60 Minutes is doing a good story about Cancer drugs price fixing

[mucifer]

and the scams going on from the medical industry.

They made some great points. They went after the pharmaceuticals and some of the scheming doctors. But, they didn't mention how the republicans blocked reforming this in the ACA.

[orpupilofnature57]

1. Trickie Dick did his part .

[BrotherIvan]

2. It has been reported that some oncologists make 75% of their income on chemo

Ever wonder why we they haven't developed anything better than the 100 year old model? $$$$$$$$$$$.

[Sgent]

3. I guess you could find someone

somewhere that makes that level of income on chemo, but not many I know of come close -- in fact most of the oncologists I know shut down their infusion centers and use hospitals because Medicare and Medicaid reimburse lower than the cost of drugs + overhead.

Now, you may find some instances where 75% of billings are chemo, but if your billing $100 and your expenses are $98, your not making that much and are doing it on very tight margins.

[brer cat]

6. I haven't known many oncologists,

but that small sample agrees with you.

[BrotherIvan]

7. Links

http://www.nbcnews.com/id/14944098/ns/nbc_nightly_news_with_brian_williams/t/cancer-docs-profit-chemotherapy-drugs/#.VDHxpildXI0

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/06/12/business/12cancerpay.html?ex=1189828800&en=1b49d9a0efe3c01e&ei=5070

http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2012-12-26/lifestyle/sns-rt-us-cancer-doctorbre8bp0fs-20121226_1_chemotherapy-cancer-doctors-clinical-oncology

The same happens when doctors invest in things like MRIs; the rate of those tests increases when there is profit for the doc. I'm not saying that chemo is unnecessary every time, but it is shown to be effective truly for certain types of cancers such as fast growing ones. But, the cancer industry is so huge, and the investments in our current model so large, that we have not developed a new model in over 100 years, for something that is supposed to be the largest killer on the planet. We have merely refined some of it, but there is no breakthrough or alteration. Why not? There is plenty of evidence that the reason is money.

[mucifer]

5. First of all cancer treatments have improved especially for children.

Most kids with cancer now survive. The 5 year survival rate for pediatric cancer is 80% in 1975 it was 50%.
http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/Sites-Types/childhood
That is VERY significant.

[BrotherIvan]

9. Those are great improvements

What stood out is that some of the cancers listed can be fast growing cancers such as lymphoma and leukemia and those respond best to chemo/radiation. As does breast cancer if caught early. Other cancers that don't respond to chemo at all are still given chemo because that is the standard for treatment.

They also have not found a less invasive or destructive treatment. Here is probably the most promising treatment I've read about: reprogramming T-cells to attack cancer.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/13/health/13gene.html?pagewanted=all

I am sure they are still in testing phases, but I will bet there will be very strong opposition from the cancer establishment because of all the current investment in chemo and radiation (equipment, medicine, etc.) In the meantime, people are dying in horrible ways. Everyone I know who died from cancer, did not actually die of cancer. They died from complications of treatment. The answer from the oncologist usually is, well, they were going to die anyway. So we have a long, long way to go, including trying to stop cancer from forming in the first place.

But here is where it can all go wrong. A doctor was charged with misdiagnosing cancer so he could administer drugs and make a profit. Do I think every oncologist is doing that? No. But having a profit incentive in something so critical can remove objectivity.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1014898665

[mucifer]

10. That's what some of the 60 minutes story was about

some doctors get huge kickbacks for choosing more expensive chemotherapy over less costly options that work almost the same. I know the doctors I work with don't do that. But, the 60 minutes story opened my eyes to a few things.

[blondie58]

4. If i ever got cancer,

I would seriously look at marijuana or the Oil at least. I already take medical for help with my multiple sclerosis.

[JEFF9K]

8. They didn't give Republicans the credit they deserve.

And the Republicans are thankful for it.

[femmocrat]

11. It was very informative.

Kudos to those doctors who spoke out and got at least one drug price changed.

Is there anything more corrupt than big pharma?

[mucifer]

12. Health insurance,payday loans, the oil industry

the defense department. so many to choose from.

[femmocrat]

13. Indeed. All of the above.

So true......

[moondust]

14. My question:

Do other countries pay much less for the same drugs because Americans pay so much? Are Americans subsidizing them?

[orpupilofnature57]

15. No, we're subsidizing Billionaires .