50 top-selling branded drugs by an average of 7.82% in 2007 after an increase of 6.73 percent and 6.22 percent in the previous two years."
Don't ever think that Big Pharma will ever lose.
I guess that with the revenue newspapers receive from Pharma ads we won't see much scrutiny in the print media anytime in the near future.
And - I wonder what Universal Health Care will do to lower those prices?
Sunday, March 16, 2008
Sunday, March 9, 2008
Where's the outrage?
Going through a pile of paperwork, I came across a class action settlement advisory covering foreign purchases on VISA, MasterCard and/or Diners Club.
Why the outrage?
The settlement was for an estimated $313,000,000 and the lawyers requested a 27.5% fee - after deducting costs for administering the settlement and notice, PLUS interest. And they also requested reimbursement of their expenses not to exceed $5,000,000.
Where is the outrage?
Just think of what would be said if this altruistic group was representing the victims of Katrina, Andrew or Charley?
As Earl Pitts (WFLA RADIO 970 Tampa) would say " WAKE UP AMERICA!"
And, Yes - this is a major part of our health care problems.
Just drive through Lakeland, Florida and look at the visual pollution on the billboards!
Why the outrage?
The settlement was for an estimated $313,000,000 and the lawyers requested a 27.5% fee - after deducting costs for administering the settlement and notice, PLUS interest. And they also requested reimbursement of their expenses not to exceed $5,000,000.
Where is the outrage?
Just think of what would be said if this altruistic group was representing the victims of Katrina, Andrew or Charley?
As Earl Pitts (WFLA RADIO 970 Tampa) would say " WAKE UP AMERICA!"
And, Yes - this is a major part of our health care problems.
Just drive through Lakeland, Florida and look at the visual pollution on the billboards!
Thursday, March 6, 2008
Why aren't the doctors outraged?
In the last week or so I've seen numerous FULL PAGE ads for Lipitor in at least two different newspapers.
If anyone needs an explanation why, please shoot me!
Therefore, the question - once again - is: Who is treating the patient?
Is it the patient requesting a certain medical diagnostic test, intervention, drug or therapy?
Is it the drug company, medical device maker or ancillary service provider influencing the physician?
Or is it the optimal clinical, economical treatment and outcome for the patient?
(A very good state police investigator once told me to follow the money.)
If I went to a good physician and requested a particular treatment, there is a good chance that that good physician would properly put me in my place. (And, YES, it has happened to me!)
Why then do physicians sit back and let their vast clinical training and experience be diminished, adulterated, prostituted, bastardized and/or mitigated?
Why don't the good physicians stand up and be heard?
If anyone needs an explanation why, please shoot me!
Therefore, the question - once again - is: Who is treating the patient?
Is it the patient requesting a certain medical diagnostic test, intervention, drug or therapy?
Is it the drug company, medical device maker or ancillary service provider influencing the physician?
Or is it the optimal clinical, economical treatment and outcome for the patient?
(A very good state police investigator once told me to follow the money.)
If I went to a good physician and requested a particular treatment, there is a good chance that that good physician would properly put me in my place. (And, YES, it has happened to me!)
Why then do physicians sit back and let their vast clinical training and experience be diminished, adulterated, prostituted, bastardized and/or mitigated?
Why don't the good physicians stand up and be heard?
Tuesday, March 4, 2008
Big Pharma Strikes Again
It appears that this should be the title of my next book - yesterday.
An article in USA Today talks about increases in drug sales as the number of ads surge.
Not to mention an AP report today that mentions the growth in the prices for brand name drugs.
The question that should be asked is, what about the docs? Who makes the clinical decision about what treatment is needed for the patient - the physician, the patient, the drug rep or the perks provided to the doc by the drug company?
There are enough reports to substantiate the relationship between pay-offs and increased drug utilization/prescribing by physicians. The euphemisms used in the health care industry to denote pay-offs include, but are not limited to: medical director, clinical educator, coordinator of this or that drug trial/study or simply "You are the physician, here is you money.).
The big question is... Why don't the other physicians "narc" or whistle blow on their nefarious colleagues? It is not one iota different from the 60 Minutes program a while back that focused on inner-city kids and why the won't cooperate with the police when their friends and family are murdered, shot or preyed upon by drug dealers - and those drug dealers don't even have a team of lobbyists.
Physician heal thyself!
An article in USA Today talks about increases in drug sales as the number of ads surge.
Not to mention an AP report today that mentions the growth in the prices for brand name drugs.
The question that should be asked is, what about the docs? Who makes the clinical decision about what treatment is needed for the patient - the physician, the patient, the drug rep or the perks provided to the doc by the drug company?
There are enough reports to substantiate the relationship between pay-offs and increased drug utilization/prescribing by physicians. The euphemisms used in the health care industry to denote pay-offs include, but are not limited to: medical director, clinical educator, coordinator of this or that drug trial/study or simply "You are the physician, here is you money.).
The big question is... Why don't the other physicians "narc" or whistle blow on their nefarious colleagues? It is not one iota different from the 60 Minutes program a while back that focused on inner-city kids and why the won't cooperate with the police when their friends and family are murdered, shot or preyed upon by drug dealers - and those drug dealers don't even have a team of lobbyists.
Physician heal thyself!
Monday, March 3, 2008
Health Care Costs - Not addressed!
We're back!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The problem with the pundits of health care reform is that COST seems to get lost in the rhetoric.
Universal health care will do nothing to decrease the actual cost of care. It may reduce the cost to those who are presently enrolled in an insurance program as well as some (employers and individual buyers) who may purchase insurance coverage in the future.
However, it will not reduce the actual cost. Why?
The true amount that we pay for medical services will not be impacted. The industry will continue to abuse the system by over-billing, self-referral abuse, overuse of technology (Physician ATM = MRI), pharmaceutical agents that are not able to justify their cost to outcome ratios - driven by Big Pharma's ability to market and pay off a sufficient number of physicians, payoffs to physicians by product suppliers such as hip and knee implant manufacturers, individual and corporate greed and a system that lacks realistic supervision and control.
COST must be THE issue, not theoretical issues that look so good on paper - such as managed care and universal health care.
More to come.
The problem with the pundits of health care reform is that COST seems to get lost in the rhetoric.
Universal health care will do nothing to decrease the actual cost of care. It may reduce the cost to those who are presently enrolled in an insurance program as well as some (employers and individual buyers) who may purchase insurance coverage in the future.
However, it will not reduce the actual cost. Why?
The true amount that we pay for medical services will not be impacted. The industry will continue to abuse the system by over-billing, self-referral abuse, overuse of technology (Physician ATM = MRI), pharmaceutical agents that are not able to justify their cost to outcome ratios - driven by Big Pharma's ability to market and pay off a sufficient number of physicians, payoffs to physicians by product suppliers such as hip and knee implant manufacturers, individual and corporate greed and a system that lacks realistic supervision and control.
COST must be THE issue, not theoretical issues that look so good on paper - such as managed care and universal health care.
More to come.
Monday, October 8, 2007
More Physician Kickbacks
Big pharma and medical director schemes move over, you now have a sidekick.
Four companies that supply most hip and knee replacements in the United States have agreed to pay $310 million to SETTLE concerns over doctor kickbacks.
Gotta guess who's in charge. They AGREED to SETTLE. Other big question is, who's going to jail? Criminal charges will be dropped if if they adhere the requirements of the SETTLEMENT for eighteen months.
According to an article in the Baltimore Sun from the Associated Press, the companies paid orthopedic surgeons "exorbitant" amounts to be consultants and use their products exclusively.
Patients and hospitals were unaware of the deals, WHICH RANGED FROM TENS TO HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS. Does the word greed fit in here?
Unfortunately, this is just the tip of the iceberg of physician kickbacks and self-referral issues..
.
Four companies that supply most hip and knee replacements in the United States have agreed to pay $310 million to SETTLE concerns over doctor kickbacks.
Gotta guess who's in charge. They AGREED to SETTLE. Other big question is, who's going to jail? Criminal charges will be dropped if if they adhere the requirements of the SETTLEMENT for eighteen months.
According to an article in the Baltimore Sun from the Associated Press, the companies paid orthopedic surgeons "exorbitant" amounts to be consultants and use their products exclusively.
Patients and hospitals were unaware of the deals, WHICH RANGED FROM TENS TO HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS. Does the word greed fit in here?
Unfortunately, this is just the tip of the iceberg of physician kickbacks and self-referral issues..
.
Saturday, September 22, 2007
Big Bucks Big Pharma
This is a great documentary on the pharmaceutical industry. Go to the address listed below and take a look.
http://www.youtube.com/ep.swf?id=A840A6C583F0ED9C&eurl=
http://www.youtube.com/ep.swf?id=A840A6C583F0ED9C&eurl=
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