Year of the RatPharma Emerges as Villain in Prime of 2008 U.S. Elections
The Free Dictionary (http://idioms.thefreedictionary.com/smell+a+rat) defines the idiom smells like a rat as starting to believe that something is wrong about a situation, especially that someone is being dishonest. Since 2008 is the year of the Rat, I would say thats quite appropriate
With the 2008 U.S. presidential election approaching, health care reform has certainly captured its share of mind and voice with the candidates and media alike. It seems like a very legitimate and important topic to focus on considering healthcare spend and the number of Americans without health insurance. The number of uninsured in the U.S. is climbing steadily: 47 million people were uninsured in 2006, an increase of 8.6 millionmore than 18 percentsince 2000. Additionally, healthcare spending in the United States is on the rise as more and more baby boomers retire and as more and more chronic diseases plague the nation. While the focus should be on providing access to affordable medical insurance and care, I have come to notice that our presidential candidates, government and media alike have turned their attention to something that only accounts for 10% of the overall healthcare spend Pharmaceuticals. Hello! Does this smell like a rat to anyone else? What about the Insurance industry? Did anyone forget that they are for-profit organizations and could help generate greater impact on the problems at large?
I read an article this morning in the Merced Sun-Star entitled "County Discount Prescription Card is Free to Everybody". Once again, I was reminded that there are so many constituents doing wonderful things to offer free or discounted medicines to the people of our Nation who are unable to afford it. Pharmaceutical companies have been helping countless families and patients worldwide by graciously donating and discounting medicines and today they are seen as villainswhere is the justice?
My question is why isnt anyone looking at or talking about the Insurance industry as part of the problem or solution? And where are the Insurers in all this? Why havent they stepped up to the plate to help?
If Pharma can provide access to free medicines and if NACO and Caremark could offer free cards to patients that extend Caremarks discounts to those who need them most, couldnt the insurance industry provide at least a small level of temporary patient assistance and offer a free card that extends their discounts for medical and hospital visits, tests and services?
Susan Dorfman
VP, World-Wide Marketing
Skila, a Sela2 Company
www.skila.com