Comments on: Paying doctors off to use generic medications http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2008/11/paying-doctors-off-to-use-generic.html medical blog Mon, 22 Mar 2010 12:47:11 -0400 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Anonymous http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2008/11/paying-doctors-off-to-use-generic.html/comment-page-1#comment-87930 Anonymous Mon, 03 Nov 2008 20:00:00 +0000 http://clients.emmense.com/kevinmd/2008/11/paying-doctors-off-to-use-generic-medications.html#comment-87930 There is a much more serious problem. How will I get pens after 1 January? Where does one buy pens? Must we go 100% electronic and cease writing altogether? There is a much more serious problem. How will I get pens after 1 January? Where does one buy pens? Must we go 100% electronic and cease writing altogether?

]]> By: The Happy Hospitalist http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2008/11/paying-doctors-off-to-use-generic.html/comment-page-1#comment-87927 The Happy Hospitalist Mon, 03 Nov 2008 18:34:00 +0000 http://clients.emmense.com/kevinmd/2008/11/paying-doctors-off-to-use-generic-medications.html#comment-87927 For most patients, prescribing a generic equivalent of a similar brand name drug or class effect is just as effective at a fraction of the cost.<br/><br/>Besides, a lot of what we do in medicine is worthless anyway. You can cure the HTN and diabetes just by getting off the couch. I read recently that exercise is twice as effective as metformin. Imagine how much better it is than Januvia or Starlix.<br/><br/>And exercise is free. For most patients, prescribing a generic equivalent of a similar brand name drug or class effect is just as effective at a fraction of the cost.

Besides, a lot of what we do in medicine is worthless anyway. You can cure the HTN and diabetes just by getting off the couch. I read recently that exercise is twice as effective as metformin. Imagine how much better it is than Januvia or Starlix.

And exercise is free.

]]> By: Anonymous http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2008/11/paying-doctors-off-to-use-generic.html/comment-page-1#comment-87924 Anonymous Mon, 03 Nov 2008 18:01:00 +0000 http://clients.emmense.com/kevinmd/2008/11/paying-doctors-off-to-use-generic-medications.html#comment-87924 KEVIN, MD,<br/>Two things to consider regarding your last point, "While I agree a financial incentive is needed to persuade doctors to increase prescriptions of generic drugs", <br/><br/>First, your argument is contradictory: You are arguing for and against financial incentives in the same article (dinner = financial incentive).<br/><br/>Second, and more importantly, shouldn't the question come back to what is best for the PATIENT, not whether it is a generic or brand name agent? Don't you think that adding financial incentives to their well-being is money better spent?<br/><br/>Tom Brownlie KEVIN, MD,
Two things to consider regarding your last point, “While I agree a financial incentive is needed to persuade doctors to increase prescriptions of generic drugs”,

First, your argument is contradictory: You are arguing for and against financial incentives in the same article (dinner = financial incentive).

Second, and more importantly, shouldn’t the question come back to what is best for the PATIENT, not whether it is a generic or brand name agent? Don’t you think that adding financial incentives to their well-being is money better spent?

Tom Brownlie

]]> By: Dr. Matthew Mintz http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2008/11/paying-doctors-off-to-use-generic.html/comment-page-1#comment-87923 Dr. Matthew Mintz Mon, 03 Nov 2008 17:40:00 +0000 http://clients.emmense.com/kevinmd/2008/11/paying-doctors-off-to-use-generic-medications.html#comment-87923 If you do not approve of Big Pharma lavishing gifts and dinners on physicians to entice them to prescribe their products, then you should also not approve of this. Both deal with influencing physician prescribing habits. <br/>Just because a drug is generic, doesn't mean it is necessarily in the best interest of the patient. Not all generics are really all that cheap (the $4 list on Walmart is pretty scant), and since most patients deal with co-pays and not average wholesale price, patients may prefer to pay a few dollars more if a branded product works better, is easier to take, or has fewer side effects.<br/>Big Pharma is now very restricted in these kind of programs (meals must be modest and they can not pay physicians to attend), and starting in January gifts (including pens) will be banned. The insurance companies have no such restrictions. <br/>Big Pharma is interested in selling you pills to increase their profits. Big Insurance is interested in saving money to their increase profits. Is there really a difference here? If you do not approve of Big Pharma lavishing gifts and dinners on physicians to entice them to prescribe their products, then you should also not approve of this. Both deal with influencing physician prescribing habits.
Just because a drug is generic, doesn’t mean it is necessarily in the best interest of the patient. Not all generics are really all that cheap (the $4 list on Walmart is pretty scant), and since most patients deal with co-pays and not average wholesale price, patients may prefer to pay a few dollars more if a branded product works better, is easier to take, or has fewer side effects.
Big Pharma is now very restricted in these kind of programs (meals must be modest and they can not pay physicians to attend), and starting in January gifts (including pens) will be banned. The insurance companies have no such restrictions.
Big Pharma is interested in selling you pills to increase their profits. Big Insurance is interested in saving money to their increase profits. Is there really a difference here?

]]> By: Chuck Brooks http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2008/11/paying-doctors-off-to-use-generic.html/comment-page-1#comment-87922 Chuck Brooks Mon, 03 Nov 2008 16:35:00 +0000 http://clients.emmense.com/kevinmd/2008/11/paying-doctors-off-to-use-generic-medications.html#comment-87922 Just reinforces the old snakeoil salesman's adage about more money in a pound of cure than an ounce of prevention.<br/><br/>Chuck Brooks<br/>FutureWare SCG Just reinforces the old snakeoil salesman’s adage about more money in a pound of cure than an ounce of prevention.

Chuck Brooks
FutureWare SCG

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