Long but worth a read

[bohan54]

Very illuminating letter from an oncologist.  Some things I have suspected are confirmed here:

http://www.healthbeatblog.org/2009/01/a-very-open-letter-from-an-oncologist.html

[jane65]

Sharon, thank you so much for bringing this article to our attention.

I found it so informative, it's what my oncologist and his associate have said a couple of times regarding the cost of the drugs, especially for a small oncology office, and the low reimbursement for administration of the drugs.
My hubby read it and we discussed it with my brother, who is a pharmacist. He agreed and added his insight into the article.

Thanks again,
Jane

[JC145]

I'm not surprised by anything I have read here.  I am very aware of the cutbacks Medicare has made in reimbursement for drugs resulting in pts. going to a hospital for tx because the small onco. office cannot cover the cost of drug plus the overhead of running the practice.  I think the pharm. companies could take a closer look at the cost of the drugs and see if they are being a little greedy.  I feel very comfortable in the tx I am receiving and the choices my MD and I have made.  He is right on the money for where I am in this disease.  Quality of LIfe is most important to him.  

This is a very interesting article.  I would like to think ASCO could suggest some guidelines.  I think I would trust ASCO over insurance companies and/or the government running Medicare.

Thanks, Sharon .. .don't know where you found this .. but am sending it on.

Judy

[dian07]

It is refreshing to have someone inside the medical industrial complex turn a light on and blow a whistle!  In a perfect world his aspirations would manifest!
Thanks for calling attention to this article.
Peace.
dian

Sharon;  take care of yourself and stay in touch, please!

[Ramsay14]

I suspected some of these things as well.  Very eye opening.