HOW DISCOUNT DRUGS FELL OUT OF THE MEDICARE LAW
Whenever congress goes about the legislative process, it takes care of some people and denies protection to others. The Medicare bill was no different, as can be seen in the fate of three provisions with direct influence on drug prices. Those that would have reduced prices disappeared from the law, while one that protected high prices remained.
Whenever congress goes about the legislative process, it takes care of some people and denies protection to others. The Medicare bill was no different, as can be seen in the fate of three provisions with direct influence on drug prices. Those that would have reduced prices disappeared from the law, while one that protected high prices remained online pharmacy shipp international.
Even while addressing the issue of safety, Gutknecht pointed to what he believed to be the main motivation for resistance to such legislation: “Now, when we talk about safety, I think the real question is, Who are we protecting from whom? Who is really being protected by our FDA? More and more of us are coming to the conclusion that the only people really being protected are the big executives of the large pharmaceutical companies. We ask ourselves, Why are Americans, the world’s best customers, paying the world’s highest prices? … I am a Republican. There is nothing wrong with the word profit, but there is something wrong with the word profiteer.” Gutknecht’s amendment made it all the way to the secret joint House-Senate conference, where it was deleted by members of his own party. But as so often is the case in the congressional editing process, no one is claiming credit.
Another provision in the bill, related to pricing but with the opposite goal, managed to stay in the law. “Subpart 2, Prescription Drug Plans” contained three paragraphs that will have an enduring effect on how much America’s elderly pay for prescription drugs:
“(i) Noninterference. In order to promote competition under this part and in carrying out this part, the Secretary–
“(1) may not interfere with the negotiations between drug manufacturers and pharmacies and [prescription drug plan] sponsors; and
“(2) may not require a particular formulary or institute a price structure for the reimbursement of covered … drugs.”