Unethical Privileges # 8

Competitive drug stores issues $25.00 gift cards for new or tranferred prescriptions. The problem with this is if you have a government funded insurance such as tricare, medicaid,medicaire etc. You are not qaulified for this according to federal law. The reason this is against federal law is because the government wants their patients to get their prescriptions filled for their health and not as an icentive for $25.00. These drug companies have been issuing these gift cards to these patients for their business. The reason this is unethical is because the goal of health care is to improve a patient's health and quality of life and not to gain their business by giving them money in return. This competitor coupon has also placed patient's at a disadvantage because they go from one pharmacy to another this leaves room for missed interactions and poor intervetion. Now pharmacist has to explain to the customers mainly the elderly why the cannot get the coupon any more. The elderly think the pharmacist is being mean to them when the pahrmacist is doing what is told and is going by the law. It is more important for a patient to stay at one pharmacy instead of "coupon shopping". This allows the pharmacist to get to know the patient if they see them on a regular basis, build a relationship with the patient and provide the patient with the best service ( counseling and monitoring). Because of a government funded insurance these people do not get the benefits of regular insurance carriers to receive the gift card. Not only is this unethical this is just wrong because it is bribary and for business and it goes against morals and ethic standards of health care.