Comments on: Unanimous Vote Bans Gifts to Doctors in Massachusetts http://medheadlines.com/2008/04/21/unanimous-vote-bans-gifts-to-doctors-in-massachusetts/ Medical news updated 24 hours Wed, 17 Mar 2010 07:23:07 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7.1 hourly 1 By: brianna http://medheadlines.com/2008/04/21/unanimous-vote-bans-gifts-to-doctors-in-massachusetts/comment-page-1/#comment-10267 brianna Tue, 18 Nov 2008 02:42:22 +0000 http://medheadlines.com/2008/04/21/unanimous-vote-bans-gifts-to-doctors-in-massachusetts/#comment-10267 Hello this is Brianna visiting first time to this site and find it very interesting. I really like to join it.and really want to continue the discussion with this site.. ------- Brianna <a href="http://www.addictionlink.org/drug-rehab-center/massachusetts" rel="nofollow">massachusetts drug rehab</a> Hello this is Brianna visiting first time to this site and find it very interesting. I really like to join it.and really want to continue the discussion with this site..

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]]> By: Pharmaceutical Industry Transparency: What are you up to? By Jane Richards « Informed Dissent http://medheadlines.com/2008/04/21/unanimous-vote-bans-gifts-to-doctors-in-massachusetts/comment-page-1/#comment-9879 Pharmaceutical Industry Transparency: What are you up to? By Jane Richards « Informed Dissent Mon, 06 Oct 2008 19:18:18 +0000 http://medheadlines.com/2008/04/21/unanimous-vote-bans-gifts-to-doctors-in-massachusetts/#comment-9879 [...] from pharmaceutical companies. Massachusetts, Minnesota, and Vermont all have bills addressing this issue in diverse manners. Massachusetts calls for a complete ban on gifts, while Vermont and Minnesota [...] [...] from pharmaceutical companies. Massachusetts, Minnesota, and Vermont all have bills addressing this issue in diverse manners. Massachusetts calls for a complete ban on gifts, while Vermont and Minnesota [...]

]]> By: Barbara L. http://medheadlines.com/2008/04/21/unanimous-vote-bans-gifts-to-doctors-in-massachusetts/comment-page-1/#comment-8724 Barbara L. Sun, 22 Jun 2008 16:13:42 +0000 http://medheadlines.com/2008/04/21/unanimous-vote-bans-gifts-to-doctors-in-massachusetts/#comment-8724 Thanks for nothing. Another piece of feel-good legislation that does nothing to address the critical shortage of doctors looming on the horizon. So what now - you're going to make them criminals for taking a pen light or a mouse pad from a pharmacy rep? A drug company takes a half hour pitching a new product and buys you a $50 lunch - ahem - a half hour with a doctor is worth a LOT MORE THAN $50 stinking bucks. And those pitches bring doctors information that is going to help their patients. Legislative wonks - spend some of your six or eight weeks of vacation time and make rounds with a doctor for a couple days? Have a sit-down with his billing clerk and listen to how they're collecting maybe 60 cents on the dollar if it's a really good week. Because this is just the kind of stuff that is going to drive more doctors out of the state and keep new ones from wanting to move in. Thanks for nothing. Another piece of feel-good legislation that does nothing to address the critical shortage of doctors looming on the horizon. So what now - you’re going to make them criminals for taking a pen light or a mouse pad from a pharmacy rep? A drug company takes a half hour pitching a new product and buys you a $50 lunch - ahem - a half hour with a doctor is worth a LOT MORE THAN $50 stinking bucks. And those pitches bring doctors information that is going to help their patients. Legislative wonks - spend some of your six or eight weeks of vacation time and make rounds with a doctor for a couple days? Have a sit-down with his billing clerk and listen to how they’re collecting maybe 60 cents on the dollar if it’s a really good week. Because this is just the kind of stuff that is going to drive more doctors out of the state and keep new ones from wanting to move in.

]]> By: pharma rep http://medheadlines.com/2008/04/21/unanimous-vote-bans-gifts-to-doctors-in-massachusetts/comment-page-1/#comment-8576 pharma rep Wed, 04 Jun 2008 15:03:32 +0000 http://medheadlines.com/2008/04/21/unanimous-vote-bans-gifts-to-doctors-in-massachusetts/#comment-8576 I have been a pharma rep for over a decade. When I started, there was excessive gis for physicians - trips, gifts, lavish dinners and trips. A number of years ago, the pharmaceutical industry came together and devised the "pharma code." This is a strict list of rules regarding gifts. This code was voluntary. Most companies did sign the code, and the rules are strictly adhered to. A few companies didnt sign the code. They are still offering golf outings and the lavish gifts. I work for a company that follows the code. The insurance companies in Mass regulate the prescribing habits of physicians so much that doctors are not allowed to treat patients the way they should. We need to look into insurance companies and their practices. Some insurers demand that physicians write a minimum % or generic meds. Some times this can be as high as 65-70%. The doctors receive report cards from the insurance companies. If they dont stick to these guidelines, they receive poor marks and can be ranked as a poor doctor. Also, many insurers will send a "bonus" check to any physician that stays within the writing parameters. Whats more influencial, a 10 cent pen or a check for thousands of dollars? Most doctors will not give any time to reps. they expect a free lunch for their office, and can be booked daily up to a year in advance. Even with this, many MDs will only speak to you for a couple minutes. If time was given to reps to present valuable information, gifts wouldnt be necessary. Just remember, if it wasnt for pharmaceutical companies, physicians would still be using leeches and blood-letting. If reps werent allowed to speak to MDs, they wouldnt know about advancements. in summary, politicians should look into insurance companies and not the ones doing the research. I have been a pharma rep for over a decade. When I started, there was excessive gis for physicians - trips, gifts, lavish dinners and trips. A number of years ago, the pharmaceutical industry came together and devised the “pharma code.” This is a strict list of rules regarding gifts. This code was voluntary. Most companies did sign the code, and the rules are strictly adhered to. A few companies didnt sign the code. They are still offering golf outings and the lavish gifts. I work for a company that follows the code.

The insurance companies in Mass regulate the prescribing habits of physicians so much that doctors are not allowed to treat patients the way they should. We need to look into insurance companies and their practices. Some insurers demand that physicians write a minimum % or generic meds. Some times this can be as high as 65-70%. The doctors receive report cards from the insurance companies. If they dont stick to these guidelines, they receive poor marks and can be ranked as a poor doctor. Also, many insurers will send a “bonus” check to any physician that stays within the writing parameters. Whats more influencial, a 10 cent pen or a check for thousands of dollars?

Most doctors will not give any time to reps. they expect a free lunch for their office, and can be booked daily up to a year in advance. Even with this, many MDs will only speak to you for a couple minutes. If time was given to reps to present valuable information, gifts wouldnt be necessary.

Just remember, if it wasnt for pharmaceutical companies, physicians would still be using leeches and blood-letting. If reps werent allowed to speak to MDs, they wouldnt know about advancements.

in summary, politicians should look into insurance companies and not the ones doing the research.

]]> By: craig berger MD http://medheadlines.com/2008/04/21/unanimous-vote-bans-gifts-to-doctors-in-massachusetts/comment-page-1/#comment-8436 craig berger MD Thu, 22 May 2008 19:50:28 +0000 http://medheadlines.com/2008/04/21/unanimous-vote-bans-gifts-to-doctors-in-massachusetts/#comment-8436 Our elected officials should focus on whats really driving health care costs. Instead, all they do is reduce our reimbursements and take away our free pens and post it notes. This is going to save health care in this county? All politicians are morons and idiots. Our elected officials should focus on whats really driving health care costs. Instead, all they do is reduce our reimbursements and take away our free pens and post it notes. This is going to save health care in this county? All politicians are morons and idiots.

]]> By: Peter Fay, MD http://medheadlines.com/2008/04/21/unanimous-vote-bans-gifts-to-doctors-in-massachusetts/comment-page-1/#comment-8431 Peter Fay, MD Thu, 22 May 2008 12:04:15 +0000 http://medheadlines.com/2008/04/21/unanimous-vote-bans-gifts-to-doctors-in-massachusetts/#comment-8431 So it's safe to assume that all 36 of those Senators have NEVER been taken out to lunch, and NEVER received a gift of any kind form a lobbyist that wanted something done in their favor. If your looking for the biggest bunch of hippocrites look on Beacon Hill. Are they really stupid enough to believe that if a drug rep drops off a pen, or leave some post-it notes with their drug on it that doctors are stupid enough to use their product if there is something better out there? The vast majority of doctors will, and always have done the best for their patients. We face them everyday and it absurd to think that I will influence my medical discisions just because someone buys me a $20.00 lunch or gives me $0.20 worth of office supplies. Now, can I the state please let me get back to taking care of my patients the way I was trained. So it’s safe to assume that all 36 of those Senators have NEVER been taken out to lunch, and NEVER received a gift of any kind form a lobbyist that wanted something done in their favor. If your looking for the biggest bunch of hippocrites look on Beacon Hill. Are they really stupid enough to believe that if a drug rep drops off a pen, or leave some post-it notes with their drug on it that doctors are stupid enough to use their product if there is something better out there?

The vast majority of doctors will, and always have done the best for their patients. We face them everyday and it absurd to think that I will influence my medical discisions just because someone buys me a $20.00 lunch or gives me $0.20 worth of office supplies.

Now, can I the state please let me get back to taking care of my patients the way I was trained.

]]> By: Unanimous Vote Bans Gifts to Doctors in Massachusetts | The Medical Society of the County of Albany http://medheadlines.com/2008/04/21/unanimous-vote-bans-gifts-to-doctors-in-massachusetts/comment-page-1/#comment-8425 Unanimous Vote Bans Gifts to Doctors in Massachusetts | The Medical Society of the County of Albany Thu, 22 May 2008 01:10:19 +0000 http://medheadlines.com/2008/04/21/unanimous-vote-bans-gifts-to-doctors-in-massachusetts/#comment-8425 [...] A unanimous vote, 36-0, in the Massachusetts Senate passes legislation pertaining to healthcare reforms within the state. The bill is the first of its kind in the nation although Minnesota and Vermont both have similar laws but without the full scope of the Massachusetts act. [...] [...] A unanimous vote, 36-0, in the Massachusetts Senate passes legislation pertaining to healthcare reforms within the state. The bill is the first of its kind in the nation although Minnesota and Vermont both have similar laws but without the full scope of the Massachusetts act. [...]

]]> By: Doc Dave http://medheadlines.com/2008/04/21/unanimous-vote-bans-gifts-to-doctors-in-massachusetts/comment-page-1/#comment-8101 Doc Dave Wed, 30 Apr 2008 10:45:08 +0000 http://medheadlines.com/2008/04/21/unanimous-vote-bans-gifts-to-doctors-in-massachusetts/#comment-8101 While I don't believe that doctors (including me) should accept gifts from the industry, it's a slippery slope that we go down if the government gets involved. Fine then. I think if the politicians want to ban gifts, they should set an example and start with themselves. While I don’t believe that doctors (including me) should accept gifts from the industry, it’s a slippery slope that we go down if the government gets involved. Fine then. I think if the politicians want to ban gifts, they should set an example and start with themselves.

]]> By: Boston Doc http://medheadlines.com/2008/04/21/unanimous-vote-bans-gifts-to-doctors-in-massachusetts/comment-page-1/#comment-7588 Boston Doc Wed, 23 Apr 2008 16:55:23 +0000 http://medheadlines.com/2008/04/21/unanimous-vote-bans-gifts-to-doctors-in-massachusetts/#comment-7588 The 'gift ban' is far too severe- unless it applies to all of business. Ban the business dinner- this is what it will do to the medical industry, so why not extend it to all business? Notice that those that brought the bill forward wanted jail for up to 2 years for those accepting anything- food, coffee, pen- do you think politicians would subject themselves to the same laws??-politicians are doing their part in making MASS. very difficult to practice in-no surprise there is a shortage of people despite the great state we are. Note- the big med conferences will not want to come here as part of the whole thing is people can go to dinner and some of that is Pharma sponsored- shoot me now. They will go to other cities like Chicago who are more business friendly. MASS is screwing themselves. The days of 'junkets' are long over thanx to the Pharma Code- followed by Pharma which I agree with- if you want to find junkets look at the politicians. They could bring in the existing Pharma Code and make it law- a more sensible option. What is going on now is crazy, Anon The ‘gift ban’ is far too severe- unless it applies to all of business. Ban the business dinner- this is what it will do to the medical industry, so why not extend it to all business? Notice that those that brought the bill forward wanted jail for up to 2 years for those accepting anything- food, coffee, pen- do you think politicians would subject themselves to the same laws??-politicians are doing their part in making MASS. very difficult to practice in-no surprise there is a shortage of people despite the great state we are. Note- the big med conferences will not want to come here as part of the whole thing is people can go to dinner and some of that is Pharma sponsored- shoot me now. They will go to other cities like Chicago who are more business friendly. MASS is screwing themselves. The days of ‘junkets’ are long over thanx to the Pharma Code- followed by Pharma which I agree with- if you want to find junkets look at the politicians. They could bring in the existing Pharma Code and make it law- a more sensible option. What is going on now is crazy,
Anon

]]> By: brian http://medheadlines.com/2008/04/21/unanimous-vote-bans-gifts-to-doctors-in-massachusetts/comment-page-1/#comment-7500 brian Wed, 23 Apr 2008 01:05:24 +0000 http://medheadlines.com/2008/04/21/unanimous-vote-bans-gifts-to-doctors-in-massachusetts/#comment-7500 Why is it unanimously politically correct to pick on physicians? Why is it unanimously politically correct to pick on physicians?

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