Money in Medicine Report

In late November, a report was released that focused on money in medicine, and the top thirty drugs that were associated with pharmaceutical industry payments to Oregon doctors. Interestingly, the top thirty list did not include many drugs that are known to be household names. For example, the top three drugs – Bydureon, Invokana, and Toujeo – are prescribed for diabetes, a highly prevalent disease in America. Three others on the list are prescribed for multiple sclerosis, a debilitating condition that is incurable and can be hard to live with. Hysingla, an abuse-deterrent hydrocodone pill, is also high on the list. According to the series, $2.6 billion in non-research payments were made by drug and device developers to U.S. teaching hospitals and physicians in 2015. In Oregon, 100 doctors collected $9 million in payments from industry. This is interesting, in part because the media is always harping on the pharmaceutical industry for spending money and having “influence” on physicians. However, this article and the data show that the drugs (at least in Oregon) that are most associated with pharmaceutical industry payments tend to be drugs for diseases that are highly prevalent or diseases that are hard to beat. The author of the series also gives much time and attention to the physicians themselves, who help her (and the public) understand the benefits. Doctors who receive the payments state that they are “being compensated for their time and expertise, or in se...
Source: Policy and Medicine - Category: American Health Authors: Source Type: blogs