4 replies to this topic

[scuba]

http://www.wsj.com/a...SJ.com: Health)

 

" "What we're fighting is the greed. The greed and the additional maneuvering that is being exercised after you've already recouped what you've invested. There is no control, no regulation," Ayalew Tefferi, a hematologist at Mayo Clinic and the first signator on the new editorial, said in an interview.

The pharmaceutical industry counters that its medicines provide great value to patients and the health-care system, and that high prices are needed to fund future research and development.

"Too often the focus has been solely on the price of a medicine, and largely ignored the value these medicines are providing," said Robert Zirkelbach, a spokesman for the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America. "We've made tremendous strides in the fight against cancer—death rates are down, survival rates are up, and quality of life continues to improve." "

[Anti-Matter]

It appears to be behind a paywall.

[mikefromillinois]

http://www.nytimes.c...&smtyp=cur&_r=0

 

Much of the same info from the New York Times, but free.

[chriskuo]

Although most doctors accept Medicare, I doubt they are willing to accept the type of price controls on their payments generally that they are urging for drug companies. Physicians account for a higher proportion of medical costs than pharmacy.

In any case, the Congress currently elected by the majority of Americans is heavily tilted toward anti-government types. It is not likely to be influenced by this type of argument. Because most Americans either don't take really expensive drugs and/or have insurance, it is hard to make this a political issue.

[Gail's]

A pharmacist I knew told me himself that the places that are the money makers in health care are pharmaceuticals and insurance. I agree. Medicare and medicaid reimburse at about ten cents on the $ of what's charged. Seriously. So I'm still amazed that docs accept Medicare. And most insurance companies negotiate lower payments than what is charged. So if you see a $200 charge for an office visit, the only time the doc sees that is if a person self pays in cash. So although docs do well, it's pay back for 10-12 years of killer school, close to $100 grand a year most of them pay for malpractice insurance and the insulting payments from the government. I work with 20 clinicians who work their butts off and I think deserve every dime.

Rant done.