For the last few months, I’ve been pondering the linkage between perceptions of rising pharmaceutical costs and doctor data. Those arguing for physician secrecy continue to claim that data=increased costs. This argument was even used in a Washington Post story today on the topic.
So when the judge in New Hampshire came out with his 54-page ruling, I thought we might, at long last, get a glimpse of the evidence that physician data used for drug safety and marketing purposes drives costs. Guess what? It wasn’t there.
Every media story written on this topic, including today’s Washington Post, has mentioned the link between data and costs. Usually, it is Cindy Rosenwald delivering the message (the woman who introduced the bill in New Hampshire because her husband did not want anyone to know what he was doing). However, other stories have utilized the services of Sharon Treat (who, along with two or three friends, poses as a group called the National Litigation Association on Prescription Drug Prices) and various State Attorneys’ General. Case in point is an article in the May 4, 2007 issue of Modern Health, “The state has a substantial interest in protecting the privacy of New Hampshire physicians, defending the sanctity of the doctor-patient relationship and reducing healthcare costs," said Attorney General Kelly Ayotte in a written statement Thursday. New Hampshire Attorney General Kelly Ayotte can be forgiven for her ignorance on the topic since she didn’t handle the case personally, opting to let Assistant Attorney General Dick Head handle matters.
Not surprisingly, repeated attempts to speak with or obtain comment from Cindy Rosenwald and Sharon Treat have been ignored. On several occasions over the last few months, I have offered them the opportunity to present
ANY evidence that I would include in this article. Rosenwald and Treat have both ignored e-mails and a woman hung up on me last week at a phone number listed for the Rosenwald with the New Hampshire Legislature. I can only assume that this is because they know there is no evidence supporting their position. I guess my only option is to ambush Rosenwald at one of the many conferences she is speaking (a la Michael Moore style).
So when the judge in New Hampshire came out with his 54-page ruling, I thought we might, at long last, get a glimpse of the evidence that physician data used for drug safety and marketing purposes drives costs. Guess what? It wasn’t there.
Every media story written on this topic, including today’s Washington Post, has mentioned the link between data and costs. Usually, it is Cindy Rosenwald delivering the message (the woman who introduced the bill in New Hampshire because her husband did not want anyone to know what he was doing). However, other stories have utilized the services of Sharon Treat (who, along with two or three friends, poses as a group called the National Litigation Association on Prescription Drug Prices) and various State Attorneys’ General. Case in point is an article in the May 4, 2007 issue of Modern Health, “The state has a substantial interest in protecting the privacy of New Hampshire physicians, defending the sanctity of the doctor-patient relationship and reducing healthcare costs," said Attorney General Kelly Ayotte in a written statement Thursday. New Hampshire Attorney General Kelly Ayotte can be forgiven for her ignorance on the topic since she didn’t handle the case personally, opting to let Assistant Attorney General Dick Head handle matters.
Not surprisingly, repeated attempts to speak with or obtain comment from Cindy Rosenwald and Sharon Treat have been ignored. On several occasions over the last few months, I have offered them the opportunity to present ANY evidence that I would include in this article. Rosenwald and Treat have both ignored e-mails and a woman hung up on me last week at a phone number listed for the Rosenwald with the New Hampshire Legislature. I can only assume that this is because they know there is no evidence supporting their position. I guess my only option is to ambush Rosenwald at one of the many conferences she is speaking (a la Michael Moore style).