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I think that a lot of these amounts are for lunches brought in by drug reps.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Dragonmam
True, unless their sympathetic doctor hands them a free sample of that medication obtained after meeting with the pharm rep over a $3 cup of coffee because he knows most insurance won't cover it. Our doctors have always given me free samples of all sorts of stuff such as OTC cold meds, prescription drugs, inhalers (that cost $250) and birth control or the coupons for it to get it free at the pharmacy. Over the years, our family has probably received a couple thousand in free medication. I can't say I hate this system.
Samples are good to see if a drug is going to be helpful, e.g. inhalers, etc. Antibiotic samples are sometimes given out for suspected UTIs, to use until the culture comes back. If the culture is negative, the drug can be discontinued, and the patient isn't out a whole ton of money. Sometimes they'll even give out AB samples for strep, if they're pretty sure it is strep and the rapid test is negative, to use until the culture comes back.
There are few OTCs any more to give out. Years ago, we would give people Tylenol samples after immunizations, but after while we couldn't get them.
don't believe everything you read.In fact believe very little stuff like this you read. Have you heard of the word "sensationalism? Usually these stories are 1/2 truth with only making us aware of what the article wants us to know.
Samples are good to see if a drug is going to be helpful, e.g. inhalers, etc. Antibiotic samples are sometimes given out for suspected UTIs, to use until the culture comes back. If the culture is negative, the drug can be discontinued, and the patient isn't out a whole ton of money. Sometimes they'll even give out AB samples for strep, if they're pretty sure it is strep and the rapid test is negative, to use until the culture comes back.
There are few OTCs any more to give out. Years ago, we would give people Tylenol samples after immunizations, but after while we couldn't get them.
can remember when we used to get samples all the time, from mild pain relievers to diet pills, etc. That seems years ago, even decades ago.
I am on the list for about $3000 over a 3 year period. There are a few small meals but about $1500 was when a medical device company flew me to their headquarters for a weekend to help them design a new surgical device. Another $1000 was for another company that hosted a cadaver lab for my surgery residents to learn surgical techniques. Kickbacks indeed.
That's not exclusively a "kickback" list. It's a list of the value of anything provided to physicians or hospitals by pharmaceutical or medical device companies outside normal purchases. If a hospital wants to bring in a guest speaker to educate the nursing staff about wound care, and a pharm company pays for the transportation and lunch, that's listed as a payment to the hospital, and if they also pay an honorium to the physician, that's a payment to him/her. If a struggling rural hospital wheedles some piece of equipment they can't otherwise afford out of the manufacturer, the value is included on this list. A free pizza, that's $11 to any physician in the room at the time. A lot of this is BS that serves only to indict healthcare providers. And a lot of it is unbelievable, like a single $50M to one physician? What company is stupid enough to pay that, and what physician is stupid enough to accept it? Somewhere in the middle, there are undoubtedly abuses, but they're getting lost in the noise.
That's not exclusively a "kickback" list. It's a list of the value of anything provided to physicians or hospitals by pharmaceutical or medical device companies outside normal purchases. If a hospital wants to bring in a guest speaker to educate the nursing staff about wound care, and a pharm company pays for the transportation and lunch, that's listed as a payment to the hospital, and if they also pay an honorium to the physician, that's a payment to him/her. If a struggling rural hospital wheedles some piece of equipment they can't otherwise afford out of the manufacturer, the value is included on this list. A free pizza, that's $11 to any physician in the room at the time. A lot of this is BS that serves only to indict healthcare providers. And a lot of it is unbelievable, like a single $50M to one physician? What company is stupid enough to pay that, and what physician is stupid enough to accept it? Somewhere in the middle, there are undoubtedly abuses, but they're getting lost in the noise.
The very high payments are to people who invent devices or develop new drugs. They are either royalties or outright purchases.
For example, this guy is on the ProPublica list for $54.1M. That is for royalties or licences. He is an orthopedic spine specialist who is also an inventor.
"Jackson tops a database of non-research payments drug and device companies made to all U.S. physicians and teaching hospitals in 2015. He reported more than $38 million in non-research payments and value from in-kind services last year. That sum was almost entirely made up of royalties from medical devices Jackson has invented — all but the $343 he received in food and beverages, according to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services’ Open Payments database."
Millions of dollars, and not a single one is a "kickback." None of the payments on that list are kickbacks.
Big pharma has freely owned up to the fact that they target athletes, cheerleaders, etc.
They don't go for science majors. Go figure.
Really?
Any evidence to back up that specious claim???
In fact, while not required to have a science degree Pharmaceutical Companies primarily recruit from science majors and while not mandatory to have a degree in say Biology or Chemistry without an aptitude for science reps will fail...miserably.
That being said it is "sales" and the personality and people skills to make connections trumps the sciences when landing and keeping a job as a sales rep.
The very high payments are to people who invent devices or develop new drugs. They are either royalties or outright purchases.
For example, this guy is on the ProPublica list for $54.1M. That is for royalties or licences. He is an orthopedic spine specialist who is also an inventor.
"Jackson tops a database of non-research payments drug and device companies made to all U.S. physicians and teaching hospitals in 2015. He reported more than $38 million in non-research payments and value from in-kind services last year. That sum was almost entirely made up of royalties from medical devices Jackson has invented — all but the $343 he received in food and beverages, according to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services’ Open Payments database."
Millions of dollars, and not a single one is a "kickback." None of the payments on that list are kickbacks.
I have sat in a doctor's office and watched almost as many salesmen enter as patients. I like and dislike this sample (kickback?) system. My wife was given a whole month's free prescription of Lyric (which is an expensive prescription). On the other hand my urologist always tries to give me samples of male performance drugs - I am just in there for my yearly prostrate checkup. I guess I should just say: Thank you and not complain. But part of me wants to fight against any extra medication - regardless if it is 'free'. Most drugs can have serious side effects and should not be taken just because your doctor was wined and dined.
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