How Much Are Drug Companies Really Paying Your Doctor?

re: How Much Are Drug Companies Really Paying Your Doctor?

Ashley D Freeman — Mon, 09 Apr 2007 19:22:15 GMT

I am a nurse in the medical field and am one that doesn't trust modern medicine. I see a natropathic doctor for prevention. I work with cardiologists in the hospital doing stress tests. A 27 year old girl (my age) was here doing a test. Her cholesterol was 183 and HDL 38 (which is good) and the doctor (whom I highly respect and like) prescribed her crestor!! I couldn't believe it. I thought they at least waited until after child-bearing ages. I wanted to tell her she should rethink taking that med, but I don't want to step on the doctor's toes. Half the time, when I do mention the dangers of drugs, most of the people around me think I'm crazy. Anyway, I just can't believe he was prescibing that to such a young girl, with no other history of problems except chest pain, which was probably stress or musculoskeletal. Thanks for all the informative comments.

re: How Much Are Drug Companies Really Paying Your Doctor?

PA-C MPAS — Mon, 09 Apr 2007 17:17:25 GMT

I am a medical provider and find that this kind of slander is what makes it hard for clinicians to go to work every day. I practice in a rural area where visits from drug reps are few and far between. When I do prescribe a medicine, it's because I've done my own evidence based research (NOT funded by GlaxoSmithKline) and found that it WORKS! It's easy to move away from healthcare and think of the utopia that medicine should be but it's not. When I prescribe a medicine, I DO NOT RECEIVE A DIME from the pharmaceutical companies. I am underpaid for the services I provide. Public citizens and patients, please keep in mind, we receive sometimes pennies on the dollar for procedures we provide. Insurance reimbursement is a joke. Hospitals and clinics, especially in rural areas, cannot simply continue to give away all the charity care to Medicaid patients. Providers are NOT YOUR ENEMY-- if you don't believe that, then don't continue to see them. I would like to see how people would react at their individual jobs if they were attacked all the time like healthcare professionals are. It's a disgrace. I come to work every day to help people, and then LIES like this are spread?? No wonder providers burn out at such a high rate. So much for the faith in people appreciating those who are there to help them. Get off the backs of honest healthcare providers and worry about how you can do YOUR job better.

re: re: How Much Are Drug Companies Really Paying Your Doctor?

SWALE — Sun, 08 Apr 2007 12:36:17 GMT

This "article" is ridiculous.

I spent 12 long, hard years in training, and have many more years of $800+ per month student loans to pay for for it. I have spent thousands of hours becoming a legitimate authority in my field. So, to speak of my expertise, and so help other physicians similarly benefit their patients, is called "payola"????

Is it "payola" when you all go to work? Or do you expect doctors to work for free? Is it "payola" when we try to save on our costs--to keep prices down--by using the free pens and paper pads in our office" Do any of you try to save money in your own businesses?

The "spin" here, stating I am corrupt in my practices, because I am a physician who is compensated by pharmaceutical companies for teaching, is small minded and disgusting. To suggest doctors are somehow corrupt for being paid for what they do creates hostility which only damages doctor/patient relationship.

Have you ANY idea how much doctors give away each year? How we are reimbursed about 1/3 of what we bill out? How much medicine we give to those who could no to otherwise accept it? How many boards, panels, etc we serve on to try to improve health in our communities. And all this with ambulance chasers on our tails. You have NO idea. Maybe this Forum should start a thread on that topic.

This Forum just gets more and more ridiculous all the time. It's a shame Dr Mercola has slipped to such a level.

Hmmm...aren't there supplements for sale here?

re: How Much Are Drug Companies Really Paying Your Doctor?

West Conner — Sun, 08 Apr 2007 02:15:53 GMT

The following was taken from the November 22, 2006 edition of www.rxcostcutters.com newsletter:

And their buildings keep getting taller

I had a neat little conversation with a doctor the other day about the increasing cost of health care. When talking about insurance companies, he kept saying, "and their buildings keep getting taller." He spoke about how insurance companies are increasing their premiums and at the same time, decreasing the reimbursements they pay out. This was the problem he was facing but I kept bringing up prescription drugs.

I would bring up different techniques concerning saving money at the pharmacy. He was interested in that subject because his patients complain on a daily basis about the high cost of prescriptions. We talked about the different ways drug companies get your dollar, "and their buildings keep getting taller." He commented on last newsletter's piece about Merck manufacturing both the brand and generic for Zocor. They have a real tall building.

The largest provider of Medicare Part D plans is Humana. In 2006, the first year of Medicare Part D, Humana's profit DOUBLED. The government pays Humana, who in turn pays the pharmacy obviously much less than what the government paid them, "and their buildings keep getting taller." Don't get me wrong, Medicare Part D can be a life-saver for you. Just don't think someone is not getting rich because of it.

He ended the conversation with "Well, I've got to fly out to Dallas in the morning to learn about some new drug from Merck," which perked my attention. To summarize the next couple minutes of our conversation; Merck was flying him out, feeding him, entertaining him, putting him up in a nice hotel, and, oh yea, telling him wonderful their new medication is. So I asked him, "They spend all this money on you and who knows how many other doctors and you wonder why the medication is so expensive?"

He just laughed and said, "He man, that's how the game is played." In a couple years, I'm sure Merck will be adding a floor or two to their already tall building from these doctors prescribing this new medication.

re: How Much Are Drug Companies Really Paying Your Doctor?

goodytwoshoes — Sat, 07 Apr 2007 18:49:55 GMT

It's a chilling reality.........makes me scared to death that i may wind up in a hospital or in a physicians hands.

Pharmecutical companies are destroying our freedom in every sense of the word. What they are doing in government is mind blowing, they are freeing themselves from liability and at the same time making laws that force you to take thier pharmecuticals against your will (aka the patriot act)

also http://www.democracyinaction.org/dia/organizationsORG/healthfreedomusa/campaign.jsp?campaign_KEY=7185

FDA Regulators Using Legal Trickery to Kill Alternative Procedures and Products

The FDA is using legal maneuvering to end your access to natural health products (like vitamins, minerals and herbs) and natural health therapies of all sorts. Again. This time, their ploy is to declare the therapies are "Medicine" so any non-physician who uses them will be practicing medicine without a license. Since these practices are "Medicine", any products used would be untested drugs and therefore forbidden.

I am terrified to think that the FDA is going to take my vitamins and herbs away from me.....this is true human slavery, abuse, corruption, evil and greed.

re: How Much Are Drug Companies Really Paying Your Doctor?

Big Blue — Sat, 07 Apr 2007 18:45:37 GMT

My wife uses a teaspoon to dish out ice cream and often mangles the spoon in the process. I frequently ask her to use the scoop which is intended for this purpose. She always responds that we should have spoons that can stand up to this abuse, and goes on bending and ruining more and more spoons.

My wife reminds me of the Allopathic Medicine paradigm. Abuse your body, be disrepectful, ask it to do things it was never intended to do, and then pay someone to fix it after it breaks. The School of Natural Hygiene promotes doing those things that don't put you under a doctor's care in the first place. It's so obvious, yet this is still not mainstream largely because the doctors of the world have successfully brainwashed their patients into placing their health and wellness in the hands of the conventional medical industry.

I would like to rewrite the old saying. To me, a thousand tons of prevention is far better than even a milligram of cure that would be required if you don't give your body what it needs. The key is educating yourself, and for that I turn to Dr. Mercola's newsletters and website, along with books by Dr. Andrew Weil and Dr. Paul Bragg, online books by Dr. Herbert Shelton, and others.

BigBlue

re: How Much Are Drug Companies Really Paying Your Doctor?

Laura Handy — Sat, 07 Apr 2007 17:02:37 GMT

In the winter of 2005 I went to my Dr. with several difficult symptoms, chronic fatigue, severe joint pain, headaches, irritable bowl syndrome, acid reflux, allergies, and asthma. He wanted to put me on five or six different meds. All of which he had plenty of samples to share. The pharmaceutical reps are now diagnosing and prescribing for them. I chose a different route. I started on Dr. Mercola plan for Total Health and did a candida cleanse. Unfortunately most Dr.'s have no idea what a devastation systemic candida can do to your body, and your brain. I am now almost totaly pain free. I am very careful about what I eat. NO processed food, no sugar, very little grain (if any), raw milk, and organic food. Big Pharma, and the FDA are not looking out for our best interest unless you own stock in the industry. If we are willing to take a stand against Big Pharma there are several web sites to help us do just that. We all need to keep informed about any new legislation, and write letters and call our respective representatives, and also the FDA to tell them what we think...and want!
http://www.healthfreedomusa.org

http://www.organicconsumers.org/

re: How Much Are Drug Companies Really Paying Your Doctor?

Laura Handy — Sat, 07 Apr 2007 17:00:23 GMT

In the winter of 2005 I went to my Dr. with several difficult symptoms, chronic fatigue, severe joint pain, headaches, irritable bowl syndrome, acid reflux, allergies, and asthma. He wanted to put me on five or six different meds. All of which he had plenty of samples to share. I sometimes think the Dr.'s live in purposeful ignorant bliss. The pharmaceutical reps are now diagnosing and prescribing for them. I chose a different route. I started on Dr. Mercola plan for Total Health and did a candida cleanse. Unfortunately most Dr.'s have no idea what a devastation systemic candida can do to your body, and your brain. I am now almost totaly pain free. I am very careful about what I eat. NO processed food, no sugar, very little grain (if any), raw milk, and organic food. I am 20 years younger. At 52 I feel better than I have in many years. Big Pharma, and the FDA are not looking out for our best interest unless you own stock in the industry. If we are willing to take a stand against Big Pharma there are several web sites to help us do just that. We all need to keep informed about any new legislation, and write letters and call our respective representatives, and also the FDA to tell them what we think...and want!
http://www.healthfreedomusa.org

http://www.organicconsumers.org/

re: How Much Are Drug Companies Really Paying Your Doctor?

Curly1b — Sat, 07 Apr 2007 16:22:36 GMT

True, there may be bad doctors, but this article is very skewed. The New York Times is no expert on healthcare. I have worked in a hospital for 20 years, and in the Psychiatric Unit. Yes, samples are given to patients who can't afford meds. Anyone who discourages a psych patient from taking their medication is reckless at best, and criminal at worst. Most doctors are upstanding honest individuals. Why would you expect anyone other than a doctor to teach other doctors about medication?? What is so wrong about this? In addition, as far as the drug companies giving out money to doctors to do research, same question goes. Who should do research? My local hardware store owner? Drug companies in this country GIVE AWAY drugs to third world countries. I know, I have sent them myself. I have sent them to Katrina victims, too. They invest huge percentages of their profits into research and development, and anyone who has overcome serious disease will tell you every penny is worth it. These kind of twisted versions of the truth just send me around the bend.

re: How Much Are Drug Companies Really Paying Your Doctor?

peggysue777 — Sat, 07 Apr 2007 15:41:03 GMT

I too am sick of watching drugs on T.V. commercials. This causes people to run to their Dr. and try and get on these dangerous and toxic drugs. I am 58 years old, and take no prescriptions whats so ever! When I need something, I go directly to our health store "Vitamin Cottage", talk to the nutritionist there, and she will advise me. I believe in my annual physical, and then they don't see me for another year. I am so happy I found Dr. Mercola's website, as he thinks just like I do. Prescriptions have hurt so many people in my family, and never did anything for them. I only wish I could get through to family members, but they think Their Dr. would not do that to them.

re: How Much Are Drug Companies Really Paying Your Doctor?

Rett — Sat, 07 Apr 2007 12:40:28 GMT

Since my heart attack in late 2001, I've had two doctors send me certified letters giving me 30 days to find another doctor because I exercized my Florida Patients' Bill of Rights by refusing any treatments I felt were unnecessary or dangerous, ie drugs, which is all they cared to talk about. In their minds, I needed blood thinners, statins, low dose aspiring, something to keep my BS in check. Methotrexate for psoriatic arthritis. Nothing was said by them about how I could turn it all around with nutritional approaches. I had to research that all by my little ole self. That first doctor wanted to know my education level that gave me the idea that I could diagnose and "treat" myself. He got defensive when I said no to his drug protocol. Food is my medicine and medicine is my food now. :) I even found a farm that grows certified organic food and has real milk just up the road from me. Thank you, Father, from whom all blessings flow. Hugs from Florida

re: How Much Are Drug Companies Really Paying Your Doctor?

vic willlums — Sat, 24 Mar 2007 21:06:30 GMT

i have ms and my dr. prescribed copaxone. it costs $1,300.00a mo. i have been taking it for 9 yrs. i have been having some allergic type reactions and i asked the dr. to prescribe me low dose naltrexone which i have read has been helping people. he refuses and says that he will not prescribe this 4.5 mg. dose i seek as it has not been properly tested. i wonder why he does not wqant me to take a drug that would only cost me $30 a month. now i know after reading your piece.

re: How Much Are Drug Companies Really Paying Your Doctor?

ITX — Thu, 22 Mar 2007 00:56:54 GMT

This document needs to reach the entire USA.

I've never spam-mailed anyone, but this information needs to reach the Inbox of all. As of 3-2007, there's somewhere around 1,000,000 Mercola subscribers. The U.S. population is estimated at 299,398,484.

Can it be done?

re: How Much Are Drug Companies Really Paying Your Doctor?

mmc88121 — Wed, 21 Mar 2007 21:43:00 GMT

This does not include the free sample prescriptions that the drug company representatives give to the Doctors for people who don't have the money.

mmc88121

re: How Much Are Drug Companies Really Paying Your Doctor?

PPARGammaGirl — Wed, 21 Mar 2007 21:17:11 GMT

It’s not just what they get in “gifts” (bribes) but what goes into Continuing Medical Education (CME). Billions go into this and it is not counted in their Marketing budget. Medscape and other behemoths all provide FREE CME to doctors – not because they are philanthropic idealists and all-round lovely chaps, but because big Pharma pays them to. A huge amount of revenue from industry goes to these sites, now I just wonder, just a slight suspicion, whether this relationship might affect their content?

Of course it does. Just go to Medscape’s site and look up “insomnia” – it’s now a deadly disease apparently, and requires the rigorous application of “novel therapeutic treatments” (expensive toxic muck), blah, blah….plug new drug…blah, blah…plug new drug.

It’s not CME, it’s a high-level sales pitch that would shame a Kirby vacuum cleaner salesman!