OK, this is going to be a quick one. Dem's are poised today to go after allowing Medicare to negotiate prescription drug prices. BUT (why does there have to be a but??) the bill being prepared may well fail to allow real negotiations.
This from Robert Reich:
The current Democratic bill is calculated to make everyone happy. It allows Democrats to tell seniors and the all-important AARP that they’re forcing Medicare to negotiate with drug companies. And it also allows Democrats to turn around and tell Big Pharma not to worry because the negotiations won’t have any real teeth in them. Their drugs will still be approved, regardless of price.
More below!
Here from a medical news feed
Consultant Alec Vachon, a former Republican staffer on the Senate Finance Committee, said, "The bill gives Leavitt no new powers to negotiate drug prices." Vachon added, "It's straight out of 'Oliver Twist.' All Mike Leavitt can do is go to drug manufacturers and say, 'Please, Sir, may I have some more discounts?' If Pfizer says 'no,' what does he do then?"
This is where we have to hold their feet to the fire - PLEASE, call your representatives today, and express your concern over this bill. I have to admit, I was skeptical at first - this just seems like too cynical and backstabbing to be believed. But I'm certainly inclined to trust Reich, and I was able to find this information in a few places.
What happens if we take power, and then deliver half-measures & sham reform? How does that position us for 2008? And damnit, what's RIGHT?
ACTION:
Call your representative today! Use this link to find your representative's info, and make the call. Things are moving fast in these first hundred hours, so don't wait, or it may be too late. Let their staff know
A. You are a constituent
B. You are concerned about the limits written into HR 4 that would curtail (castrate - your choice) the ability to effectively negotiate lower drug prices.
C. (if a democratic rep) This effort really reflects badly on our attempts to reform the House and restore faith in government. Anyone have an alternate point for Republicans?
Go - call NOW.