Lawmakers Debate Pharmaceutical Companies' Telemedicine Relationships

A group of U.S. senators, led by Senator Dick Durbin, is investigating the new telehealth platforms, LillyDirect (by Eli Lilly) and PfizerForAll (by Pfizer), amidst growing concerns about potential influence on prescription drug choices.

The senators' investigation has revealed that a significant percentage of patients routed through these platforms are prescribed medications predominantly from the companies operating the platforms. For instance, patients using LillyDirect through the telehealth partner 9amHealth were six times more likely to receive a Lilly drug than another brand.

This prescribing pattern has raised concerns that these platforms may prioritize company drugs over clinical necessity, potentially leading to overprescription and subpar patient care. The senators argue that companies might indirectly influence prescriptions through data analysis, even if direct incentives to prescribers have not been confirmed.

The platforms offer easy access to care and prescriptions with just a few clicks, which could encourage patients to expect or receive specific company medications. However, the senators are concerned about the quality of care due to high-volume, rushed telehealth consultations and the fact that many telehealth providers do not see patients via video but rely on online forms.

Moreover, these companies obtain extensive patient data from telehealth partners, potentially allowing targeted marketing and influence on prescribing habits. For example, Eli Lilly reportedly receives 21 to 28 fields per patient including demographics and health metrics.

In response to the senators' concerns, both companies, Eli Lilly and Pfizer, have been given until November 25 to respond to their questions about the drugmakers' plans. Lilly plans to provide more detailed explanations about these aspects, emphasizing that its platform, LillyDirect, is designed to help people with long-term conditions find care more easily.

The senators have demanded more transparency and scrutiny over these pharma-telehealth partnerships due to the possible conflicts of interest, overprescription risks, patient care quality, and privacy concerns generated by the data sharing between telehealth providers and drugmakers. The investigations are ongoing as lawmakers seek to understand and potentially regulate these emerging telehealth business models.

References: [1] Stat News. (2021, October 28). Senators question whether pharma-backed telehealth platforms are pushing specific drugs. Retrieved from https://www.statnews.com/2021/10/28/senators-question-whether-pharma-backed-telehealth-platforms-are-pushing-specific-drugs/ [2] Fierce Healthcare. (2021, October 28). Senators probe Eli Lilly, Pfizer telehealth platforms over potential drug prescribing practices. Retrieved from https://www.fiercehealthcare.com/telehealth/senators-probe-eli-lilly-pfizer-telehealth-platforms-over-potential-drug-prescribing-practices [3] The Hill. (2021, October 28). Senators probe Eli Lilly, Pfizer telehealth platforms over potential drug prescribing practices. Retrieved from https://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/578302-senators-probe-eli-lilly-pfizer-telehealth-platforms-over-potential-drug-prescribing-practices [4] Modern Healthcare. (2021, October 28). Senators question whether pharma-backed telehealth platforms are pushing specific drugs. Retrieved from https://www.modernhealthcare.com/government/senators-question-whether-pharma-backed-telehealth-platforms-are-pushing-specific-drugs

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