Question on Medicare part D: How much does non-negotiation cost?

[rurallib]

I have tried to google this, but can't seem to phrase the question right.
It would seem to me that this would be a good time for democrats in congress to go after the non-negotiating with drug companies for drug prices. Is that clear?

Can some one tell me or point me to an article that gives some idea what Medicare drug coverage now costs the country and how much could be saved through negotiating prices on drugs by the government.

I have seen articles which compare costs for individual drugs bought through Medicare versus another government program called Tricare.

Thanks in advance - maybe my brain is not off vacation yet.

[doc03]

1. Does't look like anyone in either party wants to touch that subject does it? Could it be big

pharma has then kind of bought and paid for?

[rurallib]

2. yes - and I think the cost is hundreds of billions of dollars

which could probably save medicare, period.

[Junkdrawer]

3. Here:

http://www.ncpssm.org/pdf/price_negotiation_part_d.pdf

[rurallib]

6. thank you very much

[Oilwellian]

4. When the Bill originally passed...

I remember the amount of $500 billion in extra costs over a 10 year period being discussed. I remember this amount so well because my initial reaction was, they're trying to break Medicare and this is how they're going to do it.

[rurallib]

5. I found some info on Wikipedia

basically it says tricare is 40 to 60% cheaper and the cost of Medicare part D is @$50B/year.
Thus if we could negotiate prices and save 50%/yr for 10 years that is $250B. I think that would satisfy real cost concerned Republicans.

It seems the extra 50% paid out now could be called an "entitlement" to the drug corps.

[doc03]

7. You think Obama will even touch that subject? n/t

[rurallib]

8. probably not, but maybe we can pressure him.