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moondust

(21,288 posts)

72. An ophthalmologist explains:

Reply to jsr (Original post)

Sun Dec 8, 2013, 06:17 PM

Dec 2013

http://www.reddit.com/r/politics/comments/1sdxz6/an_effective_eye_drug_is_available_for_50_but/cdwoh5j

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Why do doctors choose a $2,000 drug over a $50 one? [View all] jsr Dec 2013 OP

Boat payments Boom Sound 416 Dec 2013 #1

As opposed to balloon payments, I suppose. HereSince1628 Dec 2013 #13

+1000 valerief Dec 2013 #28

Sounds nicer than "kickbacks!" nt MADem Dec 2013 #52

No, the complicity comes much cheaper, dinner and a few pens is all it takes. nt mother earth Dec 2013 #79

One word - KICKBACKS TheDebbieDee Dec 2013 #2

Your comment needs some background, citations on kickbacks. I get your point, yet pinto Dec 2013 #10

Here ya go Paulie Dec 2013 #20

Examples solarhydrocan Dec 2013 #26

Gosh where are those apologists? JNelson6563 Dec 2013 #58

Why don't you see post 45 before you assume you know everything elias7 Dec 2013 #71

From the first page of the article linked by the OP DLnyc Dec 2013 #46

We are on Medicare and my wife has the type of macular degeneration for which the indepat Dec 2013 #70

???? except that the $50 treatment is just as effective ????? DLnyc Dec 2013 #73

No, the $50 treatment doesn't last as long and my wife requires transportation to the doctor's indepat Dec 2013 #74

Okay, I understand that there is a reason to prefer the $2,000 treatment. DLnyc Dec 2013 #75

All your points are well-taken indepat Dec 2013 #78

Rec. Single payer could stop abuses like this. merrily Dec 2013 #3

+1 grahamhgreen Dec 2013 #65

Yes it could. Enthusiast Dec 2013 #67

One of the best tweaks for Medicare D would be taking the Veterans' Administration approach - pinto Dec 2013 #4

I thought it is more of a Republican blocking thing than an overlooked thing. nt Incitatus Dec 2013 #8

Yeah. pinto Dec 2013 #12

It WAS part of the Obama/Biden HC proposal but was dropped after ... slipslidingaway Dec 2013 #35

For me it was ear drops after tube placement. The ordered was $80, which I didn't know uppityperson Dec 2013 #5

I agree that the doctors just don't know the prices Curmudgeoness Dec 2013 #11

As they get pushed to go faster and faster, they have even less time to keep up with the latest and uppityperson Dec 2013 #16

I agree with your points, but Curmudgeoness Dec 2013 #18

those I know try to but they have a limited amount of time to do so. uppityperson Dec 2013 #21

But it is not just the time spent it is where the information is coming from. A Simple Game Dec 2013 #27

Very good point. Curmudgeoness Dec 2013 #31

I'm sure most do, and many may care, A Simple Game Dec 2013 #51

A huge plus one! nt Enthusiast Dec 2013 #68

So what's your take on this? n/t lordsummerisle Dec 2013 #6

Maybe because Big Pharma reps give them cruises, gifts, and boatloads of babble... Fridays Child Dec 2013 #7

Omeprazole (Prilosec) versus Esomeprazole (Nexium) for acid reflux Douglas Carpenter Dec 2013 #9

An interesting thing about omeprazole Curmudgeoness Dec 2013 #15

that is stange - I take it as a prescription too - and I get 60 -20 mg capsules with my 80/20 Aenta Douglas Carpenter Dec 2013 #19

Wow. The price I was told of $130 Curmudgeoness Dec 2013 #22

I only use it very sparingly now - at one point I had the terrible side effect of lots of diarrhea Douglas Carpenter Dec 2013 #25

Thanks. Curmudgeoness Dec 2013 #30

I took 40mg Nexium for many years (with corp insurance) once I retired LiberalArkie Dec 2013 #62

Thanks I bookmarked that thread laundry_queen Dec 2013 #48

my doctor is pushing the shingles shot and I refuse hollysmom Dec 2013 #14

Maybe he's just trying to help. Chicken pox and shingles are related. Skip Intro Dec 2013 #24

you miss the point - I had chicken pox 4 times - the shingles shot has a LIVE virus in it hollysmom Dec 2013 #29

Sorry. But... Skip Intro Dec 2013 #37

I have been going to him for over 10 years, not the best, certainly far from the worst. hollysmom Dec 2013 #43

My doc says no to the vaccine because it's a live virus. broiles Dec 2013 #61

in your case i might get it, but i do DesertFlower Dec 2013 #34

Many, many people get shingles. blue neen Dec 2013 #39

i'm 72 and haven't had it. i know it's nasty, but DesertFlower Dec 2013 #41

The thing is, after you get shingles you can get the shot - hollysmom Dec 2013 #42

i don't believe those statistics. DesertFlower Dec 2013 #47

I am recovering from a huge shingles outbreak Mojorabbit Dec 2013 #54

I accept that and know that it must have been horrible hollysmom Dec 2013 #81

I took the drugs to temper the effect Mojorabbit Dec 2013 #84

AHm, but you had other attacks before. hollysmom Dec 2013 #85

I have a friend who has had a terrible bout with shingles--still gets flare ups two years mnhtnbb Dec 2013 #87

You had dchicken pox four times? KamaAina Dec 2013 #76

I just had it, I don't know why. hollysmom Dec 2013 #80

big pharma spends millions sending reps to visit doctors. that tells you all you need to know. unblock Dec 2013 #17

Have to admit, I enjoy sitting in doc's office and seeing the pretty drug reps. But, that misses Hoyt Dec 2013 #55

interesting how, yes, drug reps often do seem to fit a certain profile.... unblock Dec 2013 #64

My father did the research and demanded Avastin curlyred Dec 2013 #23

Not Everyone is Playing for Our Team mckara Dec 2013 #32

They get tickets to football, baseball, golf outings etc. n/t doc03 Dec 2013 #33

Commission in some form or the other, JimboBillyBubbaBob Dec 2013 #36

Answer: ''What are Kickbacks?'' DeSwiss Dec 2013 #38

Because of all the swag that Big Pharma gives doctors and their offices. nt Lex Dec 2013 #40

I'm a Physician Assistant, not a doctor. But I always prescribe the most effective/least expensive Aristus Dec 2013 #44

In this case there are multiple reasons Sgent Dec 2013 #45

Use of Avastin for macular degeneration would be an "off-label" use not approved by the FDA FarCenter Dec 2013 #59

Perhaps it's as simple as perception? Victor_c3 Dec 2013 #49

Thank you for this comment elias7 Dec 2013 #50

Some are taking bribes or all these stories may qualify for libel suits solarhydrocan Dec 2013 #56

I'm not talking about pharmaceutical companies elias7 Dec 2013 #60

I almost certainly agree with most of your statement Sgent Dec 2013 #66

I know this will not be popular, but that is one problem with traditional Medicare. Hoyt Dec 2013 #53

They push what the pharmaceutical reps want them to push. Autumn Dec 2013 #57

What you witnessed is nearly universal. Enthusiast Dec 2013 #69

By chance, I met a woman who was a surgical equipment rep. After finding out what she bluestate10 Dec 2013 #83

I see them when I wait to see my Doc. Enthusiast Dec 2013 #86

An entrenched system of graft built and protected by the AMA and associated industries. Egalitarian Thug Dec 2013 #63

An ophthalmologist explains: moondust Dec 2013 #72

For totally free vacations in Hawaii ? B Calm Dec 2013 #77

The Doctor may be getting a kickback. Health care reform in my state removed that bluestate10 Dec 2013 #82