We believe in full disclosure with our clients and having the best informed clients in Bakersfield. AS PART OF OUR COMMITMENT TO EDUCATE OUR CLIENTS, PLEASE READ AND SHARE THE FOLLOWING: The majority of Veterinary Hospitals in Bakersfield have signed long term contracts with VCA/Antech. They receive large discounts, FREE labwork, rebates, refunds, equipment, forgiven loans, etc in exchange. This can be a huge boost in income AT YOUR EXPENSE to the Hospital. ACCORDING TO THESE CONTRACTS, THE HOSPITAL CANNOT EVEN INFORM YOU THAT THEY HAVE SUCH A CONTRACT. While we are not aware of any particular Hospital in town that would do this deliberately, the risk that concerns some is this could lead to unnecessary testing on patients in order for the Hospital to meet its contractual goals. We have been approached on more than one occasion by these companies. We flatly refused all such contracts as we think there are some serious moral and ethical issues involved. WE DO NOT, NOR WILL WE EVER SIGN ANY CONTRACT OF THIS NATURE. We are in the vast minority in town that has flatly refused to sign such contracts. REST ASSURED THAT WHEN WE RECOMMEND A LAB TEST, RADIOGRAPH, ETC, IT IS BECAUSE WE BELIEVE IT IS IN THE BEST INTEREST OF YOUR PET AND NOT OUR POCKETBOOK OR TO SATISFY A CONTRACT WITH THE LAB COMPANY. EXCERPT FROM THE ARTICLE: The contracts — which were confidential until they became part of the court record — gave clinics incentives such as cash in the form of forgiven loans, discounts, free lab work and/or radiology equipment in return for a commitment to purchase a certain dollar amount in laboratory business during a specified period of time. Moore, the VIN general counsel, who was not involved in any of the suits, said he believes VCA Antech is “fully in their right” to enforce their contracts. As a separate matter, though, he views the agreements as having “serious moral and ethical issues.” Some might interpret the arrangements as kickbacks, he said, or wonder whether an obligation to deliver a set amount of laboratory business might spur a clinic to call for more lab work on patients than is medically necessary. HERE IS THE FULL ARTICLE: news.vin/VINNews.aspx?articleId=31861
Posted on: Sat, 03 May 2014 05:49:37 +0000
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