The next time you hear someone criticize local TV news as superficial, tell them to check out what Lee Zurik’s investigations exposed on WVUE, the Fox affiliate in New Orleans owned by the Louisiana Media Company, and operated by Raycom under a shared services agreement. But warn them that watching his award-winning series of investigations […]
The next time you hear someone criticize local TV news as superficial, tell them to check out what Lee Zurik’s investigations exposed on WVUE, the Fox affiliate in New Orleans owned by the Louisiana Media Company, and operated by Raycom under a shared services agreement.
But warn them that watching his award-winning series of investigations that aired last May, Medical Waste, might just make them sick.
Lee Zurik, WVUE’s chief investigator and news anchor, and his team, have been honored with a Scripps Howard Award in the Television/Cable In-Depth Local Coverage category for their on-going investigative series Medical Waste.
Medical Waste, a series that debuted in May of 2016, investigates health insurance companies overcharging customers for prescription drugs.
The series has led to 11 lawsuits being filed in federal court.
“We have sprinkled in some stories since then, including several updates on lawsuits filed as a result of our series,” said Zurik. “I would say we have aired at least 25 separate stories.”
Zurik’s series reveals the practice called clawbacks, how healthcare providers claw back money from pharmacies and customers, forcing customers to pay more in copay for drugs than the drugs themselves actually cost.
According to the investigations, some insurance companies give you no choice, and even prevent your pharmacist from discussing it with you. The practice may be a direct violation of federal law.
“The absurdity is beyond belief,” said a pharmacist in one of the stories.
“From an ethical standpoint, it sure feels unethical,” said a spokesman for a trade group that represents independent pharmacies.
“It feels like a complete disservice,” said one customer when shown the findings.
How does it work?
Some insurance companies require the pharmacist to charge someone a $50 co-pay when the actual cost of the medication might only be around $12, making the pharmacy send the difference back to the insurance companies.
Zurik’s sources said the insurance companies don’t want pharmacists telling customers the truth, “because people would be outraged if they knew that they were actually paying an extra premium, every time they got a prescription filled.”
You might want to check to see if your insurance company is one of the ones identified.
Either way, I don’t know about you, but after hearing all this, I’m beginning to feel very sick.
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