Senator Chuck "aka Chuckie's in Love" Grassley (R-Iowa) is asking medical organizations for info about payments received from medical device companies. Included in the 33 Groups is the North American Spine Society. Grassley's feelings are that these organizations have influence over public policy and people rely on their leadership. NASS is in the process of drafting a response. This is due diligence that is being performed on behalf of the passage of The Physician Payments Sunshine Act that is being sponsored by Grassley and Senator Herb Kohl (D-Wisconsin). This act would require public reporting by the device industry as well as pharma and biologic manufacturers payments made to physicians.
You know what Bill Withers use to sing: " He ought to leave this damn thing alone, ......Ain't no sunshine when you're gone." I guess the party is slowly but surely coming to an end. Who would ever thunk it that a Republican was a socialist?
But for those reps that are getting killed by shady consulting deals that keep them out of the hospitals, isn't this a good thing?
ReplyDeleteSurgeons will use the product based on the performance of that product and the service the rep provides. Not because their pockets are being lined.
TSB, why is a request for transparency synonymous to socialism to you? I disagree. If organizations are consulted on reimbursement decisions, the government should know who pays their bills and pulls their strings. Especially NASS, which you in your recent blog "Is NASS relevant?" clearly described as being under the control of the Spine Cartel, which is still dominated by MSD. Do you for one moment think that the Spine Cartel has the interest of the tax payers, the patients or the innovative new companies in mind when they give their recommendations? Please.... If this is your definition of socialism, bring it on.
ReplyDeleteCerevertebral: I hope you realize that sometimes I am being cynical. Anyone that endorses tighter restrictions and more transparency is dubbed a socialist by todays obstructionists. Retrospectively, history has proven that whenever capitalism gets out of control the government usually steps in to tighten accountability and regulation. The Spine Cartel cries "Free Markets," unfortunately when you buy business by creating fictitious consulting agreements and educational grants that no longer constitutes a free market, essentially that's an inducement corrupting the surgeon's behavior. It is Machiavellian by nature looking for opportunities into unethical ways of manipulating your market share. Have a great weekend!
ReplyDeleteYou characterize "The Spine Cartel" as the guilty ones. A bit of a generalization, yes, considering that MDT is easily the guiltiest party in that group? Behind them, it's the Alphatecs, Sea Spines, Eminent Spines, and a host of other "me-toos" (as you call them) that are walking into offices with paperwork to sign.
ReplyDeleteI don't think it is capitalism out of control, but rather simple corruption. Surgeon owned distributorships make the sham consulting agreements seem benign. The excuse that they are getting better prices from some companies and passing those savings on to hospitals is merely an attempt to obscure the fact that surgeons are ILLEGALLY profiting from their prescribing. The excuse that they have legal opinions that say this immoral, unethical, illegal activity is perfectly fine is BS as well. As we all know, ALL the criminals in prison have legal opinions that they are innocent. A spade is a spade, and these guys are crooks that should lose their medical license and go to prison. I am confident that when this all to common practice is discovered, many will go to jail.
ReplyDeleteTo Dec. 19 Anonymous Post:
ReplyDeleteWho set the precedent for Consulting Agreements? Initially it was the Spine Cartel. Since MDT has been outed in various Whistle Blower Suits today it hides behind AdvaMed's apron professing to play by the rules. TSB does not spare absolution to any of the lesser companies.....TSB is only stating his opinion as to who set the precedent for this type of behavior. Peace