Drug advertising
It is a very rare event, but I actually may agree with one idea from democratic presidential candidate John Edwards.
He recently unveiled a plan to put controls on drug advertising, which he said were misleading patients and driving up health care costs. This I do agree with and believe that patients are motivated by advertising which is not always in their best interest.
Prescription drug costs are straining family budgets and contributing to increased health care costs.
Aggressive and often misleading drug company marketing makes it too easy for advertising to influence families' health decisions rather than physicians advice and recommendations.
It is reported that drug advertising revenues had quadrupled to over $4 billion a year in the 10 years since rules were relaxed to allow firms to advertise medicines directly to consumers.
Somehow limiting the advertising would be helpful, but this is probably the only part of his healthcare plan I agree with. The rest of the Edward’s plan would cost in excess of $120 billion dollars a year and is government mandated and would never work.
He recently unveiled a plan to put controls on drug advertising, which he said were misleading patients and driving up health care costs. This I do agree with and believe that patients are motivated by advertising which is not always in their best interest.
Prescription drug costs are straining family budgets and contributing to increased health care costs.
Aggressive and often misleading drug company marketing makes it too easy for advertising to influence families' health decisions rather than physicians advice and recommendations.
It is reported that drug advertising revenues had quadrupled to over $4 billion a year in the 10 years since rules were relaxed to allow firms to advertise medicines directly to consumers.
Somehow limiting the advertising would be helpful, but this is probably the only part of his healthcare plan I agree with. The rest of the Edward’s plan would cost in excess of $120 billion dollars a year and is government mandated and would never work.
Labels: advertising, drugs, healthcare
posted by Anonymous at 6:08 AM
6 Comments:
Why wouldn't it work?
Sometimes the advertising helps with educating the public. An informed public is more likely to ask questions and become involved with decisions regarding their care. I acknowledge that sometimes the informatioin can be misleading or is just not enough and ends up being a scare tactic. But as a consumer I welcome the info because it helps me understand the medication better.
Edwards plan would probably work but if money were no object, we could all buy cadillac-type healthcare plans now. Paying for healthcare is only part of the problem. Something also has to be done about the cost of healthcare, including the future rate of increase in the cost.
The Dems are resorting to populism, as usual. Hillary wants to give everyone $1,000, no make that $5,000. Are you an illegal emigrant -- how about a drivers license?
Why do hospitals spend money to advertise their services? I go where my doctor is on staff.
Anonymous 9:28PM
The public has become more self-determined. They are more educated...and as a result more knowledgeable. Consequently, they are often in the driver's seat with their health care decisions....which is as it should be
Believe it or not, but an individual's preference for a certain hospital often determines which physician he/she goes to. And many physician who are trying to build their practice will accommodate John Q Public in order to build his/her clientele base by getting on staff at several hospitals. Insurance plans quite often determine what physician the patient chooses also.
Times have changed. Patients are not as loyal as they used to be beacause there is a good choice of available MD's. The insurance industry was probably the impetus behind this trend. People were initially forced to change physicians because their employer-based insurance plan may not have their individual MD enrolled as a Provider. As a result, people soon learned there were lots of other great MD's out there. And after their first experience of MD switching, it got easier the next time.
I am not saying this is true of everyone, but it sure has affected many people's confidence to determine which health care provider to use...hospital, MD, Therapies, nursing home, lab, etc.
Thus the marketing you now see was born.
There are many government controlled health programs that work real well. The Canadian system is always used as one to scare us from the thought of it. Long waiting lists for needed surgeries are used as an example of the problem with it. We already have in place a government controlled system for the retired folds and disabled and they get what they need when they need it for the most part, Medicare. The privately owned insurances place restraints on our care, so it's not like any system is perfect. We already pay out thousands of dollars per year for individual and group health plans, so why not pay the government instead?
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