FierceBiotechFierceBiotechResearchFierceBiotechITFierceVaccinesFiercePharmaFiercePharmaManufacturing   FierceHealthcare

Free Newsletter

About | View Sample | Privacy
Related Topics >> generic competition | Statins | Pfizer | Lipitor

Make generic-switching bonuses illegal?

Tools

Should insurers be allowed to reward docs who switch patients to generics? That debate is going public in Colorado, where legislators have proposed a bill that would prohibit the practice. On the "pro" side: Sen. Paula Sandoval, who sponsored the bill; she says docs should be thinking about patients, not money. Also on the pro side: Pfizer.

The AARP, Kaiser Permanente, and the Colorado Association of Health Plans are on the "con" side in this debate. Interestingly, Kaiser's opposition doesn't stem from support of the payments. The insurer is decrying a lack of reciprocal bans on Pfizer and other drugmakers, which leaves pharma free to incentivize docs--with gifts, lunches, and so on--to buy more expensive meds.

You'll recall that last year, a Blue Cross HMO offered to pay $100 each time a doctor switched a patient off an expensive brand-name cholesterol med--such as Pfizer's Lipitor--to a cheaper generic. The 90-day program saved Blue Care Network $5 million, a company spokeswoman said. But the plan drew sharp criticism; some charged it put money before patients' interests.

- read the Associated Press story
- check out the Denver Post article

Related Articles:
Insurers pay docs for generic-switching
Switching to generic statins not so healthy
The specter of generic competition grows
Pharma faces "tidal wave" of generics

Bookmark and Share
Get Your FREE FiercePharma Email Newsletter:
Comments (1) | Post a comment
More stories about generic competition   Statins   Pfizer   Lipitor  

Comments

i want each doctor that accepts these payments to be answerably by law for this. it is no more than an unagreed upon medical study. every patient under the present law as the right to know this in writing. any repercusions should be handled in a lawsuit against the doctor. misrepresentation is never permitted. so if you respect your practice remember it is made up of individuals who have rights and will exercise them their life is in your hands. enjoy your bribery. it's result will be the discontinuation of superior medication which one day you and your family will need. HOW WILL YOU ANSWER TO THEM THEN? business is made up of people. it is time we stopped sacrificing others for financial gain. remeber one day you may be somebody's financial gain. you really need a government to point this out to you????

Post new comment

The content of this field is kept private and will not be shown publicly.

More information about formatting options

To combat spam, please enter the code in the image.