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Who Can Explain This Obama/Pharma Deal To Me?
Here's the memo obtained by Huffington Post describing the White House deal with the drug companies.
White House Memo
Can anyone explain to me what happens to a family with a serious illness now paying $5,000 PER MONTH for drugs, which are mostly covered by private insurance. The patient loses the private insurance because the illness forces the person to leave the job.
The insurance companies will reduce the drug fees by half. Leaving for this family, $2,500 per month for drugs to stay alive. Add new premium through public option or co-op or something, plus hospital bills, doctors bills, tests, etc.
The family loses everything, and still can't get the drugs. Right? Am I missing something, or has Obama sold out thousands of seriously sick people with this deal.
White House Memo
Can anyone explain to me what happens to a family with a serious illness now paying $5,000 PER MONTH for drugs, which are mostly covered by private insurance. The patient loses the private insurance because the illness forces the person to leave the job.
The insurance companies will reduce the drug fees by half. Leaving for this family, $2,500 per month for drugs to stay alive. Add new premium through public option or co-op or something, plus hospital bills, doctors bills, tests, etc.
The family loses everything, and still can't get the drugs. Right? Am I missing something, or has Obama sold out thousands of seriously sick people with this deal.
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Why are you rehashing old news?
August 25, 2009 5:55 PM | Reply | Permalink
I'm asking a serious question. What's your problem.
August 25, 2009 6:26 PM | Reply | Permalink
You ask an hypothetical question about a nonsubstantive agreement concerning a bill that has not been written, hardly a serious question. lol
August 26, 2009 9:42 AM | Reply | Permalink
The basic deal is 80 billion in drug saving directed primarily at seniors. This is to help close the donut hole. It does not preclude the healthcare reform for putting in language for the public option to enable negotiated drug prices.
This my understanding if someone has another have at it.
August 25, 2009 6:46 PM | Reply | Permalink
thanks
August 25, 2009 7:43 PM | Reply | Permalink
See this Aug. 21 Huffpo post
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/maggie-mahar/an-open-letter-to-jane-sm_b_265185.html
for a full explanation,
and note this excerpt regarding your Aug. 13 Huffpo link:
August 25, 2009 7:38 PM | Reply | Permalink
thanks
Reading this link, I still see the 50% reduction for those in the donut hole as what the drug companies will do. That's bankruptcy or no drugs for seriously ill people.
Really. If someone sees something different here, speak up.
August 25, 2009 7:46 PM | Reply | Permalink
As I read it the real story is Baucus supposedly made a deal with drug companies for $80 billion worth of rebates from drug companies over 10 years which members of Obama's administration both praised and derided. Billy Tauzin the lead Pharma lobbyist and creepy former congressman who led the Medicare part D drug bill effort, and then quickly quit his seat to take the $2 million a year lobbyist job, claimed because Pharma was the first to offer concessions they got a great deal. This has been denied by everyone but supposedly Big Pharma is still pushing $150 million out the door to a couple of very pro-reform non profits and may or may not have a $12 million dollar pro-reform tv ad campaign in states with shaky Dem senators.
Meanwhile both Pelosi and Waxman have said we can squeeze $120 to $140 billion out of the drug companies over 10 years with direct government negotiation of prices.
In other words this part of the bill is anything but a done deal.
August 25, 2009 8:22 PM | Reply | Permalink
thanks
August 25, 2009 11:42 PM | Reply | Permalink