this is one reason our health care system is doomed

**RaginCajun** · 06-18-2014, 07:22 AM

i read all of the news websites, but found this to be crazy:$1000-a-pill hepatitis C drug jolts US health care system | Fox News

**lovbyts** · 06-18-2014, 07:35 AM

Originally Posted by 00ragincajun00

i read all of the news websites, but found this to be crazy:$1000-a-pill hepatitis C drug jolts US health care system | Fox News

Thats far from the only one. The more life threatening the more expensive. I was doing research for a friend tonight who has a form of Anemia that is similar to leukemia, it effects the spleen, she needs frequent blood transfusions and more. There are people here in the US who are paying $5K - $8K a month for 15 pills a month and it takes at least 3 months to know if it's going to help. Luckily she is in the Philippines and her doctor is able to get the same medication for under $5 a pill.

Now explain to me why the big price difference??? Yeah it's sad that they can/will charge you so much because they know you will pay it if your life is at risk.

Now to her that is still a LOT of money and even though her husband makes decent money because he is a seaman it will put a significant dent in their finances especially since she just took on the roll of being a new momma because her sister brought over a newborn (literally born that day) 2 weeks ago that was dropped off at the hospital so thats an added expense.

She starts a 15 day trial tomorrow of the new medication to see if it will help or not. I already told her I will cover the first 3 months just trying to help a little. I am also the honorary godfather/Ninong of the new baby. I was told a few years ago when they got together I would be the godfather when they have one but due to circumstances (her illness) they have not had one. I am honored, they are good people. I did also buy the playpen and new stroller. That stuff is cheap over there. OK sorry got a little OT

**RaginCajun** · 06-18-2014, 07:54 AM

Originally Posted by lovbyts

Thats far from the only one. The more life threatening the more expensive. I was doing research for a friend tonight who has a form of Anemia that is similar to leukemia, it effects the spleen, she needs frequent blood transfusions and more. There are people here in the US who are paying $5K - $8K a month for 15 pills a month and it takes at least 3 months to know if it's going to help. Luckily she is in the Philippines and her doctor is able to get the same medication for under $5 a pill. Now explain to me why the big price difference??? Yeah it's sad that they can/will charge you so much because they know you will pay it if your life is at risk.Now to her that is still a LOT of money and even though her husband makes decent money because he is a seaman it will put a significant dent in their finances especially since she just took on the roll of being a new momma because her sister brought over a newborn (literally born that day) 2 weeks ago that was dropped off at the hospital so thats an added expense.She starts a 15 day trial tomorrow of the new medication to see if it will help or not. I already told her I will cover the first 3 months just trying to help a little. I am also the honorary godfather/Ninong of the new baby. I was told a few years ago when they got together I would be the godfather when they have one but due to circumstances (her illness) they have not had one. I am honored, they are good people. I did also buy the playpen and new stroller. That stuff is cheap over there. OK sorry got a little OT

that is crazy! i wish the best for your friend, hope she gets some relief with the trial.

**lovbyts** · 06-18-2014, 09:15 AM

Originally Posted by 00ragincajun00

that is crazy! i wish the best for your friend, hope she gets some relief with the trial.

Thanks, me too. When she told me what she had I of course started doing a lot of research to see what she should take because at first the doctor just sort of gave her a death sentence of 6 months to a max of 2 years. That has since changed since I found several different medications that could possibly help although none are a real cure but they could help lead a mostly normal life possibly.

She actually started using EPO about 2 months ago due to my suggestion and literature I had her take the doctor. Hopefully it will keep her from having to have monthly transfusions and now her doctor is looking into other drugs that may help since she took him literature.

It sucks when bad things happen to good people but at least now there is a chance. I told her to get some extra EPO for me. lol

**RaginCajun** · 06-18-2014, 09:27 AM

Originally Posted by lovbyts

Thanks, me too. When she told me what she had I of course started doing a lot of research to see what she should take because at first the doctor just sort of gave her a death sentence of 6 months to a max of 2 years. That has since changed since I found several different medications that could possibly help although none are a real cure but they could help lead a mostly normal life possibly.She actually started using EPO about 2 months ago due to my suggestion and literature I had her take the doctor. Hopefully it will keep her from having to have monthly transfusions and now her doctor is looking into other drugs that may help since she took him literature. It sucks when bad things happen to good people but at least now there is a chance. I told her to get some extra EPO for me. lol

yes, really sucks when bad things happen to good people. i could prob use some EPO as well! haha! best wishes to your friend bud

**Docd187123** · 06-18-2014, 09:31 AM

My cousin works as a pharmacist in a hospital in my state. He was telling me about an error made by another pharmacist. A pre-loaded syringe of some brand new medication was left out when it was supposed to be refrigerated. Ruined the drug. Forgot what it was called and what it's used to treat but each syringe cost the hospital $18,000....

**Hazard** · 06-18-2014, 02:06 PM

Originally Posted by Docd187123

My cousin works as a pharmacist in a hospital in my state. He was telling me about an error made by another pharmacist. A pre-loaded syringe of some brand new medication was left out when it was supposed to be refrigerated. Ruined the drug. Forgot what it was called and what it's used to treat but each syringe cost the hospital $18,000....

When I was in medical I had a frozen talus being sent to a hospital for a surgery. When I got there for the surgery they told me it was cancelled. The Nursing assistant in the operating room didn't put it in the freezer. It was a $14,000 piece of human tissue..... Gone bad. He was fired that same day by his supervisor.

**Docd187123** · 06-18-2014, 02:28 PM

Originally Posted by Hazard

When I was in medical I had a frozen talus being sent to a hospital for a surgery. When I got there for the surgery they told me it was cancelled. The Nursing assistant in the operating room didn't put it in the freezer. It was a $14,000 piece of human tissue..... Gone bad. He was fired that same day by his supervisor.

Shit does get expensive I know.

Nobody in my story got fired but it did come close. Apparently his boss was the one who left it out and she never read the literature that it needed to be refrigerated.

**DAAS** · 06-18-2014, 02:40 PM

Any home brewer is aware of the ridiculous mark up in pharmaceuticals. And the mark up on gear is a lot less than some others. I mean Arimidex is marked up to around $1 a milligram. I've payed not much more than that for a gram and they still were making a large mark up on my price.

**Hazard** · 06-18-2014, 03:10 PM

Originally Posted by Docd187123

Shit does get expensive I know.

Nobody in my story got fired but it did come close. Apparently his boss was the one who left it out and she never read the literature that it needed to be refrigerated.

Yea but if its shipped in a cold pack..... Lol

**thegodfather** · 06-18-2014, 04:12 PM

Ok this is getting out of hand. First, people were contending that health care is a "RIGHT." As if individuals have the "RIGHT" to another individuals service, which is by definition slavery. In the United States we have what are called 'Negative Freedoms,' i.e., inalienable rights which people are born with, endowed by their creator, and the law simply RESTRICTS THE GOVERNMENT from infringing upon those rights. If we concede people have the right to health care (a SERVICE), which is a positive freedom, we automatically admit that those people have the RIGHT to another human beings time and service, regardless of compensation. Now, it seems that people believe not only do they have the right to health care, they now have a right to the most advanced, ground breaking treatments available. This is simply not true, unethical, and fiscally impossible.

With regards to the price of that specific Hep C treatment, which is marketed as a cure, the company is actually setting a different price point based on the country, on what they think they can get for the drug. However, in most instances with drug companies, you are paying for the extensive research & development costs, the risk associated with developing the drug, the 10-12 other drugs that the drug company simultaneously developed for that illness which proved to be ineffective or dangerous, and the extremely high costs of obtaining FDA approval (hundreds of millions of dollars). The free market has the answers to this problem, not government.

Principally, there are meaningful steps that can be taken which can drastically reduce costs while increasing quality. Chiefly among them, to allow price transparency in medicine, to reduce regulatory burdens, and for insurance to be a true measure of risk and for catastrophic coverage only. Prior to EMTALA, ERISA, and the HMO Act, healthcare was relatively affordable for the vast majority of people, it was only after these iterations the costs became grossly distorted, mostly because of a quasi-socialized system, and various other anti-free market initiatives which drove costs up, and caused doctors to need to see twice as many patients simply to maintain their income levels. As an aside, I'd like to point out that doctors salaries only account for 1% of total healthcare costs in the country, to counter the common misconception that doctors salaries are 'too high', save that criticism for the CEO's with golden parachutes.

**Times Roman** · 06-18-2014, 06:04 PM

Originally Posted by lovbyts

Thats far from the only one. The more life threatening the more expensive. I was doing research for a friend tonight who has a form of Anemia that is similar to leukemia, it effects the spleen, she needs frequent blood transfusions and more. There are people here in the US who are paying $5K - $8K a month for 15 pills a month and it takes at least 3 months to know if it's going to help. Luckily she is in the Philippines and her doctor is able to get the same medication for under $5 a pill.

Now explain to me why the big price difference??? Yeah it's sad that they can/will charge you so much because they know you will pay it if your life is at risk.

Now to her that is still a LOT of money and even though her husband makes decent money because he is a seaman it will put a significant dent in their finances especially since she just took on the roll of being a new momma because her sister brought over a newborn (literally born that day) 2 weeks ago that was dropped off at the hospital so thats an added expense.

She starts a 15 day trial tomorrow of the new medication to see if it will help or not. I already told her I will cover the first 3 months just trying to help a little. I am also the honorary godfather/Ninong of the new baby. I was told a few years ago when they got together I would be the godfather when they have one but due to circumstances (her illness) they have not had one. I am honored, they are good people. I did also buy the playpen and new stroller. That stuff is cheap over there. OK sorry got a little OT

it's not the cost of the pill you are paying for. It's for the years of effort and billions of $$ spent in R&D costs that need to be paid for...

...some one in the phillipines can figure out the chemical compound, rip off the patent licenses, and produce it for cents on the dollar.

...but the rip off artist in the phillipines would NEVER have been able to rip it off had not the Pharm industry invested the capital necessary to develop the drug.

**trikydik** · 06-18-2014, 10:38 PM

septicemia medications can cost $20k per month..

That is the problem with diseases no one gets. The fewer people get this disease, the more expensive it is to treat and cure it.

**Spartans09** · 06-19-2014, 08:57 PM

Thank god for the massive financial reward for these companies to take huge risks to develop life saving/altering wonder drugs.
I don't see Cuba or Brazil or any other heavily socialist or communist country that despises capitalism adding much in this regard.

**David LoPan** · 06-19-2014, 10:26 PM

I have to say that I have seen a lot of medical errors that cost a lot of money. The other day a nurse gave an 8K med to a patient that the pharmacy and the doctor had made a mistake on. Guess who got screwed? Both the nurse and the pt insurance.

I have seen a lot of vets get into the VA system just to pay for medications that cost 1200 a month and they get it for 8 bucks due to their service. And they are not service connected injured vets. Makes it hard on the whole system. People believe that its their right to get stuff for free or cheap. I think the godfather made some good points.

My wife was in Pharm sales for years and I know how much drugs cost for R and D and approval with the FDA. Why the US is losing so many companies and them going overseas. Executives make to much money, IMO, for what they do and the people that do most of the work dont. Also richer countries like the US pay more for the same new drugs that go to other countries.

But think of all the people in the prison system that have Hep C. Guess who is going to be paying for their medication. No them but the tax payers.

**songdog** · 06-21-2014, 05:22 AM

Our Vets deserve to get a break.They put their lifes on the line.They spent countless days months away from their familys and loved ones.And believe me.The VA sucks! I am glad to see someone on their ash.You go there for a 9am appt.And you dont leave until 3 or 4 pm.And you only been with the Doc 15 min.I know I been there.So dont ever knock our VETS they paid the price.