Then we have a bunch of 913 loser doctors who prescribed name brand drugs without allowing for substitution by generic. Now I realize that some people need the name brand drugs because the generics are not the same for them. But some investigative journalism was done and found out about these losers.
A small portion of
doctors nationwide is costing American taxpayers big time because of
their tendency to prescribe name-brand medications through Medicare even
when generics are available, according to an analysis by ProPublica, a nonprofit organization producing "investigative journalism in the public interest."
The biggest offenders are
913 practitioners who, thanks to disproportionately prescribing
name-brand drugs, cost taxpayers an extra $300 million in 2011, say
ProPublica's Charles Ornstein, Tracy Weber and Jennifer LaFleur. Each of
these doctors wrote at least 5,000 prescriptions that year, according
to the report.
$300 million a year is not chump change. And these doctors had ties to pharmaceutical manufacturers. So if you multiply 913 doctors times 5000 prescriptions (pause while I find a calculator because my brain is not that smart 5*3=15, carry the 1, 5*1 is 5 plus 1 equals 6, 5*9=45) equals 4,565,000 prescriptions each year.
And think of that year after year. $300 million and 4.5 million prescriptions times kickbacks which send them on fancy vacations and secret accounts in the Caymans at the expense of the American taxpayer through Medicare. Now you understand while I call them losers.
I am glad about this piece of investigative reporting. I hope those losers now get fined, lose their medical licenses and have to start paying back. I also hope Medicare fixes the loophole.
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