Lilly eliminating 3,500 jobs as part of cost-cutting plan

[BehindBlueI's]

Wonder how much a prescribing Dr. can sway that sort of thing?
Hypothetical - Maybe our own HoosierDoc doesn't care for Lilly's political meddling. Does it affect his prognosis/treatment when there are alternatives?

If politics is guiding your prescription pad, it's time to hang up the stethoscope. Side effects, patient cost, availability, interaction with other meds, that sort of thing should be the only concerns for an ethical doctor.

 

[bwframe]

If politics is guiding your prescription pad, it's time to hang up the stethoscope. Side effects, patient cost, availability, interaction with other meds, that sort of thing should be the only concerns for an ethical doctor.

Maybe someone should explain that to Obama, Pelosi and Reid?

 

[IndyDave1776]

Maybe someone should explain that to Obama, Pelosi and Reid?

They did. That happy little axis of evil you mentioned simply stuck their fingers in their ears and started humming really loud.

 

[BehindBlueI's]

Maybe someone should explain that to Obama, Pelosi and Reid?

I didn't realize any of them were doctors. Or considered ethical.

 

[IndyDave1776]

I didn't realize any of them were doctors. Or considered ethical.

 

[KLB]

I wouldn't pick a drug based on anything but its efficacy for my condition, but there is competition for various areas of treatment, they just can't use the same molecule, etc
For example, Viagra and Cialis are both ED drugs but are different molecules and work differently. There are other examples. It does not have to be a generic or patent expired for there to be competition. Again, I'd judge the medicine on its effectiveness, etc but wanted to make the point that there is competition.

Sometimes there are alternatives and sometimes there are not.

On top of that, insurance has gotten bad about what they cover since Obamacare went into effect. They don't cover a lot of non-generic drugs.

 

[WebSnyper]

Sometimes there are alternatives and sometimes there are not.

On top of that, insurance has gotten bad about what they cover since Obamacare went into effect. They don't cover a lot of non-generic drugs.

Well, if there is a generic "equivalent" for a given drug, I can see why an insurance company would steer you toward it. It saves them $ and increases their margin. I haven't seen the issue of not being able to get a med, with my insurance, however I don't take many meds either and as I am on a high deductible plan, I tend to try and minimize my costs anyway. I have had an occasion or 2 where something that was prescribed for one of my dependents was pretty high $$, though.

And agreed, there are not always alternatives, and in those cases, the pricing is probably the highest, given that there isn't an alternative treatment. This is sort of how the market works.

 

[rhino]

The health insurance companies also factor in whether or not paying more for certain meds will reduce their costs in some other ways. For instance, my insurance will cover 100% of the cost for some expensive diabetes meds because keeping patients blood sugar down will cost them less than whatever will happen later with uncontrolled blood glucose. On the other hand, I'm on the hook for 100% of the negotiated rate of any NSAIDs until I reach my deductible.

 

[KLB]

The health insurance companies also factor in whether or not paying more for certain meds will reduce their costs in some other ways. For instance, my insurance will cover 100% of the cost for some expensive diabetes meds because keeping patients blood sugar down will cost them less than whatever will happen later with uncontrolled blood glucose. On the other hand, I'm on the hook for 100% of the negotiated rate of any NSAIDs until I reach my deductible.

My prescription coverage is totally independent from my health coverage. It has changed a lot since the ACA went into effect.