Vermont for Single Payer

By, Dr. Deb Richter, Vermont for Single Payer
As the legislature approaches adjournment, and as S.88 nears its final disposition in the Senate, the Vermont for Single Payer campaign would like to clarify its stance. First and foremost, we support the health system studies that are embedded in S.88. For this reason, we would be very [...]

By: Deb Richter, Primary Care Physician and Vermont for Single Payer Supporter

Yesterday S.88 passed out of the Senate with an amendment that would continue to allow doctors to receive drug samples from pharmaceutical companies without reporting them to the Vermont Attorney General. (Senate Kills Drug Sample Tracking) Many are calling this a win for the pharmaceutical industry but as a doctor I have a different view. These samples are sometimes the only way I can provide needed medication to some patients, specifically those who can’t afford their medication and have little or no insurance. When Vermont has universal health care and everyone has affordable access to the drugs they need I might support these reporting measures but at this time the samples are an asset to my practice and patients. Below is a letter the doctors in my small practice wrote to the Attorney General in November, 2009 regarding this issue. You should also know I do not use any new drugs until they have been on the market for at least three years.

Dear Attorney General Sorrell:

We are practicing clinicians -5 physicians and 2 nurse practitioners- at the Cambridge Family Health Center. We provide primary care to patients of all ages in Lamoille County. Our patients come from all walks of life and all income levels. Some are affluent and have very good insurance but many are poor and are uninsured. It is the latter group that will be severely affected by impeding the flow of samples to our office.