October 2, 2004

IN THE BEST HIPPOCRATIC TRADITION

MDs to get $50M if they cut drug costs (Mohammed Adam, Ottawa Citizen, October 2nd, 2004)

The Ontario Medical Association has reached a tentative agreement with the Ontario government to save $200 million in prescription drug costs over four years in return for what some doctors are calling an immoral $50-million kickback.

The deal between the doctors' professional association and the province would see physicians reduce the number of prescriptions they write to patients. The province believes doctors are prescribing too many drugs, or ones that are not medically necessary -- often in an attempt to give patients peace of mind.

If the doctors hold up their end, they will receive $50 million in "physician services."

Once people become psychologically and financially dependent on a state service, they will acquiesce in even their own blatant moral corruption to preserve it.

Posted by Peter Burnet at October 2, 2004 7:28 AM
Comments

So who pays for the malpractice litigation when a doctor in order to get the kickback fails to prescribe the drugs a reasonably prudent physician would prescribe and the patient suffers the consequences?

Posted by: Bart at October 2, 2004 10:54 AM

Bart

Maybe Legal Aid, with the lawyers getting a special additional fee for "legal services" if they settle out cheaply and early.

Posted by: Peter B at October 2, 2004 11:04 AM

There may be some merit to the charge that doctors are over-prescribing drugs to mollify patients. It is another symptom of a free, government provided service that people will overuse it. Peter, are patients required to make copays for doctor visits or prescriptons?

Posted by: Robert Duquette at October 2, 2004 12:09 PM

Robert:

Generally no for visits, but prescriptions are not covered except for the aged and those on welfare, although many have private insurance through work. But there are general price supports, which I guess is what is troubling them.

I don't think there is any doubt doctors are overprescribing wildly both here and in the States, but surely you don't address that problem by paying them not to prescribe?

Posted by: Peter B at October 2, 2004 12:17 PM
« THE END COMES FOR ALL: | Main | DAN RATHER SAYS THE DOCUMENT'S UNIMPEACHABLE...: »