Article says that MNKD is "footing the bill" for spirometers

[ron]

www.fiercepharma.com/marketing/mannkind-turns-to-digital-social-media-to-spread-word-afrezza-s-relaunch

How much might that cost?

[ilovekauai]

That's correct and the cost is right around $350, a very smart investment IMO. Aloha.

[xoxoxoxo]

I thought this was illegal. They can't just give spirometers to doctors. Maybe they're selling them at cost to doctors? The focus from mnkd has always been on convincing doctors this could be another revenue source of doing spirometry in house instead of having the hurdle of sending the patient out for a referral before they could get a script.

I think it's been a good strategy to get spirometry devices into the hands of docs and teach them how easy it is to conduct the test/bill the patient's insurance

[compound26]

[factspls88]

It was also my understanding that giving spirometers to doctors was illegal.  Instead, I believe Mannkind was providing doctors information as to where they could purchase a low cost spirometer that would be sufficient to fulfill the FDAs requirement for the test. Perhaps the article is wrong.  I am very careful not to take a lot of these articles at face value. 

[mannmade]

facts, I believe you are right.

[matt]

Aug 15, 2016 12:25:39 GMT -5 xoxoxoxo said:

I thought this was illegal. They can't just give spirometers to doctors.

Anybody can give anybody else anything of value without breaking the law.  However, if the physician is required to give something in return for a "free" spirometer then it really isn't a gift but rather an exchange of value for value.

There are two ways a physicians commonly get tripped up:

• If the lease or gift is contingent on writing a specific number of prescriptions, and those prescriptions are then reimbursed by Medicare, Medicaid or an insurance company, then the physician is violating the federal anti-kickback statute or one of the similar state laws.

  
  

  
  

• If the device is free, but the physician bills for the service. This is similar to when a drug company gives away samples to the physician, but the physician sells the sample to patients instead of passing them along as free samples.
  

If Mannkind is giving away the spirometers and the physician provided services using the spirometer are included in the standard office visit price, then this would be legal.  If the physician is charging extra for doing the spirometry then that is likely a problem, certainly for the physician and probably for Mannkind as well.  However, if the endo is following the billing rules and Mannkind is only giving free devices to high potential practices, then I can see where this strategy might work.

[ron]

I was thinking more along the lines of a rebate to the patient similar to the coupon for the drug.

[xoxoxoxo]

This is the thread I remember where it was discussed ad nauseum.

mnkd.proboards.com/thread/1663?page=2

Doing some research, "A code of conduct adopted in 1990 by the American Medical Association suggests that doctors should not accept any gift worth more than $100, but the guidelines are widely ignored."

So I guess folks were wrong back then. However, look at how wrong we were in thinking spirometry was a big deal in Feb 2015! Oh that brings back memories (of being rich).

[kc]

Aug 15, 2016 13:42:45 GMT -5 factspls88 said:

It was also my understanding that giving spirometers to doctors was illegal.  Instead, I believe Mannkind was providing doctors information as to where they could purchase a low cost spirometer that would be sufficient to fulfill the FDAs requirement for the test. Perhaps the article is wrong.  I am very careful not to take a lot of these articles at face value. 

They probably do the fulfillment of the Spirometer.  If the sales rep has one with him during a visit then he can provide the unit that day at the Dr. Office and have them do the documentation for the company to bill the provider that day.   Make it easy to get the spirometer by having them in their car or being able to be shipped same day by UPS.  Why not get the commitment from the Dr office or Office manager to get the order that day in process.   I think that Mike C.  operates by the KISS principle.  KEEP IT SIMPLE STUPID.   Remove the hurdles that might be present for a Dr. getting started prescribing Afrezza.