Physician incentives

[k9sarchik]

Just wanted to pass along some info regarding vaccines. Be aware that your pediatrician
could be getting reimbursements and/or incentives from pharmaceutical companies for every
vaccine (or Rx) they give their patient. This could cloud their judgment and put coercive pressure
on parents to vaccinate. I think most peds have their "favorite" vaccines to give.
So you can ask your doctor to disclose any reimbursements and/or incentives beyond what the insurance company
pays for.
This is a good way to take some control of your family's healthcare and understand where your doctor is coming from too.

Another little tidbit of information. Peds in private practice get 50% of their income from vaccinations. Some of them
also get a bonus from the CDC when their practice "exceeds expectations" on administering childhood vaccines.

[mamakah]

Ugh. Sickening. Do you have any sources so I can show my in laws?

[audsma]

Is it the same with family practice, or just pediatricians?

It's interesting that you post this because my Endocrinoligist's office was bending over backwards during flu vax season to get my daughter (not their patient by any stretch of the imagination) vaccinated for the flu during a routine checkup of mine she just happened to be there for. It's likely all doctors, then, isn't it?

[Gitti]

Originally Posted by audsma

It's likely all doctors, then, isn't it?

If they are pushing a product this hard, you can be sure they are benefiting from their efforts.

When my kids were little there were very few peds. Mostly family docs saw kids. Since the CDC extended the vax schedule by so many vaccines, pediatrics has become a very lucrative field. The number of doctors going into ped. has increased enormoulsy in the last 30 years.

[Scattershoot]

Originally Posted by Gitti

If they are pushing a product this hard, you can be sure they are benefiting from their efforts.

When my kids were little there were very few peds. Mostly family docs saw kids. Since the CDC extended the vax schedule by so many vaccines, pediatrics has become a very lucrative field. The number of doctors going into ped. has increased enormoulsy in the last 30 years.

Then you have those who argue that doctors don't make any money off of vaccination.

[Gitti]

Originally Posted by Scattershoot

Then you have those who argue that doctors don't make any money off of vaccination.

Maybe so, but this generation of kids is sicker than all the previous generations. Vaccines are good for something....

[2cutiekitties]

I worked for a pediatricians office in the mid 90's and the pharma reps would come by every Friday and bring bagels or supply lunch. I gained 20lbs because they brought so much good food. OMG.

It was when Claritin was first put out, and within one week, every child that walked into that practice was on it. I even mentioned it, and at the time I didnt know anything about vaxes, etc.

And it was a crap product. Over half the people that switched over came back to go back to their old medicines. Those poor kids. And what a hassle for the parents. I guess that is why you need to stand firm.

And I did try the claritin because they had a whole cabinet of free drugs they supplied to the workers. I did voice my opinion about how it didnt work for me, that is when the nurses told me about everyone coming back.

[k9sarchik]

Originally Posted by mamakah

Ugh. Sickening. Do you have any sources so I can show my in laws?

Here are some things you can show.

http://www.consumersinternational.or...p?NodeID=96076

Drugs, Doctors and Dinners: http://www.marketingoverdose.org/doc...harma_2007.pdf

New Vermont Law : http://aahf.nonprofitsoapbox.com/ind...&id=789&Itemid

This is from the Journal of American Physicians and Surgeons. http://www.jpands.org/hacienda/severyn.html

And in my latest favorite book. Chickenpox Vaccine : An epidemic of disease and corruption.

And here is a whole pile to read and print off. http://www.*********/vaccine/quotes15.html

[WildKingdom]

OK- speaking as a doctor....

1. We do not get kickbacks from pharma companies for prescribing, or giving vaccinations. It is illegal. I've said it before, and I'll say it again.

2. I lose money on vaccinations. The cost of buying, storing, and administering is more than what I make giving them.

3. If you think pediatrics is a lucrative field, you're sadly mistaken. It is the lowest-paying medical specialty.

I'm sure no one here will believe me. But it's true.

[Karry]

Originally Posted by k9sarchik

Just wanted to pass along some info regarding vaccines. Be aware that your pediatrician
could be getting reimbursements and/or incentives from pharmaceutical companies for every
vaccine (or Rx) they give their patient. This could cloud their judgment and put coercive pressure
on parents to vaccinate. I think most peds have their "favorite" vaccines to give.
So you can ask your doctor to disclose any reimbursements and/or incentives beyond what the insurance company
pays for.
This is a good way to take some control of your family's healthcare and understand where your doctor is coming from too.

Another little tidbit of information. Peds in private practice get 50% of their income from vaccinations. Some of them
also get a bonus from the CDC when their practice "exceeds expectations" on administering childhood vaccines.

How do you know this? Any proof you can share?

[WildKingdom]

Also, quoting ********* and JPANDS as your sources- not so impressive.

[karina5]

*oops, messed up quote. Trying again

[felix23]

I had heard this before and I asked my ped and he just laughed. No, he doesn't get 50% of his income from vaccines. He doesn't have any favorite vaccines, and he really doesn't care that I selective/delay vax. I've had all my friends asks their peds, and none of them have every recieved any extra money for vaccines. This is in several different states, and both private and group practices. I guess it could happen, but I haven't found it to be that common.

[karina5]

Originally Posted by WildKingdom

OK- speaking as a doctor....

1. We do not get kickbacks from pharma companies for prescribing, or giving vaccinations. It is illegal. I've said it before, and I'll say it again.

2. I lose money on vaccinations. The cost of buying, storing, and administering is more than what I make giving them.

3. If you think pediatrics is a lucrative field, you're sadly mistaken. It is the lowest-paying medical specialty.

I'm sure no one here will believe me. But it's true.

Thank you. Even in my crunchy local group, people have acknowledged your points 1 and 2. I absolutely believe in choice when it comes to vax (we do very selective and very delayed) but I am not down with false info being shared and we had a big convo about it....so it's cool to be anti-vax, but let's be accurate.

[savithny]

Originally Posted by Gitti

Maybe so, but this generation of kids is sicker than all the previous generations. Vaccines are good for something....

Any evidence to back that claim up? I've been doing a lot of historical and anthropological reading lately, and that is the exact reverse of everything I've been reading about the history of child mortality.

[notjustmamie]

Originally Posted by 2cutiekitties

I worked for a pediatricians office in the mid 90's and the pharma reps would come by every Friday and bring bagels or supply lunch. I gained 20lbs because they brought so much good food. OMG.

By law, reps are no longer allowed to give any gifts to doctors/medical offices--even those pens and sticky note pads. This is as of January, I believe.

I got this information from a woman I know who works for a pharmaceutical company.

[ChocolateNummies]

Originally Posted by WildKingdom

I lose money on vaccinations. The cost of buying, storing, and administering is more than what I make giving them.

The doctor we used to go to didn't even offer vaccines in his office. He said he couldn't make money off them and his patients could get them cheaper anyway down the road at the low cost clinic.

[Amylcd]

Our local news channel did a story on this.

http://www.wsaz.com/news/headlines/46417972.html

[nikkiethridge]

Originally Posted by WildKingdom

OK- speaking as a doctor....

1. We do not get kickbacks from pharma companies for prescribing, or giving vaccinations. It is illegal. I've said it before, and I'll say it again.

2. I lose money on vaccinations. The cost of buying, storing, and administering is more than what I make giving them.

3. If you think pediatrics is a lucrative field, you're sadly mistaken. It is the lowest-paying medical specialty.

I'm sure no one here will believe me. But it's true.

I agree with all of this, and we don't vaccinate.
Every.single.doctor I have ever met has all said the same thing, it's much cheaper if they didn't offer vaccines.

[kiara7]

Thanks, Amy!

I knew I read this somewhere. So drs. DO receive gifts from the pharma. Ranging from $100 to $127,000.

Seriously, if doctors lose money on vaccines, why do they put up such a fight when someone doesn't want to vaccinate? They will be making more money per visit for a non-vax patient then the vax patient.