Does The Orencia Promise Signal New Help For Pain Patients Or A Disturbing Trend?
February 23, 2009 by Bonnie Boots
Filed under General News
I used to be deeply troubled by the amount of money pharmaceutical companies spent wooing doctors. From gourmet dinners to tropical cruises, nothing was too much so long as it swayed doctors to write out prescriptions for big brand name pharmaceuticals.
But recently, some states have been taking steps to limit the sort of largesse that drug companies can pass to physicians. In Minnesota, for instance, the state ruled that pharmaceutical salespeople could not give more than $50 in free food to doctors per year. One pharmaceutical sales rep I know in here in Florida sat down and cried buckets when she saw laws changing. “There goes my career!” she cried. “Without freebies, I won’t be able to get my foot in the door at most medical offices.”
Her fears, it must be admitted, were justified. A study has shown that doctors in Minnesota are rejecting pharmaceutical sales visits more than anywhere in the country.
I didn't have to be psychic to see that pharmaceutical companies would ferret out new ways of making sure their pill is the drug of choice when a doctor sits down to write a prescription. And today, I got my first glimpse of one of those new ways. I just saw a television ad for the Orencia Promise Program from Bristol-Myers Squibb. Orencia is a new drug for people suffering from moderate to severe Rheumatoid Arthritis.
In a nutshell, the Orencia Promise Program is a co-pay program for new Orencia patients with private insurance. The program will pay the full co-pay for Orencia for the first 6 months of therapy. In addition, if you're not satisfied after 6 months, the program will pay your first co-pay of another RA medicine, up to $500 (Some restrictions and exclusions may apply. If you're interested in the Orencia Promise Program click their name to visit their web site.)
On the one hand, I’m pleased to see pharmaceutical companies throwing their money at patients for a change. While they’re at it, how about inviting us to some of those fine restaurants and weekend trips to Disney World for “educational seminars”? I could use a new laptop, too!
On the other hand, I’m worried that bribing —err, “rewarding” patients could turn out to be an even bigger threat than the old method of rewarding doctors. With the world economy swirling down the toilet, how many RA patients will be tempted to change therapies just to get their prescriptions—any prescriptions—free for 6 months?
Doctors are influenced by their patient’s requests. “Naturally I want patients to be involved in their own health care,” one doctor told me. “If they express interest in a drug with potential benefit and I see no contra-indications, I’m inclined to let them have a trial of it.”
But this tactic of throwing money at people to get your drugs in play is the same old double-edged sword. It’s only that this time, the sword is being passed to the patient. As a pain patient, what’s your take on this issue? Use the comment box below to state your opinion. Meanwhile, I'll be on the phone to Bristol-Myers Squibb to see if that link I provided to their website is worth a new laptop to them.
### Bonnie Boots recovered from totally disabling chronic pain, but still has occasional days when she feels like hell. That's why she publishes Pain Health News, providing information, motivation and conversation to people challenged by chronic pain.
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This being the first I’ve heard about the practice, I can’t yet call it a trend, but it does disturb me. I believe that a large part of our country’s out-of-control medical costs is due to high prescription drug costs. I think that if “Government” is going to take “insurance premiums” from us by force (Medicare, etc.), then it ought to use some of that money to research less costly methods of pain/disease mitigation (how about “Preemptive Intervention” through diet & lifestyle?); especially if they happen to be working in other countries, in the current day! And $500 as a “co-pay”? Guess I’d better step up my personal research now, while -my- RA is just an occasional nuisance!
Drug companies have both skyrocketed the cost of health care AND, through lobbyists, kept non-prescription means of care from getting proper research and recognition in the U.S. With the economy in a shambles, Americans simply can’t afford to let this situation continue. A short search online shows that Swiss, German and Swedish people all get national health care that includes what Americans have been taught to regard as “alternative” therapies. As a result, they show better cure and recovery rates for many health issues such as stroke.
Hi Bonnie,
I worked for doctors for several years. One doc took all the freebies he could get from the drug companies….a trip to Disney World for his family, various conferences around Florida, nice meals out, etc. The other doc I worked for wouldn’t even see reps when they stopped by the office–wasn’t interested in what they were peddling, didn’t care about the freebie stuff at all.
I agree, drug costs are one of the reasons our health care costs are so high.
I also believe that ‘Big Pharma’ and the AMA have the FDA and congress by the “ears” (hey, I’m trying to be family friendly, here!lol)…..they have WAAAAY too much power and influence in this country!
I also believe insurance companies, AMA and Big Pharma should be more open to some of the alternative therapies for many diseases………but it ain’t gonna happen….no money in it for them.
Last spring I quit a new doctor after my first visit because she delayed my appointment for 25 minutes while she finished a fruit smoothie a pharmacy rep had brought in as a bribe to see her. They sat and chatted and ate in full view of me–the ONLY patient in the whole office, and now I know why! When you can influence a doctor with a cheap fruit drink, imagine what you get for a trip to Disney World! So I’m glad perks to doctors are being discouraged, but also concerned that the focus is now on “bribing” patients.
The first doc I worked for, we reached a point where we (his wife and I–nobody else would work for him…LOL) would make the reps sit out in the waiting room, and didn’t let doc know they were there, until we were done with scheduled patients. He’d sit there all day with them, if he could!!! Way more fun to him, than dealing with patients.