Drug Co-Pay Coupons–Chapter Two of Healthcare Marketing Their “Asses” Off
Back in October I wrote chapter one which talks about all types of marketing in healthcare and this article talks about co-pay coupons. The links is worth a read as
there are some mistakes made by some in the way that they think perception may take place, i.e. Andy Griffith selling Medicare. That’s selling an old paradigm from the past and granted I like Andy and the commercials but we all know we are not going to get “Andy” on the phone when we need assistance.
Why Is Almost Everyone In Healthcare Marketing Their “Ass” Off
My own mother who is a diabetic went through some big time marketers driving her crazy too with so called diabetes associations telling her she needed a new glucose machine and to call Medicare to her drug store and health plant not being able to agree on her testing her sugar level twice a day, and she’s been doing this for 15 years. No mention of what her doctor thought though, but rather preserve those algorithmic data processes of 3X a day as that means more money.
Actually this article has an insurer complaining about driving up their cost; however in Texas a company bought by Humana uses coupons for visits to their facilities too. I guess the word here is that coupons are ok by insurance companies as long as they don’t cost us <grin>. Humana also wants you to play games on line, why? We are back the data for money game.
Coupons collect data.
I see where the coupons can help people but if there is a generic available, why not go that route first? Now we come back to “marketing our asses off” for sales of a premium drug. Drug companies advertise because it works.
Habits and Identities Revealed via Coupons – Facebook Fan Pages Can Make User ID Visible – Shopping Algorithms Reduce Privacy And Increase Visibility
Sure the coupons are helping and it’s kind of sad that a consumer has to give up personal privacy in order to be able to afford their drugs at times, when there is no generic available. 
If you use a drug company coupon, they know who you are and build intelligence files on how often you fill prescriptions etc. and again there’s always that doubt of not knowing who’s mining the data today. If it’s not directly the insurance company it’s the drug company just mining away for data.
My advice is to NOT use coupons unless you really have to and there are those 
occasions to where we all do use some, self included. The biggest waste of all is the roll of coupons that come out of the cash register at CVS and other stores which go right in the trash as I try to be as paperless as possible and I’d rather start saving trees.
If I can go and pay $4.00 cash and eliminate the co-pay crap, I am happy, but then again my doctor gets hit up as without being reported back it makes me look like a bad patient with not being compliant when that’s not the case at all. We both laugh at it and he tells the IPA to go pound sand as he doesn’t live with me.
Again, the smartest thing to do is to check for a generic and ditch the coupons if possible as they all are out there to get data of one form or another, that is if you want to preserve a little bit of privacy. BD
EXECUTIVES of a small insurance company in Albany were mystified when, almost overnight, its payments for a certain class of antibiotics nearly doubled, threatening to add about a half-million dollars annually in costs.
The reason, it turned out, was that patients were using a card distributed by the maker of an expensive antibiotic used to treat acne, sharply reducing their insurance co-payments. With their out-of-pocket costs much lower, consumers had switched from generic alternatives to the more expensive drug.
Drug companies say the plans help some patients afford medicines that they otherwise could not.
But health insurers and some consumer groups say that in many cases, the coupons are just marketing gimmicks that are leading to an overall increase in health care costs. That is because they circumvent the system of higher co-pays on costlier drugs that insurers use to encourage consumers to use less expensive products.
Co-Pay Coupons for Patients, but Higher Bills for Insurers - NYTimes.com
Bar Code Page
Microsoft Tags – Medical Quack Bar Codes
Bar Codes for FDA Recalls-Good Idea? Search this blog with keywords barcodes or Microsoft Tags-Tons of posts where it could have helped! There is no bigger poster child than Johnson and Johnson and actually through some folks I know, the idea has been floated up there a while back. I have added many other posts and will try to update the links here on bar codes and healthcare, Microsoft Tags so past postings are easier to find.
I’ll come back here and add more when I have time as I think I have about 60 or so articles on the Medical Quack! Many of the links have videos so check them out.
Johnson and Johnson McNeil Healthcare Group Recalls Children’s Over the Counter Liquid Medications
Counterfeit Alli Warning from the FDA – We Should Be Using Technology for Easier Identification
Also from last year, the big heist at Eli Lilly, bar codes would have been real helpful.
Eli Lilly Pill Heist in Connecticut – Worth a Few Million on the Black Market And Should Have Been “Tagged” for Identification To Help Identify Reselling By the Thieves
YOU CAN STILL VOTE FOR BAR CODES TO USE WITH RECALLS AND IF YOU RAD A LITTLE FURTHER HERE, IT SOVLES A LOT OF OTHER ISSUES LIKE FINDING STOLEN DRUGS TOO. ONE TECHNOLOGY CAN SOLVE A LOT OF EVILS! 
TwitTag – Fast and Simple Way to Create a “Twitter” Tag – The Same 3D Bar Codes We Want Drug and Device Companies to 
Use So We Can Scan With Our Cell Phones To Find FDA Recalls
Microsoft Tags in Healthcare – Comments and Demonstration at “Microsoft Connected Conference” with Surface
Microsoft Receives Patent-Techniques to Create Counterfeit and Tamper Resistant Labels Using Fiber Optic Strands-Bar Codes Getting Closer for Drug/Device Recalls?
RazCode/Windows Tags – Bar Coding to Add Information to PHRs, EHRs, and More…
RAZCODE (Microsoft Tags) Using Smart Phones to authenticate MDs When e-Prescribing Controlled Substances
Connecting HealthVault/Google Health and More to RazCode Encrypted Microsoft Tags – Automate Data Input
Tags for Use in Healthcare – Medical Stents, Medications - One Scan Away From Safety Information in Real Time
How Does a Grocery Store Chain Kick the FDA, Pharma and Healthcare in the Butt When It Comes to Recalls
Microsoft Tags on CBS Early Show – Wake Up FDA, Pharma and Medical Device Companies –Scan Those Drugs, Medical Devices and Synchronize with an FDA Tag Data Base – Recalls, Theft Tracking and More….
Microsoft Tag Bar Codes–Who’s Been Scanning the Medical Quack–The Bing Heat Map Tells All And Could Help Find Stolen or Expired Drugs and Devices With This Methodology
You can scan your Vodka, but not medicine!
Skyy Vodka Using Microsoft Tags-We Can Find Out More About What We are Drinking-Would Be Nice if Tylenol & Others Did This
Microsoft Tags Doing Their Job on Boxes of Special K At the Grocery Store-Working with Lucky Magazine to Encourage Healthy Eating to Lose Weight
This IT person says, yes, combine with RFID at the hospital as they already work with bar coding.
Microsoft Tags in Healthcare – Comments and Demonstration at “Microsoft Connected Conference” with Surface
Governor Schwarzenegger Appoints Members to California Board to Oversee Healthcare Reform
We are going to miss our governor when he leaves office and granted I may not have agreed with him 100% as nobody does that today, but overall he made some decent decisions and moves, especially when it comes to technology.
I’m going to 
miss those “Tweetcast.in” notifications I get in Twitter. We’ll see if Jerry Brown can pick up the momentum. The governor does some of is own tweets too as he does pictures so we know it’s him when images are sent to where we know somebody else could not have sent.
You can see the names below on the 2 new members of the reform committee who do not get paid for this and includes Jerry Brown’s choice for selection of the California Secretary of Health and Human Services. California has jumped right on the band wagon here and we see differences with the 2 parties but nothing like the soap operas that play out in Washington. 
In California Republicans and Democrats Work to Implement Health Care Reform
In addition, and probably emphasized by his own use of technology, the governor set up a Digital Literacy Campaign for California. See this goes along with exactly everything I have said for the last 3 years on the blog, you have to be “hands on” not just be a magpie to profess what is good for “those guys over there”. Once you try things out you see value and again I hope Jerry Brown continues in the vain as we certainly need it and I’m sure the digital literacy campaign could be shared with Washington too. Instead of looking at the folks working with technology as “goobers” as this has been done for years, listen up and see what they have to say and perhaps you might be enlighten. BD
The Governor has appointed two members of his administration to a Board that will help oversee California's implementation of the new federal healthcare reforms.
Governor Schwarzenegger announces that he has appointed Kimberly Belshe, his Cabinet Secretary for Health and Human Services, and Susan Kennedy, his Chief of Staff, to a five member California Health Benefit Exchange.
A third slot will be filled by Diana Dooley, Governor Elect Jerry Brown's choice for Secretary of Health and Human Services, and the final two will be selected by the legislature. The group is responsible for creating an internet based marketplace so that consumers can shop for health insurance.
Dr. Oz “11 Weeks to Move It and Lose It” Revolutionary Weight Loss Challenge to Launching Jan. 3, 2011
It’s that time of the year again with everyone making their commitments for the 
upcoming year and for those who want to lose weight, Dr. Oz offers his challenge and it will be announced on his first show of the season. A couple weeks ago I was invited with other members of the press to participate in a conference call with Dr. Oz and you can read more about what Dr. Oz talked about below with previewing his challenge and why he chose “11 Weeks”. In the conference call Dr. Oz said his birthday was an 11 and has always been lucky and that part I related too as I’m an 11 also, and hope the luck for the 11s is good this year! <grin>. Numerology can be fun and I have a mother who has done this for years and its fascinating as well serving for a motivation process and she’s another 11. Back on topic here, Dr. Oz felt that the 11 Week time frame is the necessary time it takes to change our brain waves to think differently too.
Dr. Oz Talks About Attacking the Battle of the Bulge With the 11 Week Weight Challenge
During the holidays in watching the traffic on my blog it was interesting to see a post that I made last February when Southwest Airlines was in the news about their “Customer of Size” policy. From December 23rd until today, 
it held the spot of the “most read” post every day. I thought this was interesting to see a post on the blog come out of the archives and all of sudden take top spot! Obviously with everyone traveling perhaps people were checking to see if they were within the realms of “being of proper size” I guess. In the 3 years plus of doing this blog I have never seen something like that happen, so perhaps we are looking at the awareness of our weight getting attention, which would be a good thing. I would say talking about it works and especially if one is at the point where additional weight is going to cost you money when you travel. Anyway, I just found this interesting.
I’m out there like everyone else with now thinking about shoving off a few extra pounds of around 5 to 10 pounds and need to get my own mindset ready to attack the issue. Granted I think it’s easier with 5 or 10 pounds than a higher number but it still takes the same mind set to do it, so in that essence I’m in the same boat with everyone else along with more exercise this year. We spend a lot of time online and it’s a balance today with splitting up time online to agree with our time offline, in other words our body time I think. Below is the press release with additional information on the “11 Week Challenge” so you take a look and see how the 11 Week Challenge will work! BD
Press Release:
(New York, NY) December 27, 2010 -- Kicking off the New Year, Emmy Award-winning host of THE DR. OZ SHOW, Dr. Mehmet Oz, will unveil his revolutionary “11 Weeks to Move It and Lose It” program, a weight loss challenge unlike any other on the episode airing January 3, 2011. This one of--a--kind online initiative will provide customized tools to knock off the pounds and transform people’s bodies and lives by giving participants their very own personal trainer and their own individually tailored weight loss plan (a value of $99 a month) absolutely free. During the show, Dr. Oz will go through the easy step-by-step process off how and when to sign up for the program plus reap incredible benefits and giveaways.
To help kick off the “11 Weeks to Move It and Lose It” campaign, THE DR. OZ SHOW is partnering with the Nike SPARQ Training Network (NSTN), selected based on their unique expertise and knowledge in the health and fitness field. This team of experts (11 trainers and 11 health/nutrition experts) will be able to provide guidance and motivation, results--focused webcasts, exercise videos, behavior modification tips and answer health and fitness questions all at the touch of a mouse. On the website 
www.doctoroz.com, participants can track their progress and food intake with these unique tools:
Food logging - Participants can enter virtually any food from a database over 70,000 foods (even from popular restaurants) to keep track of calorie and nutrient intake as well as receive suggested lifestyle menus to help plan out meals.
Setting weight loss goal /tracking – In order to help participants determine a realistic goal for 11 weeks, a customized calendar will monitor progress and set goals with reminders of where you need to be every day based on height, weight, BMI, age, and lifestyle.
Health assessment – Participants can take a quiz to evaluate diet and exercise based on current health.
Weight loss community - Participants will get the chance to talk to others on the plan and gain support as they work through the challenges. People can also see real--time updates on their progress and get tips and professional advice from the NSTN for motivation.
Exercise – Videos and webcasts will help participants lose the pounds and get them on the road to healthier living.
Product - Participants will receive recommendations from the NSTN with regard to specific products that will support their chosen exercise programs.
Viewers can sign up for the “11 Weeks to to Move It or Lose It” program simply by going to www.doctoroz.com. Enrollment is available free of charge for the entire 11 weeks. THE DR. OZ SHOW will be monitoring progress of individuals and exploring various components of the 11 week program throughout January and February.
ABOUT THE DR. OZ SHOW
Dr. Oz won an Emmy for outstanding informative talk show host at the 2010 Daytime Emmys. “The Dr. Oz Show” was nominated for Best Informative Talk Show. Last year “The Dr. Oz Show” debuted with the biggest ratings in seven years in daytime television and maintained impressive ratings throughout the season.
Dr. Oz has served as health expert on "The Oprah Winfrey Show" since 2004, 
sharing advice with viewers to help them live their best life from the inside out. Dr. Oz has co-authored six New York Times Best Sellers including "YOU: The Owner's Manual", "YOU: The Smart Patient", "YOU: On a Diet", "YOU: Staying Young", "YOU: Being Beautiful" and “YOU Having a Baby” as well as the award-winning "Healing from the Heart". He has a regular column in Esquire magazine and is a contributing editor to O, The Oprah Magazine. He is also the host of a daily talk show on Sirius XM Radio's "Oprah Radio."
Dr. Oz is vice-chair of the Department of Surgery and Professor of Surgery at Columbia University. He directs the Cardiovascular Institute and Complementary Medicine Program at New York Presbyterian Hospital and performs 100 heart operations annually. His research interests include heart replacement surgery, minimally invasive cardiac surgery, complementary medicine and health care policy. He has authored over 400 original publications, book chapters, and medical books and has received several patents.
Cleared in over 99% of the country, "The Dr. Oz Show" is co-produced by Harpo Productions and Sony Pictures Television (SPT) and distributed by SPT. "The Dr. Oz Show" is executive produced by Mindy Borman; Amy Chiaro is co-executive producer. The show is filmed in front of a studio audience in Studio 6A in New York's legendary Rockefeller Center.
ABOUT HARPO STUDIOS 
Harpo Studios is the home of Harpo Productions, Inc. the most successful production company in daytime talk, producing the number one, award-winning “The Oprah Winfrey Show” and syndication’s latest success, “The Dr. Oz Show,” as well as having developed “Dr. Phil” and “Rachael Ray.” ZoCo Productions, LLC, an affiliate of Harpo Productions, Inc., and Sony Pictures Television co-produce “The Dr. Oz Show.” In September 2010, Harpo Studios also launched “The Nate Berkus Show.” Harpo Studios creates, develops and produces original TV programming for primetime, syndication, cable and digital platforms. Harpo Creative Works, an award-winning team of designers, writers and producers, offers its services to media clients outside of Harpo Studios as a full-service creative agency specializing in the design and execution of on-air, print and online promotion for broadcast and cable television across a wide range of multimedia. Harpo Print, LLC and Hearst Magazines publish the monthly "O, The Oprah Magazine" publication. Harpo Films, Inc. produces feature films and, through an exclusive deal with HBO, scripted television programming. Harpo Radio, Inc. produces Oprah Radio (XM channel 156, Sirius channel 195 as part of its “Best of XM” package) on SIRIUS XM Radio and content for Westwood One. Harpo Retail manages The Oprah Store (www.theOprahStore.com), a free-standing retail venture located directly across from Harpo Studios and its companion website, and other retail and e-commerce projects. A joint venture between Harpo, Inc. and Discovery Communications, OWN: The Oprah Winfrey Network, a multi-platform company that includes a cable network and the premier lifestyle website Oprah.com, will debut on January 1, 2011 in approximately 80 million homes, on what is currently the Discovery Health Channel.
ABOUT SONY PICTURES TELEVISION
Sony Pictures Television is one of the television industry’s leading content providers. It produces and distributes programming in every genre, including series, telefilms, theatrical releases and family entertainment around the world and for every platform: broadcast and cable television, first-run and off-network syndication and digital distribution. In addition to one of the industry’s largest libraries of feature films and television shows, SPT boasts a current program slate that includes the top-rated daytime dramas and game shows, landmark off-network series, original animated series and critically acclaimed primetime dramas, comedies and telefilms. Internationally, SPT is a leader in local language productions around the world, some of which are co-produced with local partners, and sells SPE-owned formats in approximately 70 countries. To better serve its clients and partners worldwide, SPT maintains offices throughout the world, including Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Hungary, India, Italy, Japan, Korea, Mexico, the Netherlands, the People’s Republic of China, Russia, Singapore, Spain, Venezuela and the United Kingdom. SPT's worldwide television networks portfolio is a key strategy in SPE's long-range commitment to the global marketplace, with 122 channel feeds, which are available in more than 140 countries reaching almost 438 million households worldwide. SPT also creates original content for and manages SPE’s premium video website, Crackle. Additionally, SPT owns Dutch entertainment company 2waytraffic, production company Embassy Row and an HD movie channel, and is a part owner of cable channel GSN, a new 3D channel, FEARnet, the premier horror/thriller website and VOD service, and national media sales company ITN Networks, Inc. SPT advertiser sales is one of the premiere national advertising sales companies, handling the commercial inventory in SPT’s syndicated series as well as in all of SPE's digital businesses in the United States. SPT (www.sonypicturestelevision.com) is a Sony Pictures Entertainment company.
Show Website: doctoroz.com
Social Connections: twitter.com/droz (www.sonypicturestelevision.com) myspace.com/droz facebook.com/droz
For Ticket Inquiries: General Audience Tickets: Ticket Request Hotline is open Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM 212-664-3056, Option
WakeMate Sleep Analytics Device Warns Consumers to Not Use the USB Charger After Units Have Burst Into Flames-Mobile Health Application
You can read the entire article at Tech Crunch and it appears the unit itself is ok but
when you need to recharge and analyze your sleep patterns again, the charger could blow up. The chargers were made in China.
For me personally I’m not into analyzing sleep right now as all I care about is whether or not I get sleep. There are several companies that make such a device and WakeMate has a comparison here of how they stack up. BD
It was only days ago that we wrote that after nearly a year of delays, the first WakeMate units were finally shipping to customers. And now there’s some more bad news — really bad. Some of the initial units are apparently bursting into flames because of any issue with the USB charger included.
Repeat: Do not use the USB charger included with the shipping WakeMate units.
The USB chargers were sourced through a Chinese vendor. We paid to have the proper certification and safety tests performed here in the U.S. for the chargers. However, tonight we were informed by a customer of a safety incident with the black USB chargers. Therefore, effective immediately we are recalling ALL USB charger bricks and informing our customers that it is not safe to use these USB chargers to charge your WakeMate.
WakeMate Warns Users Of Major Safety Issue With Product After One Bursts Into Flames
Technorati Tags: WakeMate,sleep,analytics,mobile healthcare,medical devices,software,battery chargers,USB,mobile health
Synthetic Life Announced by Craig Venter–All About the Code and Sequencing the Genome
This may be a little heavy for most to comprehend but this is more of a technical 
report on how synthetic life and cell control was created. This is about a 25 minute video. Pay particular attention here to his comments talking about “debugging” as we have this too with software for healthcare and for medical devices, listen to the time elements he talks about and when crunching down on programmers, realize the complexity of this process. He talks about the code within the code and within the code.
He’s announcing the first synthetic cell from 4 bottles of chemicals and using yeast. This is the first self replicating species who’s parent is the computer and has it’s own website too. Notice the use of “booting the cell”.
Mathematicians are the key he said here up front of the biotech side, again getting the code so the secondary portion can work. He mentions the policy issues with the White House and Congress (if they understand it). Flu vaccines with Novartis are discussed and how much faster the vaccine can be made. Also mentioned is use of his technology with oil companies to develop new strings of algae at the end of his talk. BD
If this is a bit heavy, use the link below to see the recent 60 Minutes video and interview with Craig Venter.
J. Craig Venter and "Synthetic Life" With Man Made DNA–60 Minute Report (Video)
Here’s another video from a couple years ago with sequencing discussed on the boat done by Wired and PBS.
Craig Venter and team make a historic announcement: they've created the first fully functioning, reproducing cell controlled by synthetic DNA.
He explains how they did it and why the achievement marks the beginning of a new era for science.
In 2001, Craig Venter made headlines for sequencing the human genome. In 2003, he started mapping the ocean's biodiversity. And now, in 2010, he's created the first synthetic life forms -- microorganisms that can produce alternative fuels
http://www.exchangemagazine.com/morningpost/2010/week52/Friday/123105.htm
12 Year Old Finds Porn Applications on New Coby Kryos Tablet–Runs Android OS
You can watch the video and make your own conclusion. The company said there 
were “adult” software programs in the library and to me this seems to be a real possibility of where the applications came from rather than being pre-loaded. Perhaps there was not a strong enough limit to allow those applications to be added to the library?
That would seem to address the claim that all the original package seals were in place and perhaps the kids went right in to add some new applications and found them in the library before notifying their parents and perhaps porn apps should either not be included or a little more difficult to get. BD
MARION, Ill., Dec. 30 (UPI) -- An Illinois couple said their 12-year-old daughter was shocked to find the tablet PC she received for Christmas was pre-loaded with pornographic applications.
Jay Hardin of Marion said he and his wife bought a pair of Coby Kyros pads, tablet computers similar to the Apple iPad, for their daughters, ages 12 and 15, and the younger girl quickly discovered her computer was pre-loaded with two applications called "Boobs! Butts! Babes!" and "Undress Me," WSIL-TV, Harrisburg, Ill., reported Thursday.
Considering a Total Knee Replacement-Some Straight Talk from an Orthopedic Surgeon
This is great and who better to hear it from than a surgeon who this for a living. 
Sometimes with all the information we have floating around out there today we might not always get some of the information we need and then too marketing enters the picture and sometimes clouds issues too. Give a listen to Dr. Luks and I found it very informative and down to earth and done in a language we all can understand.
He also mentions a pulmonary embolism and it’s potential during surgery. Back in 2009 I had the opportunity to get educated myself on this topic with a quick interview I did with Cook Medical and how patients can be evaluated prior to surgery for potential clots with an interventional procedure. BD
Pulmonary Embolisms (PE) – Cook Medical’s Next-Generation (IVC) Filter Delivery System
Knee Implants
If you are considering a total knee replacement you are in significant pain, likely have a significant disability and your quality of life is probably suffering as well.
A total knee replacement is a BIG procedure… you must be well informed, and you MUST be *ready* for it. You should understand the procedure, the risks, the potential complications and the realistic goals! Once you understand that you can then make an informed decision whether or not you feel the “risk-benefit” ratio is in your favor.
When all is said and done you have a 90+% chance of doing “well” and being pleased. But it will not be a quick and easy path.
Musings of an Orthopedic Surgeon - Considering a Total Knee Replacement?
Technorati Tags: Knee replacement,surgery,anesthesia,orthopedic surgery,straight talk,knee surgery,Howard Luks
Fire At Quanxin Pharma Kills 5-Second Pharmaceutical Factory Explosion This Month in China With Worker Casualties
When we hear news of such, it’s reminds us of outsourcing thoughts too. As the article states this is the second blast/fire this month as another such incident 2 
weeks ago also killed 5 people. I didn’t find any references to whether or not they manufacture for any US drug companies, which is very common these days too or they could have been a supplier for another pharmaceutical company too.
When we hear of drug shortages, this makes me think of the fact that we have no US manufacturers of propofol in the US anymore and are dependent on one factory in Germany and if something like this occurred there, where would we be?
APP Pharmaceuticals Launching Drug Hotline in US–Check Status Of Fresenius Propoven (Propofol)-The Only US FDA Approved Drug
Does anyone else think about such things like the FDA? Just something crossing my mind this morning. This is shame for those in China for sure and safety needs to be addressed everywhere and if you read the news today you see safety being scarified all over for the sake of profits. The Wall Street Journal had the video below. BD
Five people were killed and eight injured in an explosion at a pharmaceutical factory in Kunming, Yunnan Province Thursday morning. The cause of the accident is still under investigation.
The explosion occurred at a tablet-manufacturing workshop of the Kunming Quanxin Pharmaceutical Company at around 10 am Thursday, according to a statement released by the Guandu district government Thursday afternoon.
About 13 workers were in the workshop when the explosion happened, the Yunnan Information Daily reported.
Two weeks ago, an explosion at a pharmaceutical factory in Huanggang, Hubei Province, resulted in four deaths and five people being injured, China Central Television reported.
"It is common sense that a factory cannot be built near residential areas," Niu Fengrui, director of the Center for Urban and Environmental Studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, told the Global Times Thursday.
"Scientific urban planning will gather all factories in one area of a city that is far away from residential areas," Niu added.
CMS Physician Compare Site-Same as Websites For Profit? Same MD Convicted of Medicare Fraud and Dead Chimney Doctor on the List
Well if you read the Medical Quack often enough you know that I have poked around these site a bit as I want to check for accuracy after finding my former doctor who had been dead for 7 years still listed. I think everyone got the word via this blog and 
she does not appear any more but the other 2 that I have blogged about are on this list too. Below is Dr. Justice who admitted committing Medicare fraud and is to be sentenced in February, site still shows him accepting Medicare as full payment. I did look though and the state has not revoked his license yet! Is a sentencing date and admission of Medicare fraud (and this was his second time) not enough?
Dr. Justice’s sentencing is scheduled for Feb. 28. He previously served as the director of the cancer center at Orange Coast Memorial Medical Center in Fountain Valley, Calif. You might be able to still get an appointment if you pay cash I guess as I don’t think he can still bill Medicare.
Avvo Physician Rating Service Can’t Get Accurate Information Listed on Doctors - One OC Oncologist Sitting in Jail for Fraud
Prominent Orange County Oncologist Pleads Guilty to Medicare/Insurance Fraud – Over $1 Million
Here’s the information about the “Dead Chimney Doctor” from Bakersfield and there’s a video at the link below.
California Doctor Who Passed Away in September With Being Stuck in a Chimney Still Searchable on MD Referral Sites
Is everyone drinking the same “data base” Kool Aid here?
Well at least I know CMS is not trying to profit like HealthGrades and Avvo and a bunch others by selling data and getting consumers to pay for subscriptions to get detailed information beyond what is listed. HealthGrades made millions and was bought up a few months ago by a private equity group. The AMA and I even had a nice chat about these site and specifically at that time about my former “dead doctor” that had never been removed from the data base at that time. 
I just hope CMS is not getting bilked on having to pay for this with the errors found here as it is all our tax dollars and furthermore hope they are not having to pay a company like HealthGrades for the use of the data or license.
I am glad they are looking into getting their own data infrastructure updated as we have 8 year of ignore basically from the prior administration. It’s ok to have listings but if you have read my former posts too on this topic we found a guy from an IPA who never practiced medicine listed along with many retired doctors and a few other dead doctors listed, which was contributed by doctors who read here.
CMS need to connect to the Social Security Death Index as again we don’t want dead doctors billing any more charges like what happened in 2009. People wanting to commit fraud mine this data too and look for loopholes with inaccurate or non updated information so in essence having the ratings as they are with out being indexed and checked for accuracy can be a big enticement for fraud.
Dead Doctors and Inaccurate MD Listings On the Web Can Be a Real Hunting Ground of Information to Mine For Crooks Relative to Fraudulent Medical Billing
So at this point do we need this and run the gambit of exposing more data for fraudulent use or give it up? The ratings are not fair and doctors hate it anyway and for good reason. One oncologist I know felt so bad for former doctors he used to compete against got on the web and gave them some nice ratings so their web presence wouldn’t suffer because he knew what was on the web was not right. 
On a related topic with folks not getting their data straight, the City of Buffalo paid out over 2 Million for insurance premiums on dead employees with never a mention from the insurer about any annual mammograms or other preventive services and I hear that from doctors all the time too that they get them, but a few on patients who have passed away a few years prior.
City of Buffalo Has Paid Over $2 Million to Provide Health Insurance for Hundreds of Dead People-Some as Many as 4 Years
I’m just a data person here and with the full on demand for accurate data and transparency with consumers, the other side needs to be shown as well so we can all get accurate data and this is especially important when insurance companies hang something over your head that is not accurate and entered years ago by a healthcare facility. There are mistakes all over the place and to hold consumers to the fire as what has happened the last couple of years is wrong as insurers go with a straight and dry algorithm and many times the information used by insurance companies to score you is rattled with errors too. BD
Algorithms to rate Doctors are flawed all over the web.
WASHINGTON – The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced Thursday improvements to its Physician Directory tool with the launch of the first phase of its Physician Compare website, which provides consumers with more information about providers including data about quality of care.
The Physician Compare website was required by the Affordable Care Act of 2010, and contains information about physicians enrolled in the Medicare program, including doctors of medicine, osteopathy, optometry, podiatric medicine, and chiropractic. The site also contains information about other types of health professionals who routinely care for Medicare beneficiaries, including nurse practitioners, clinical psychologists, registered dietitians, physical therapists, physician assistants and occupational therapists.
CMS launches first phase of Physician Compare site | Healthcare IT News
Surgeon Sentenced to a Year In Prison for Having His Office Manager Fill in For Him To See Patients And Bill Medicare for the Visits
This had to be an interesting court case and a new move that I have not heard of to have your office manager fill for the doctor. The office manager is also required to pay up with some restitution. If you want a day off, this is not the way to do this 
and better to find another doctor, as most MDs would do. According to the article here the office manager also wrote some prescriptions too.
I wonder how the patients felt about this? Perhaps this is how this all came to light? Granted working in a practice you learn a lot about healthcare but not to be exercised to this extreme and what if there had been a call to perform an emergency surgical procedure would the office manager have filled in there too <grin>. BD
A Columbus surgeon is to spend a year and a day in federal prison for having his office manager pose as a doctor when he was out of the office.
Dr. Charles C. Njoku, 61, had Veronica Scott-Guiler see patients and prescribe medication from January 2005 through March 2009 at the People's Family Medical Center, 1279 E. Dublin-Granville Rd.
Judge Algenon L. Marbley sentenced him yesterday in U.S. District Court on charges of health-care fraud and improperly prescribing medicine.
Njoku said none of his patients was hurt as a result of their treatment by Scott-Guiler.
"I have done the best I can to serve humanity," he said.
Njoku has a medical degree from Meharry Medical College in Nashville, Tenn., and has had an Ohio medical license since 1983. The State Medical Board had not taken any action on his license as of yesterday.
Stent Catheter Recall-NanoCross Dilation Catheter Could Break During Use–Need Bar Code Technology to “Scan that Catheter”!
When you look at the website though instead of the recall having center stage first I 
see the notice about the “biggest healthcare spinoff in US history” listed and when you go further down you do see the recall notice on the page. When it comes to news, spinoff trumps recalls and potential dangers it looks like.
Recalls of both medical devices and drugs are growing for a number of reasons. First of all, we have a lot more information available today than what we have ever had and we need to capitalize on this opportunity quickly. We read in the news every day it seems about quality control issues, devices needing software updates and 
so on. How do we get the word out quickly and efficiently? If one has times they can certainly search the web and put out a full on effort to find all of this every day, but healthcare workers have the same problems we all have and that is time. When human lives are involved, time is everything.
I started this campaign a year ago with lots of support from readers and have sent this to the FDA, DEA and a few drug and device companies. 
I said a year ago that recalls would accelerate and that we did not need to be the BP of recalls, which that is where are certainly headed. No drug or device company is above this occurring today and many suggest RFID solutions which are good too, but the bar codes go to the web and can offer more detailed information so combine the solutions. It's about time someone does a pilot on this! Everyone who reads here, keep voting!! There are stories and I have posted a couple here in the past where people had died getting implanted with a device that has been recalled and was missed being pulled from inventory and the surgeons had no idea it had been recalled. In the day where we have a technology solution for this, it’s shame luddites still exist and don’t collaborate and pursue answers and prefer to put 
patients in danger.
Microsoft Tags – Microsoft MSDN Posts Ideas from the Medical Quack About Use in Healthcare!
We sit around and worry about advertisements and menthol cigarette regulations for example, but we can’t get our nose out to create some real safety solutions. Scan that knee, hip, defibrillator before you use it, takes a few seconds and will help hospital registries function and less mistakes
On another recall from Abbott on glucose testing strips in the news last week look at this massive amount of products that jeopardize consumer safety. Everyone talks but no action from the luddite birds nest today.
Abbott Diabetes Care Recalls Tons of Glucose Test Strips–The US Has the FDA Recall Blues-Solution Has Been Touted Here for a Year-It’s Time for a Fix–Readers Have Voted
Collaboration is just buzz word that everyone uses for their marketing today but nobody does squat to pursue safety technology. I think this is post # 62 that I have made in a little over a year’s time.
Here’s the actual page from the FDA at this link where you can see the multiple lot numbers that are being recalled, there’s a ton of them. Sure would be easier to scan that catheter with a bar code on the packaging. So far though this idea has not had any impact on the FDA and/or drug and device companies and gee they would stand to save money on this process to and of course I have even advocated this for over the counter products too so everyone would win. FDA would have a synchronized cloud data base to check for compliance. Seems like we just prefer to subject people to dangers and not get the information out there and if you look at my poll, consumer want it as well as pharmacists, doctors and hospitals. You know this technology can even be used to authenticate physicians for e-prescribing too, duh!
RAZCODE (Microsoft Tags) Using Smart Phones to authenticate MDs When e-Prescribing Controlled Substances
Also, why not get a heat map and find out where those catheters are, it can be done once the luddites open their ears. Bing maps will do it for you and he’s a screenshot of those who have scanned my bar codes from this blog!
Microsoft Tag Bar Codes–Who’s Been Scanning the Medical Quack–The Bing Heat Map Tells All And Could Help Find Stolen or Expired Drugs and Devices With This Methodology
In the meantime, luddites continue on and the non participants just shine this technology on and we wonder why consumers don’t participate in health technology. It's all about a buck and by the way, watch 60 minutes this week and see the story they have coming up. Here’s the preview below and when recall information is needed, it needs immediate information to be available. The preview here shows a story about the wrong drugs being put in the wrong bottles and yes I commented over there too, doing my best.
If you are a patient undergoing an interventional heart procedure, pray that the defective devices have been removed from the hospital inventory and again I invite you to look at the huge list at the FDA recall press release. Also just from 2 days ago, hope that this drug was pulled from hospital inventories too.
American Regent Recalls Dexamethasone Sodium Phosphate Injections Due to Particulates in Product-Need Barcodes
Would it not be so much easier for someone to take a cell phone and scan their inventory? It only takes a few minutes for updated information 
to be sent to the bar codes as again they can be updated at any time.
I can go to Best Buy and use this technology to find out about a Canon Printer though! We live in foolish world of luddites at times. BD
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – Plymouth, MN – December 15, 2010 - ev3, a Covidien company, has initiated a voluntary recall of specific lots
of the NanoCross™ .014" OTW PTA Dilatation Catheter due to the potential for the catheter shaft to crack or break during use. Cracking or breaking of the catheter shaft may result in the inability to inflate or deflate the balloon, and may result in material separation and potential embolization. The device failure may lead to unplanned intravascular or open surgery, significant vasospasm, prolonged tissue ischemia, tissue, injury, infarct, bleeding and/or death. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has classified the recall as a Class I recall. FDA classifies a recall as Class I when the agency believes there is a reasonable probability that the use of the recalled product will cause serious adverse health consequences or death.
The NanoCross 0.014" OTW PTA Dilatation Catheter is intended to dilate stenosis in the iliac, femoral, ilio-femoral, popliteal, infra-popliteal, and renal arteries, and for the treatment of obstructive lesions of native or synthetic arteriovenous dialysis fistulae. The NanoCross Dilatation Catheter is not an implant. It is removed and discarded after the procedure is completed.
ev3 Initiates Voluntary Recall of Specific Lots of NanoCross™ .014" OTW PTA Dilatation Catheter
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Math–This Could be a Subject for Michael Moore to Explore and Document In a Movie
Screenings Too–Killer Algorithms Part 12–Medical Billing Codes Style
Assessing Consumer Credit Scores–Attack of the Killer Algorithms Chapter 21 With Flawed Data
Duping” Society Combined With A World of Rogue Algorithms & Flawed Data Continues In Markets As Seen With Knight Capital This Week-Attack of the Killer Algorithms Chapter 36
Study Fraud With EHR Technologies, Namely Medical Records/Billing Software Used by Hospitals– HHS And SEC Continue Getting Their Non-Algorithmic Fannies Kicked–Attack of the Killer Algorithms Chapter 46
SilverScript Senior Drug Program Sanctioned by Medicare Until the Payment And Billing Algorithms are Cleaned Up-Killer Algorithms Chapter 53
