Health Care Misconduct

As already said, during the summer of 2009 the Tea Party protested against health care reform. Former insurance executive Wendell Potter of the Center for Media and Democracy (funding comes from groups such as the Tides Foundation) argued that the hyperbole (exaggeration) generated by this even was a form of corporate astro-turfing which he said he used to write for CIGNA. Opponents of more government involvement, such as Phil Kerpen of the Americans for Prosperity (funding comes mainly from the Koch Industries) counter-argued that some of those corporations opposed to a public plan pushed for government action that would unfairly benefit them, like employer mandates forcing private companies to buy health insurance. The mid-2009 was referred to as "The Summer of Astroturf" due to the organizing and coordinating efforts made by various groups on both pro and anti-reform sides. Although none of this matters at this time, it’s important to know that the health care law incorporated issues from both sides. As the Republicans said they would, on July 11, 2012 the House voted for the 33^rd time to repeal the health care law. And, TV ads are being aired asking for the repeal of the Health Care Reform bill because of the said tax (who cares if it’s a tax or penalty, the result is the same); they’re trying to convince you it’s a tax on all and not only to the 1% who choose not to buy insurance (Ryan himself said it was being paid for by the Medicare program - I’m not sure this is true). Some ads say people won’t get to keep their doctors and others just say it’s bad for America. Our health care system is a mess and there is now a chance to get it in order and on an equal footing for all Americans.

I don’t think the law will eliminate all pharmaceutical issues (December 23 Johnson & Johnson recalled Motrin.  In January 2012 Pfizer and Medivation halted its Alzheimer’s treatment after getting disappointing results, Novartis and other drugs were recalled because of mislabeling, on February 1 Pfizer recalled Lo-Ovral 28 and its generic equivalent marketed by Akrimax because birth control pills were put in the packets wrong, February 17 Baby Tylenol was recalled because of faulty packaging, February 28 Glenmark birth control pills were recalled because of a labeling and April 19 a contaminated ultrasound gel was seized from a New Jersey [NJ] company). On April 5 the DEA said from 2006 – 2011 pharmacy robberies went up 82% (3,535 robberies and more than 6 million pain pills stolen) and they’re investigating some Walgreens stores because of increased purchases of pain killers. I do hope it will eliminate some. On July 2 it was reported that GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) made it all about the money when they held a marketing scheme in Las Vegas, Nevada offering bribes to doctors to sell their products and many took their offer thus placing your life in danger. The government claimed GSK promoted drugs when there was no evidence that they would help (they had evidence that Paxil could cause suicidal thoughts yet claimed it was for depression in those under 18 – the FDA hadn’t approved it for children, Wellbutrin was marketed for weight loss and sexual dysfunction – not approved for these issues and they aggressively promoted Avandia without disclosing to the FDA or doctors that it could cause heart problems). The company agreed to pay $3 billion to settle the biggest health scam in history.

I did not hear what would happen to the doctors who took the GSK bribes but I think they should be held accountable for their part. With the new law we may be able to eliminate doctor issues such as the March 16 report of the Texas doctor who was charged with the largest Medicare fraud now being charged with trading drugs for sex. On September 20, 2011 ABC reported that drugs were killing more people than motor vehicle accidents as there is a troubling rise in prescription drug abuse. Drug overdoses and brain damage linked to long-term drug abuse killed an estimated 37,485 people in 2009, surpassing the toll of traffic accidents by 1,201. (I also found in some states that death by gun was higher than vehicles accidents). On November 2 it was reported that overdose deaths from pain killers have tripled in the last decade and on May 1, 2012 the number of babies born with an addiction to pain killers has tripled in the last decade. On June 6 the Office of the Inspector General came out with a report that said 75% of doctor’s offices are keeping vaccines either too hot or too cold and minimizing their effectiveness or rendering them useless. On June 26 it was reported that in 8 years the number of prescriptions for Adderall was up 750%; it’s suppose to be for those with ADHD but instead women in their 20s and 30s are using it to juggle home and work (there are websites telling you how to lie to your doctor to get it); they’re becoming addicted and it can cause seizures, strokes and heart attacks. Doctors are to first do no harm and must be more proactive if they are to meet this goal. I hope the health care law will encourage doctors to care more.

Women were paying more for health insurance than men and even though people had insurance they were not getting the treatments they needed. On January 18, 2012 a 3 year old mentally retarded NJ girl was denied a kidney transplant (February 21 we heard of a Down Syndrome Tennessee high school basketball player that made more 3 point shots than NBA star players). On July 11 parents launched a website to help with medical bills for a Florida boy whose arm was bit off by an alligator. If you’re one of the people who don’t want the government telling you to buy insurance, be thankful that you’ve been healthy and/or there is now an affordable way to get the insurance-right now it isn’t that way for many. We need to help support one another as our ancestors did.