Tracking Free Drug Samples

Tracking Free Drug Samples – Kristen Carlson – WCAX -10/27/09 Montpelier, Vermont - October 27, 2009Should doctors have to make it public when they give away free drug samples? Some argue free samples influence a doctor's prescribing practices. But opponents say they help keep patients' drug costs down. Nurse Practitioner Jennifer Laurent says a common part of practicing medicine means giving out free samples to patients that are given out by pharmacy companies"I must go to that sample closet at least 10 times a day trying to get medications for people who otherwise couldn't afford it," said LaurentLaurent says it also helps to give patients free trial doses to see if they have any interaction with medicine before they have to pay for a full prescription."It really has become a way in our practice to meet the needs of the people we care for," said Laurent. It's not known how many free samples are given out statewide or the value, but a report found nationwide the amount of free samples doctor's hand out adds up to about 18.5 billion dollars.Lawmakers want to learn more about free samples so they asked the Attorney General to hold a public meeting. They passed a law last session banning drug companies from giving free meals to doctors and some are also worried free samples influence doctors."We think that samples influence prescribing patterns," said Ken Libertoff of the Vermont Association for Mental Health. "In the long term it could lead to higher costs for patients and the organization," said Denis Barton of the Bi-Primary Care Association. But many others at the meeting say free samples help patients. Lawmakers are considering a bill that would require pharmacy companies tell the Attorney General's office what pills they are giving and to which doctors. "When I hear disclosure I hear more paperwork, more filing, less people willing to deal with samples," said Lynn Raymond-Empey of the Vermont Coalition of Clinics for the Uninsured. "If this was on a searchable database those who are drug seeking, perhaps willing to engage in criminal activity, could identify some of the smaller practices and pattern drugs they were seeking," said Paul Harrington of the Vermont Medical Society. Nurse Practitioner Jennifer Laurent says the samples don't influence prescribing patterns, because free pills are always brand name, and most insurance plans require generics are prescribed. "If there is mandatory disclosure by the legislature our practice would probably no longer accept samples, because we don't want to be perceived as doing what the pharmacy companies are telling us to do," said Laurent. There is still time to weigh in on this issue. The Attorney General's office is taking written comments until November 6th. And the Attorney General will report back to lawmakers in December.