Mr. Health Insurance of Maryland

Posted by: Steve Klein

Did you know that many pharmaceutical companies provide free continuing medical education (CME) classes which doctors are required to take in order to maintain their medical license?  Not only does this create a perception of bias, I believe that is a reality.  Physicians will prescribe a drug more often from a company that is providing them with free training and free samples among other things.

The pharmaceutical companies try to avoid the appearance of a conflict of interest by hiring what are known as medical communication companies to do the training but it is a known fact and up until recently a well kept secret that these firms were paid to promote the pharmaceutical company’s products through out the training.  Pfizer has become the first company to decide it will no longer pay communications companies to arrange CME classes.  Pfizer will only support medical education when it is sponsored and put on by hospitals and professional medical associations.

According to the Accreditation Council for Medical Education, annual funding in 2007 for continuing medical education provided by drug and medical device companies exceeded $1.2 billion.  At least a portion of these courses were designed to promote the sponsoring company’s products.  Can you think of a better deal?  The doctor gets free CME credits along with a free lunch at a nice restaurant and receives an abundance of promotional material and training about the sponsors products.  It is easy to see how doctors can be easily swayed to recommend one prescription or procedure over another that might be more beneficial to the patient.

I believe doctors should be required to disclose these relationships when prescribing a drug or recommending a product from a vendor that has paid for their training and CME credits.  It is the health and well being of the consumer that is at risk.  Furthermore, the cost factor goes out the window as well and insurance carriers are often forced to pay for a more expensive drug when a generic or less expensive product that would do just as well is available.

I am a health insurance specialist and I conduct my business by educating my clients so they can make the decision that is in their own best interest.  Premiums are rising, health care costs as well, and we as consumers need to do our part to control these expenses.  Most of us are not very knowledgeable when it comes to the medical field and it is more important to ask questions of your doctor when you are seeking or receiving medical treatment.  You must serve as your own advocate and protect your health.

For more information on health insurance in Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, DC, contact us at www.mrinsuranceofmaryland.com Our goal is to educate our clients while providing affordable health care without compromising quality.

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