The following was posted today on Medscape.  (For non-US LNers, medicare is a health program for retirees)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) Sept 15 - Companies that offer Medicare health insurance and prescription drug coverage can no longer offer free meals during pitches or make unsolicited sales calls, the U.S. government said on Monday.

The insurers also must modify commissions to stop salespeople from switching patients to a new plan each year to earn the highest possible fee, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) said.

The changes are meant to "protect Medicare beneficiaries from deceptive or high-pressure marketing tactics by insurance companies and their agents," Acting CMS Administrator Kerry Weems told reporters during a conference call.

The new rules also prohibit unsolicited door-to-door marketing and pitches in doctors' office waiting rooms or other places where health-care is delivered.

Companies that violate the new rules could face penalties of up to $25,000 for each person that was harmed or might have been harmed by the practices, Medicare officials said.



But of course, formula sales people don't use such pressure techniques and we all know medical professionals are not influenced by such things as free meals etc. don't we?  Right!

Maybe some day we'll have the same concern for those at the beginning of the life cycle.

Winnie

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