Guaranteed Healthcare

SINGLE PAYER MINUTE
October 27, 2008

This episode we look at the unconscionable salaries that Health Care and
Pharmaceutical CEO's are paid, while 50 million of us go without
insurance, millions more suffer medical bankruptcy, and suffer
premature mortality.

NEWS YOU CAN USE

When Corporate Criminals Get Caught Breaking The Law........

• The Miami Herald reports that  Pfizer said it will pay $60 million to 33 states and Washington,D.C., to settle lawsuits that claimed the company promoted the COX-2 inhibitors Bextra and Celebrex for unapproved uses. The agreement is part of an $894 million settlement that the
  company announced last week to cover more than 90% of pending lawsuits involving the drugs. The settlement also includes $745 million to settle personal injury claims and $89 million for consumer fraud claims brought by insurers and consumers seeking to recoup money spent on the drugs.

• The Wall Street Journal also reports that Eli Lilly said it will set aside $1.42 billion to settle federal charges of improperly marketing its schizophrenia drug Zyprexa, The firm said it is in "advanced discussions" on an agreement with the U.S. attorney's office in Philadelphia that would settle the case and eliminate the possibility of criminal charges against the company.

They First Try To Change the Laws......

• The Wall Street Journal is reporting that The U.S. Supreme Court will begin hearing the case next week of Wyeth v. Levine,
  which centers on the question of whether FDA approval of a drug warning
  label pre-empts product safety suits brought in state courts.  A favorable ruling in favor of pre-emption could heavily affect the drug industry. Recent cases that would have been affected include a $68 million settlement by Johnson and Johnson
  over its Ortho Evra contraceptive patch, more than $1 billion in
  settlements by Eli Lilly over its antipsychotic drug Zyprexa and $4
  billion in payments so far by Merck over lawsuits involving its
  anti-cholesterol treatment Vioxx.