Wednesday, January 02, 2008

Bogus Classifications

This was some interesting spin. 

Most free drug samples go to wealthy and insured patients, not to the poor and uninsured who may need them most, Harvard researchers report.

In fact, more than four-fifths of those who receive samples are insured, while less than one-fifth are uninsured and less than one-third have low incomes (below $37,000 for a family of four), the researchers found.

Got that?  If you are a family of four and you earn $40,000, you are “wealthy” according to Harvard researchers.  Anyone out there in that range?  Do you feel “wealthy?” 

Also, think about the practical aspects of this.  I live in a relatively middle class community.  I’ll bet that fewer than 1% of our family doctor’s patients would not classify as “wealthy” to these researchers.  Who is the doctor supposed to give the free meds to?  Are they supposed to let them expire because it would be wrong to give them to a “wealthy” family of four who has a substantial income of $39,000?

The threshold for what is considered “wealthy” seems to be getting lower every day.

(8) Comments
Posted by Owen at 2316 hrs
Culture

  1. Well, according to Bush, that is wealthy.  The 2007 federal poverty level is about half that.  Or doesn’t that apply to West Bend?

    Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on January 02, 2008 at 2344 hrs


  2. So that’s the only two classifications?  Poor and wealthy?

    Posted by Owen on January 02, 2008 at 2347 hrs


  3. I don’t make them up, I just deal with the garbage.  It’s sort of like the great “Is ketchup a vegetable?” debate.  When you have to get that particulary, your just putting a bandaid on a severed limb.

    Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on January 03, 2008 at 0048 hrs


  4. What is the assumption being posed by Harvard?  That drug samples are manufactured for distribution to “poor” people only?  Several times in my life I was given samples:  first, to get me started on a medication before it could be filled at the drug store, and secondly to make sure it was going to be effective/tolerable - why should I (and my insurance company) invest in a supply (i.e., 90 days) of medications that I might have have to stop taking?

    The other logic missing here - you need to see a doctor to get a prescription (or a free drug sample) - if you are uninsured you might not even be at a doctor to access the free medication.

    Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on January 03, 2008 at 0811 hrs


  5. Whew! So glad to learn I’m wealthy! Now I know why I’m losing 1/3 of my pay to taxes! Damn us rich folk.

    Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on January 03, 2008 at 1205 hrs


  6. Wealthy is relative, compared to some people in the world homeless people in the US are wealthy…

    And ketchup is a vegetable, it’s certainly not animal or mineral (well maybe a little mineral with the salt…)

    Posted by Matt on January 03, 2008 at 1653 hrs


  7. Actually, $40k is right about the 50th percentile for all US households.  The middle quintile—the 40th to 60th percentile—currently ranges from about $35k to about $55k.  So if you were trying to draw a line between wealthy and not, you might pick the middle as your line.

    Just sayin’.

    Posted by folkbum on January 03, 2008 at 1832 hrs


  8. I’m fairly sure my daughter and son in law will be thrilled to find out they are so wealthy!

    Posted by Kate on January 03, 2008 at 2244 hrs


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