How Much Did Pharmaceutical Companies Pay St. Louis Park Doctors?

Minnesota physicians have received $26.5 million from drug companies since 2009. Find out what payments your doctor received.

Drug companies have paid St. Louis Park doctors tens of thousands of dollars since 2009 as part of an effort to spread the word about their products, according to a ProPublica database updated last week. The “Dollars for Docs” database represents $2 billion in disclosed payments from a total of 15 companies who cumulatively hold 47 percent of the industry’s market share. The payments cover: Pharmaceutical payments to physicians are not illegal, but critics say these payments turn doctors into sales reps, influence physicians’ prescription decisions and undermine trust in the health care system. Backers counter that they provide important education on new drugs that benefits doctors and patients alike. The ProPublica database likely …

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Park Nicollet CEO Praises Obamacare Ruling

However, he said additional health care reform needs to happen outside of courts and the political arena.

The following comes from Dr. David Abelson, CEO of Park Nicollet. He also posted this on his blog. Today’s ruling by the Supreme Court of the United States to uphold the Affordable Care Act passed by Congress in 2010 is significant news in a healthcare marketplace where reform is not only needed, it is already occurring independent of court rulings and politics. As I have written about previously, the traditional, volume-based fee-for-service model of healthcare is broken. Our payers (government, businesses, families and individuals) are demanding changes in the reimbursement of healthcare services. As providers, we are searching for ways to achieve the “Triple Aim” in healthcare: healthy communities with great experiences and outcomes for…

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Marriage Amendment, Public Art and Backyard Chickens: Feedback Friday

The best comments from around the west metro between June 2 and June 7.

Each week, Patch users contribute numerous insights, opinions and observations. The following is a collection of the best comments that appeared on Patch sites in Edina, Golden Valley, Hopkins, Lake Minnetonka, Minnetonka,  Plymouth, Richfield, Shakopee, St. Louis Park and St. Michael. Click on the headline to read the full story and join in the conversation. *** Thousands Urge Best Buy to Oppose Anti-Gay Marriage Amendment With Minnesota voters charged this November with choosing to amend the Minnesota Constitution to state marriage is between one man and one woman, multiple movements for and against the measure have sprung up. And after Target Corporation's statement in opposition to the amendment, a recent University of Minnesota Law …

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Kevin Parks

2:10 am on Wednesday, June 13, 2012

"Does a newspaper not have an obligation to deliver factual information or to correct untruths?" As a reader of Patch, I submit that they have stated in their articles factual information. It is the statement of a man (another reader), that at best could be interpreted as an editorial. A newspaper does not have an imediate reply button. I will submit further, it is not the Patch's job to decide …   more ›

Editor's Notebook

Franken Defends Health Care Reform in St. Louis Park

U.S. Senator Al Franken, who is from St. Louis Park, spoke at the Park Nicollet Clinic on Friday.

U.S. Senator and St. Louis Park native Al Franken said Friday that he doesn't feel Republicans in Congress will be able to repeal the health care reform act, and that he thinks parts of the act are showing signs of great success already. Franken gave the talk while touring the International Diabetes Center at Park Nicollet Clinic. The Democratic senator supported the health care reform act, which became law last year. Following the Republican surge in November's election, there has been a renewed push to repeal the law, which opponents have called an overreaching expansion of the federal government. However, Franken said he doesn't feel Republicans will be able to get enough votes in the Senate to repeal. The senator added that the new law…

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Park Nicollet Snags National Honor

The St. Louis Park hospital was recently named one of the 50 best heart care facilities in the country.

St. Louis Park's Park Nicollet Methodist Hospital recently snagged some national recognition. On Monday, the hospital was named one of the top-50 hospitals in the country for heart care, according to Thomson Reuters. It is the seventh time Park Nicollet has made the list. Dr. Cynthia Toher, the hospital's cardiovascular medical director, said she and her staff were honored by the news. "For me and our team, it's a recognition of the work we do every day for our patients," she said. "It's really about our ability to apply high-quality care at an affordable cost." The analysis of top cardiovascular facilities looked at more than 1,000 hospitals. Thomson Reuters then pulled out those that were measurably better in areas of average cost, …

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