Monday, April 17th, 2018

News 12 @ 6 O'clock / NBC 26 at 7

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) -- It's no secret big drug companies shell out big bucks to political campaigns and lobbying groups, but did you know your doctor could also be on their payroll? As the News 12 I-Team discovered, a lot of local ones are. After digging through the numbers, we compiled a list with more than 650 names. If that sounds like a lot, that's actually our short list. We found so many names that we only included ones who received $100 or more over a period of a year.

Chances are you haven't ever discussed this with your doctor, but, by law, you have a right to know. It's included in H.R. 4872, otherwise known as the Affordable Care Act. A lesser-known part mandates drug and medical device companes disclose all "transfers of value to a physician." That value includes travel, gifts, and meals.

"It was somewhat out of control," said Jim Rush, Chief Integrity Officer at Augusta University. "And the government kind of came in and said, 'we need to figure this out in terms of where the money is going.'" We showed him the list we compiled where companies gave almost $3 million to doctors in Augusta, Evans, and Martinez over the period of one year.

It's safe to say, we're asking questions for thousands of local patients.

Meredith Anderson: "What should their first thought be? Or, how should they interpret the number?"

Jim Rush: "Obviously, they've selected a physician based on their skill set and their reputation, so if they believe that physician is the most competent one, they may want to ask a question. But when you just look at a number, it's not necessarily related to what that number emcompasses."

For example, your doctor might have had a lot of success with a device used during surgery, so the company behind it pays him or her to train other doctors how to use it. You, however, are not having that surgery, and the medicine you take has nothing to do with that company, so you might not be worried about that payment at all. Then, you notice another drug company appears to be "wining and dining" your doc, and your prescription changes.

Is it because of the freebies?

"They should be empowered to actually ask those questions," said Rush.

According to a study by the American Medical Association, doctors who get free meals from pharmaceutical companies are more likely to prescribe that company's drugs. Those free meals aren't always expensive, either. Even researchers said they were surprised this held true for meals under $20.

Maybe it's a coincidence.

Maybe it isn't.

That's why Rush says Augusta University doctors have to disclose any potential conflicts of interest. A board then reviews it. He says you should be reviewing your doc's info, too.

"I don't disagree with this concept," said Rush. "I actually think it's transparency."

In the name of transparency, why didn't we name specific doctors on our list? Maybe you're wondering why we didn't single out those who appear to get the most amount of money. Some of those payments are actually estimates for the value of training, so you can't exactly compare dollar-to-dollar amounts. Plus, as we mentioned, studies suggest even cheap meals can have a big influence.

However, we want you to be able to

so you can see what they are or are not receiving. You can then decide if what you find is something worth talking with your doctors about.