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How the "Mighty" Hath Fallen…
Tom
Curb, R.Ph. (The announcement hit the media like the proverbial "ton of
bricks": "Merck has decided to sell its cholesterol-fighting drug, Zocor, to
some major managed-care companies at what is expected to be a lower price than what it
will be available for in generic form.") Those of us who have been around a while realize how much ego Merck had to swallow to make such a decision - a primary factor must have been its financial straits due to the Vioxx debacle. For as long as I can recall, Merck has assumed that its ability to retain the allegiance of doctors and purchasing agents was rock solid. About 25 or 30 years ago, that pragmatism was validated when its market-leading steroid, Decadron, met competition from the generic, dexamethasone. Before that, Decadron’s only competition was Hexadrol, a minor company’s equivalent brand. More....
Medicare Drug Benefit - A Rising Tide Raises All…Prices? Tom Curb, R.Ph., Consultant
(It would be redundant for me to again "beat up" on the Funded Medicare Drug Benefit by criticizing its poor design, its complexity, bungled implementation, and deceptions. These are exposed daily in great detail by respected national and local media. So, this commentary focuses on only one aspect – its creating increased Rx costs for consumers and taxpayers.) First I need to make it clear that I did then and still do support Medicare’s 1960’s medical benefit. Anyone who has seen the elderly sick and dying from lack of medical care would, too. But there are major differences between this "funded" drug program and the medical benefit: (1) The medical benefit is universal, and (2) providers did not design it – in fact, most feared its revenue impact and opposed its implementation. I recall only one "country" doctor who embraced it, exclaiming, "Now I’m going to be paid for services that I have been giving away for years." More....
Fool Me Once – Shame on You; Fool Me Twice - Shame on Me Tom Curb, R.Ph., Consultant
(We now know that anyone critical of this government’s policies and programs does so at risk of being spied upon and/or attacked by government agencies – but, here goes anyway.) "D-Day" for initial signup into the government’s follow-up to the Medicare Discount Card, i.e., the "funded version", has come and gone. Despite millions of taxpayer dollars being spent for infomercials disguised as news; televised presidential huckstering; misleading, pie-in-the-sky promises; and law-violating, provider-paid headhunters, government officials are lamenting the fact that voluntary participation is minimal. (Maybe we old geezers aren’t so dumb after all.) More
The Medicare Drug "Benefit" – What To Do, What To Do? - Tom Curb, R.Ph.
(To say that the pending Medicare Drug "Benefit" is confusing is a gross understatement. The variables and "escapes" that the government has allowed the Medicare PBMs make it virtually impossible to make a determination as to whether one should enroll, and even if deciding to do so, into which plan to enroll. Hopefully the following will help eligibles recognize and avoid just some of the many pitfalls.) Delayed Enrollment Penalty: Contrary to some published information, the deadline for first year enrollment is May 15, 2006. Delaying until the next enrollment period - November, 2006 - may incur an ongoing 1% per month (6%) "late fee". At Medicare’s projected "average" premium, this amounts to less than $2.00 per month, which means that an eligible waiting until November, 2006, to enroll would have to remain enrolled for almost 20 years for this threatened "late" penalty to offset just one year’s premium that could be saved by waiting. Full commentary...
Turn About is Fair Play Tom Curb, R.Ph. I just read a thought-provoking item by our articulate, congenial and fearless, rabble-rousing ex-Texas Agriculture Commissioner, Jim Hightower. Because the subject concerned Mad Cow Disease, Jim was definitely in his element while voicing his support for the U.S. ban on Canadian beef imports. As a man of the people and a latter day grass roots progressive (a politician who for some reason never forgets that his obligation is to the folks back home) Jim was incensed that through a NAFTA tribunal, Canadian cattlemen were seeking (and will probably get) about $325 million in U.S. taxpayer compensation for the money they are "losing" due to the U.S. beef ban. More... 7/07/05
The Medicare-Funded Drug Benefit – "A Horse Designed by a Committee" Tom Curb, R.Ph. (There is an old adage that "A camel is a horse that was designed by a committee." The same applies to the funded Medicare Drug Benefit. After a less than auspicious start highlighted by outright misrepresentations of cost followed by a misleading member handbook, now special interests - the drug cartel, legislators, the administration, lobbyists, PBMs, actuaries, and anyone else with a "dog in the fight" have begun adding their versions of humps, eyelid flaps, split lips, and big flat feet to good ol’ Trigger – the initial, less costly version of the drug benefit that the administration sold to Congress, taxpayers, and underwriters – including "Part D" employers.) More... 6/29/05
The Medicare Drug Benefit – Where Will All the Money Go? Tom Curb, RPh. (When I first ventured into hospital pharmacy in July of 1966, cheap medicines – like a 35 cent bottle of 100 aspirin - were considered no-charge "floor stock". Two months later, the hospital became a Medicare provider, and overnight that 35 cent bottle of aspirin became a $100 patient charge – simply because Medicare would reimburse the hospital one dollar for each tablet!) I now have a copy of a "Medicare actuary’s" cost estimates applicable to the Medicare-Insured Drug Benefit, and not surprisingly, they indicate that this Medicare program is also designed to allow provider-profiteering at the expense of Medicare-funding taxpayers, insurers and enrollees. More... 4/4/05
Funded Medicare Drug Benefit Update Tom Curb, R.Ph. (In a continuing effort to provide timely information to Sponsors and members that may be affected by the pending 2006 funded Medicare Rx Benefit, I will pass on any information that may be of value in helping them make a decision about participation.) Excerpts from the "The Green Sheet" of weekly pharmacy reports reveal how Medicare PBMs’ restrictive formularies can be used to force enrollees to take drugs other than those proved effective for their maladies, or in the alternative, make enrollees pay much more toward the cost of their prescription(s) than the government has projected. More... 4/4/05
Drug Importation – An Insider’s View (On Feb 16, 2005, Dr Peter Rost testified before a Senate committee in support of U.S. reimportation of cheaper foreign drugs. Just who is this Dr. Peter Rost? Undoubtedly he is a man of courage – and one who also has spent 20 years marketing pharmaceuticals.) Dr. Rost has extensive experience with drug reimportation and free markets; he once had responsibility for an entire European region. Rost is currently a vice president with Pfizer – the pharmaceutical giant that lobbies the U.S. government against drug importation; cuts off supplies to Canadian exporters; and subsidizes shadowy "front groups" that spread lies about importation. Undoubtedly Dr. Rost’s candor and honesty put his professional and economic future in jeopardy. More... 3/15/05
Together-Rx Drug
Discount Card – More Drug Cartel “Smoke and Mirrors” In early January, the
national media loudly trumpeted that “(Drug) companies plan price cuts for 275 prescription
drugs, and that…ten major pharmaceutical companies…were joining in a new program
to cut 25 to 40 percent from their prices of prescription drugs sold to (qualifying)
uninsured people of modest means (and) younger than 65.” This “Together-Rx Program” was
described as the latest effort by drug makers to meet demand for their products while
dispelling public anger about the prices. Industry
officials said that, “If the cards worked as
intended, they could reduce the public clamor for legislation to allow the import of
low-cost drugs from Although the
America's "Medical Tsunami" The immediate and evolving tragedy of the recent Indian Ocean tsunami (a destructive and deadly wave caused by a rift in the ocean floor) has evoked a world-wide outpouring of sympathy, aid and support to those affected – and rightfully so. Preservation of the species is an admirable, deeply-ingrained human quality. Despite accusations of a picayune U.S. government response, individually and collectively the American people have stepped forward with their historic generosity, while "compassionate", ambitious American politicos seeking photo-ops have rushed to the scene to the extent that aid workers complain about their impediment of relief efforts. More... 01/20/05 Yep-There's No "Free Lunch" 11/30/04 Vioxx Fiasco Not Unique 10/18/04 And The Chickens Came Home To Roost... 10/7/04 The Real "Clear And Present" Danger 10/04 Speaking Out For Patient Safety USA "Selling Out" To Drug Industry FDA Finally Got Something Right - Almost Who's Side Are These Guys On, Anyway? Disinformation, Misinformation And Double-Speak Drug Industry Front Organizations A Question We Just Could Not Answer... Are They Finally Seeing The Light?
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