rssSecret Deal Between White House and Big Pharma?
Thursday, August 13, 2009 at 1:09 pm
- 5 Comments
That’s what Ryan Grim at The Huffington Post is reporting this morning, having unearthed what purports to be a memo outlining a secret deal cut between the White House and the pharmaceutical lobby over health reform legislation.
It says the White House agreed to oppose any congressional efforts to use the government’s leverage to bargain for lower drug prices or import drugs from Canada — and also agreed not to pursue Medicare rebates or shift some drugs from Medicare Part B to Medicare Part D, which would cost Big Pharma billions in reduced reimbursements.
In exchange, the Pharmaceutical Researchers and Manufacturers Association (PhRMA) agreed to cut $80 billion in projected costs to taxpayers and senior citizens over ten years. Or, as the memo says: “Commitment of up to $80 billion, but not more than $80 billion.”
If true, such a deal would likely cause a backlash on Capitol Hill, where Democratic leaders have long-eyed proposals allowing Americans to buy U.S.-made pharmaceuticals from foreign countries like Canada, where prices are much lower.
Both the administration and PhRMA have denied the legitimacy of the memo, Grim writes. Indeed, a senior White House official said earlier this week that, as part of the $80 billion deal with the branded drug industry, the administration agreed to take off the table a proposal to give the government a drug-maker rebate for pharmaceuticals purchased for patients qualifying for both Medicare and Medicaid. But the proposal to allow drug re-importation, the official said, “wasn’t part of the negotiations.”
5 Comments
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Comment posted August 17, 2009 @ 11:41 am
The pages of the “Health Care” bill that I have read indicate, to me, that the Obama/BigPharma campaign to rush their agenda through congress and into legislation without everyday Americans knowing what is contained therein was and is proving to have been a real mistake (thankfully). They would have been better served to have stayed on the subject and left aspects of the U.N. debacle off the table. Who is that really wants the United States of America to become a lackey for stupidity of the United Nations ? Certainly not me!!
Comment posted August 19, 2009 @ 11:28 am
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Comment posted August 19, 2009 @ 11:29 am
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I think I will try to recommend this post to my friends and family, cuz it’s really helpful.
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Just wanted to say great job with the blog, today is my first visit here and I’ve enjoyed reading your posts so far
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