I have a problem with the citizens of this country at the moment. Nearly everyone has their proverbial panties in a wad over how our country is being run right now. I hear people talk about secession, getting rid of the government as a whole or perhaps getting rid of a specific individual in office.
How about everyone just calm the fuck down for a moment ok? Part of our problem with this nation is our gung ho attitude. If something happens that we think may wrong us, emphasis on think here, immediately our defense are up and we start spewing senseless garbage.
So our economy is in the shitter right now and we're bailing everyone out left and right. Do I agree with it? In most instances, I do not. Do I think it needs to be done? At first, yes it did.
Earlier today I read something that brought some calm into my otherwise cluttered and stressed mind. The president mentioned looking into reforming the health care industry to help save costs for businesses.
Already I see people flipping out talking about how the government is intervening in our daily lives again and we're becoming socialists. Never mind the fact that socialist countries have the best health care systems in the world along with the happiest population in the world...
So once again, calm the fuck down.
If there is any industry in this nation that seriously needs a dick slap upside the head, it's the health care industry. They blatantly deceive the public in order to get them to pay 10x as much for a product or service than they really need.
They are using the public's lack of knowledge against them. I understand that not every person can understand something such as the fluid mosaic theory. I do not expect them to. Yet they, and by them I mean particular corporations, use this fact to exploit the public.
Our new drug is the greatest thing since Jesus created slice bread. It'll cure erectile dysfunction, acne, muscle pain and grow you a full head of hair.
But when you read the actual information, you learn it's really just the same drug with naproxen added onto it (I'm looking at you Treximet) or maybe it's just the isolated L-enantiomer which was the only active enantiomer anyway (I'm looking at you Xyzal) or maybe we'll just combine to drugs and say it works better when in fact it doesn't (I'm looking at you Vytorin).
In every case the patient could receive the same treatment for a much lower cost. Is the public led to know this though? Of course not. And don't give me that bullshit that the cooperation needs to recoup their initial investment. First off, they didn't research anything to create this anyone. Second, everyone knows the majority of the cost of medications is related to its advertising.
And then there are the PBMs... Let's pay only for Lipitor and ignore simvastatin. How about we won't cover Ventolin, but we'll cover Xopenex. How the fuck does that make sense?
In a capitalist society the public keeps prices in check by being aware of the product in question. It's honesty, in a certain level, which keeps everything running smoothly.
Yet in our industry's case, honesty is not a word you hear very often. Hell, I think it may be a taboo word.
Do you think the public would find it curious that drug reps, once a fountain of information, are no longer pharmacists for the most part, but rather business oriented individuals? It's because pharmacists, depending on the company, realized what a crock of shit they were up to and told them to fuck off.
So here's the deal people. If the government gets involved, yes it's scary and we could all be communists who rape and pillage your neighbor's house.
Or, in reality, this case of intervention could better our country in more ways one can imagine. Could it be we could have an efficient industry capable of dispersing the truth to the public?
Personally I think it's more likely that Rozerem beaver will fly out of my ass to play some cards with Lincoln... actually that may be quite interesting...
9 comments:
You are so right! There is so much misinformation and so many scare tactics being employed about this that it's gonna take a massive education campaign to get anywhere with it. If the American public will somehow listen to knowledgable, articulate spokespeople about health care and not idiot politicians (lookin' at you, Mitch McConnell) we may have just a glimmer of hope.
So that's why my redneck neighbors are leaning out the window screaming, "Ahm as mad as hay-ell and I ain't gonna take it annymore"? Here I was thinking they'd OD'd on that damn Fox News again.
Seriously, the utter lack of transparency in health care has really screwed us up. Around here, about 70% of those who have group/private health insurance are covered by a single company; the state legislature passed a bill to prevent hospitals from charging uninsured pts who meet certain criteria more than actual cost + 25% (some facilities have to give as much as a 59% discount); a renowned academic medical center hospital ED is accused of routinely dumping uninsured/Medicaid pts: a large religious-owned hospital system lost tax exempt status on one of its hospitals, and another large religious-owned hospital system is under fire for all kinds of stuff. All this where the AHA, AMA, AHIMA, Blue Cross Blue Shield Assn, WAG, a ton of insurance companies and a cast of thousands are headquartered.
I hope you're right - sure wouldn't want that Rozerem beaver flying out of your ass (out here in Wayne's World, it would be when monkeys fly out of your butt...)
I didn't even touch the mass media's position in all of this. I could go on and on about how PBMs fuck people over when they don't even realize it. Hell maybe I should write an 'expose' book over the summer.
ahhh the innocence of youth...if only it were REALLY what this was about.
Anon, what are you implying?
Do not insinuate that because I am younger I am unable to rationally analyze a situation and see what is wrong.
I am not suggesting that I know of a clear solution to the problem and I fully realize that this will be very messy (if they actually go through with it).
I was not attempting to bring in the other political turmoil that is occuring at this moment, only to suggest that regulating the health care system, or at least holding them responsible, is a needed endevor.
You can bitch about higher taxes and the likes, but the simple fact of the matter is this situation directly takes money out of the pocket of an individual.
Some are so concerned about ensuring they keep as much money in their pocket as possible, so why not go this route? Why not save you that money?
That's not idyllic youthful innocence, that's common sense.
This would not save me a dime, this will put me out of business...a business that has been in this small town for 80 years. This town will not have a pharmacy. With every regulation and rule and tax and handout, it takes money out of my checkbook. That in turn affects, my employees, their family's, my customers (particularly the ones that can't drive the 5 miles to the next town anymore) and right on down the line. As this administration regulates everyone out of business (except those in their pockets) it creates more power for big brother and less freedom for you. Say what you will but I'd rather be able to employ 20 workers at my pharmacy then work understaffed in a corpro pharmacy. Experience the world then come talk to me and my employees and the 300 people we deliver drugs to everyday.
So you think it's better that the industry will con the average person out of every last pennny and dime as long as it doesn't directly affect your business? That's kinda selfish don't you think?
I am not saying I want the government in every nook and cranny of the industry. I would love to see an independent organization come up and do what needs to be done, but it won't happen. Thus why I see no problem with the government stepping in and telling them to knock this shit off. I don't want them to regulate things left and right, but something needs to be done.
I was not saying that they should regulate pharmacies in anyway, but more how the other areas of health care conduct business. I think you would be much better off, as an owner, if someone stepped in and told PBMs to actually start paying the actual costs of drugs and services wouldn't you agree?
Granted Part D, which was probably designed on the back of a cocktail napkin, pushed many ind pharmacies over the edge, I would think if this was simple problem was resolved it would be a small step towards remeding a larger problem.
just dont want the government involved in any of it...ANY of it...now or later, they are in enough now, get OUT!!!!!
use your independent investigators to combat fraud and stay the hell out of my or your life, the country will be better off.
You're kidding - PBMs don't fuck anyone over. Uh, I.forgot about Slime Therapeutics and Walgreens Health Uninitiatives. PBMs screw us pts bad enough as is, it's got to be far worse for you pharmacists.
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