Goldberg News News Goldberg News, latest news about Goldberg News.

VIDEO: WHO IS SPYING ON YOUR PRESCRIPTIONS?
Dec. 15: Pharmaceutical companies are increasingly peeking at doctor's prescription pads, raising many concerns. Dr. Nancy Snyderman talks with consumer health advocate Marcia Hams and Robert Goldberg, a pharmaceutical industry advocate. (Other)
12/15/2009 23:20, msnbc



I didn't get a chance to be in this segment...I was in MSNBC's Green Room waiting to be led into the studio and saw the segment running.  A producer (?) rushed in and told me to run into another studio where I was miked for the segment.  Dr. Snyderman cut to commercial with a teaser about how kids who have a low sexual IQ are endangering themselves... (I was wondering if I had to shift gears and weigh in...)  In any event, another MSNBC person came and told me I missed the segment, thanks but no thanks..

Anyways,  what I would have said if had the chance.

First,  as Peter noted previously,  patient level data should not be used to market directly to patients.. That said, why is Ms. Hams organization proudly linked to a website from an insurance company that used patient prescribing data to bribe doctors to switch patients to generic drugs without telling them... 

http://www.crainsdetroit.com/article/20090301/SUB01/902269981

Moreover, data mining and contacting patients is critical to promoting compliance and personalized medicine. Lack of compliance with prescription regimens is a source of increased illness, mortality and medical costs.  It is a serious public health problem   The generic uber alles approach pushed by The Prescription Project likely adds to the problem since studies show that tiered formularies and generic mandates tied to higher co-pays with other drugs are associated with increased illness.
 
http://www.managedcaremag.com/archives/0408/0408.drugtier.html

  But even allowing drug companies to use data that patients and doctors voluntarily give is grounds for legal and political attacks.  No surprise.   Ms. Hams organization is lawsuit driven.  It's Prescription Access Litigation Project generates revenue by suing drug companies and has partnered with tort law firms whose senior partners are now in the slammer for sleazy and illegal practices.  Talk about putting profit ahead of patient wellbeing..

http://www.prescriptionaccess.org/press/pressreleases?id=0010

money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/fortune_archive/2006/11/13/8393127/index.htm