The problem with PBMs is just the tip of the iceberg regarding too much industry influence in medicine.

I sent the following response to Dr. Wolfbers’ article “Hippocritical’ Doctors” that ran in the Boston Globe 3/25/07. Don’t know if they will run it or not. But the word needs to get out.

To the Editor,

The March 25, 2007 edition of Boston Globe’s Magazine ran an article authored by Dr. Adam Wolfberg, a Boston obstetrician. The article entitled “Hippocritcal’ Doctors”, (www.boston.com/business/healthcare/articles/2007/03/25/hippocritical_doctors/) should set off alarm bells in the ears of legislators who promote the concept of Evidence Based Medicine (EMB), as a solution to the nation’s health care crisis. EBM establishes guidelines that physicians must follow when treating the injured. It determines what treatments will and will not be reimbursed by health insurers. It also determines what form and amount of workers compensation injured workers will receive. In some states such as California, medical practices determined under EBM are written into law for the treatment of injured workers. (www.acoem.org/news.aspx?id=2502)

There is no doubt our health care system is in dire need of change. However, there is a troubling problem – namely, Who is in charge of determining what is evidence? Many US medical professionals who are currently in positions of deciding what is and is not “evidence”, have long histories of ties with insurers, other stakeholder industries and Big Tobacco. They and the medical associations that they govern also have much influence into government medical policies established through the CDC, NIOSH, HHS, NIH, NIEHS and the EPA.

It is a grave concern among many, that patients such as Dr. Wolfberg’s 5 year old daughter, are not able to obtain proper treatment because we have given too much power to those with financial interests in determining what is viable medical treatment. It is a concern that we have given the Proverbial Foxes the Keys to the Evidence Based Medicine Hen House.

For more on the subject of conflicts of interest involving those who are controlling national medical protocol, read the following links:

Dateline NBC, “The Paper Chase” June 23, 2000
disabilitylaw.ca/Dateline%20State%20Farm.pdf

Wall Street Journal, Jan 9, 2007 “Amid Suits over Mold, Experts Wear Two Hats”
http://blawg.midwestconstructionlaw.com/2007/01/new_mold_case.html

Letter to the White House, Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Oct 28, 2003
http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/inforeg/2003iq/66.pdf

Gladly — consider it done. And hopefully you’ll link back to me, too? I have much more to say about these PBMs and plan to use some of your content in those posts.