Today Kaiser Health News launches a blog that will complement our coverage of health care policy and politics. Capsules will provide a new venue for staff-written news and observations, outside voices and commentary and other timely and interactive features.
We look forward to your feedback and hope you will make Capsules an important part of your daily dose of health news.
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I’m currently being treated for chronic diabetes. When I visit my Primary Care Physician (PCP), usually there is at least one Pharmaceutical Sales Representative or Medical Equipment Sales Representative sitting in the office waiting to see my doctor. Is it any surprise that my PCP never wants to talk with me about switching me off of an expensive brand diabetes medicine to a less expensive generic medicine. He usually gets annoyed when I raise the topic. My prescription plan keeps sending me notices that one or more of my brand named medicines has a generic equivalent and they ask me to discuss switching with my doctor.
QUESTION 1: Is there any reward mechanism contained in the Affordable Care Act that encourages doctors to reduce consumer costs and to reduce prescription plan costs by preferring to prescribe generic medicines?
QUESTION 2: Where can I find a generic friendly doctor?