Why they can cover some things they should not....

I have been thinking...AGAIN.... I am reposting this here.  It was just posted by me on the VSG board Post Date: 4/21/08 7:37 pm
Why is it ok for doctors to prescribe medicines for off label purposes and insurance cover them without batting and eye?  

When I was pregnant with my son I wanted to be induced.  Spoke it over with my Ob-Gyn and told her no way that I wanted to have "cytotec" used on my cervix....I am a researcher by nature and found out some pretty scary things can happen and have happened to many women  if used on your cervix....Uterine ruptures etc.  This drug is used for ulcer prevention in patients who take NSAID's.  So the doc said well then we cant induce you here at this hospital because it is all we use....What The Heck ????? I was floored.  It is not marketed for this and it is clearly off label as the drug company does not "want" it used for anything but ulcers as stated in their brochure (we know they  (drug manuf) really do want it used as it makes them more money but that is a whole other topic)

How can they (docs and hospitals do this????) How are insurance companies paying for this use of this drug for it's non approved purpose????  

They can do this but can't approve VSG for use as WLS when it is a safe operation and been performed for ulcer removal since like FOREVER....lol ......makes me really mad when I ponder how they condone the off label use of drugs but deny us our surgery.....