January 31, 2022
The podcast explains that ivermectin is an anti-parasitic drug typically used to treat the likes of head lice, tropical diseases, and can be toxic to humans in large doses. However, despite FDA approval, beginning in the summer of 2020 several doctors began prescribing the drug to treat Covid-19. In her research, Rena and her colleagues found that because of these prescriptions, insurance companies wasted upwards of $130 million last year. She and her team have done extensive research through an insurance claim database that had data on roughly six million Americans. Through that database they were able to see what was prescribed to a patient, the rationale behind the prescription, and how much it cost both the patient and their insurer.
Though there are other actual proven ways to better treat the virus, Rena believes many patients are demanding Ivermectin, and doctors are “acquiescing” to their patients’ demand. She spoke on what she hopes her research does for these insurers going forward,
“Insurers might want to consider additional provider education and patient education to support the use of indicated treatments and preventives for COVID-19,” she said. “As opposed to wasting money on things that don’t work.”
