What's the deal with Montel's "Partnership for Prescription Assistance"?

[Stinky The Clown]

I'm thinking its a big PR stunt by Big Pharma.

They give away free meds to a few hundred thousand, or even a few million, poor people. They can then crow about their magnanimity from the highest tree. At the same time, they're charging obscene amounts to insurance companies and the government. And for that, we **all** pay. While Pharma continues to rake it in in ways that would make Big Oil blush.

[annabanana]

1. You've got them dead to rights.. That's exactly what they are.

It's all footage for an expensive, magnificently produced commercial.

[sandnsea]

2. When you'd die without them

It's a pretty big deal. Our clinic has a full time person who does nothing but handle prescription paperwork for this program and there are less than 10,000 people in my town. I don't know how much they give away, but considering they don't have to do it at all, I think it's a pretty good thing.

[Stinky The Clown]

3. There can be no doubt whatever that the recipients of the largesse benefit greatly .....

.... perhaps even, as you say, to the point of life and death.

[sandnsea]

6. No, not 'perhaps'

Absolutely. My mother for starters.

[annabanana]

4. I certainly don't begrudge those people that are lucky enough

to be on their route. I just don't think, placed against all the need there is in this Country for affordable medication, that their effort is a good trade-off for a reasonable policy.

[sandnsea]

5. But since it's all we've got now

why piss on it? I will never understand that.

[Stinky The Clown]

7. While it benefits a few (and I would never call for it to end), the fact appears to be .......

..... that is a giant PR stunt.

The reason they want to do the stunt is to keep the gubmint and the people from wanting to go after them and do some form of regulation.

Again, I am not in any way begrudging anyone from talking part in the program. Were I in need of it, I'd be the first in line.

[sandnsea]

8. Oh brother, all corporate charity is PR

in one way or other. People aren't that stupid. The second you get any kind of insurance at all, bam, no assistance. This program isn't going to stop anybody from wanting health care reform. In fact, by the time you get to the point of needing a program like this, you know better than most how much we need a different system.

[Stinky The Clown]

9. Why the need to argue with me?

[sandnsea]

12. Because people need assistance

all kinds of assistance. The T-ball team likes having the T-shirts that the local bowling alley provides, are you going to suggest it's some sort of scam to keep the city from providing uniforms? That is one of the better programs in the country. And the fact is, no matter what we do with health care, we will need pharmaceutical companies. Unless you think the country is going to agree to nationalize all of them, then we have to deal with the reality that we need them.

And then there's this, which is just beyond ridiculous.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=2986386&mesg_id=2986810

[Stinky The Clown]

13. Your avatar is quite apros po

Where did I suggest this program is in lieu of policy? :shrug:

I said it was a massive PR effort. Do you disagree with that?

I honestly don't get your point unless your point is to argue.

[sandnsea]

15. No, I don't think it's just a phony PR effort

I think it saves lives and I know it hasn't been in place that long, so undoubtedly people died without it.

I argue because of that avatar, people who give me a damn headache because they're so negative all the time. I never thought I'd hear somebody piss on the prescription assistance program. There's no down side to it, but you managed to find one. Yeah, it gives me a fucking headache.

[Stinky The Clown]

16. Whatever .....

..... this isn't worth the breath. You see it your way, I see it mine. So this is my last word with you about this. We'll have to agree (or not) to disagree.

Big Pharma is NOT our friend. They will fuck you over in a heartbeat if it serves their purposes.

But you go ahead and defend them because they do one tiny good thing for not such good reasons.

[OwnedByFerrets]

11. "People aren't that stupid."

Oh yes Americans ARE that stupid.

[slampoet]

10. They are TESTING DRUGS ON POOR PEOPLE, in the add it says for the Pharmaceutical TESTING industry.

Just take a look at the add and listen to what they say.


These drugs are free because they are testing on people when they should be PAYING them to be guinea pigs.

[Lex]

14. He has MS, and one of the MS drugs costs over $10,000 per year

to take if you don't have insurance.

Lots of people go without the drug to their health's detriment, but some people take advantage of this program.

The system is horribly broken, so I agree with you about that.

[Stinky The Clown]

17. "The system is horribly broken, so I agree with you about that."

Yes, the system is so broken there isn't even hardly a system left .... except one that keeps us tied to bad jobs while leaving many millions out entirely.

I find no reason to give kudos to a group that does one good thing for the wrong reasons.

[Lex]

19. Well, kudos from you or me

isn't consequential. But I see your point.

[SoCalDem]

18. Medicine in America. Begging for your meds

Like Queen for a Day.. If your "story" is compelling enough, and you volunteer to be available for advertising purposes, you can get your meds..

We are voyeurs and apparently like to watch other people's misfortunes :grr: