Donald Trump says Medicare should negotiate drug prices

[denem]

Source: Associated Press

Republican front-runner Donald Trump says he could save Medicare billions of dollars by getting the massive federal agency to negotiate prices with the major pharmaceutical companies.

Trump told an enthusiastic crowd of about 1,000 people packed into a high school gymnasium Monday night in Farmington, N.H., that Medicare could “save $300 billion” a year by getting discounts as the biggest buyer of prescription drugs.

Said Trump: “We don’t do it. Why? Because of the drug companies.”

Companies generally can set the prices for approved drugs because the US government doesn’t regulate medicine prices, as other countries do. The powerful pharmaceutical lobby has repeatedly fended off such proposals that would cut into profits.


Read more: http://www.statnews.com/2016/01/26/trump-negotiate-drug-prices/

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Both Sen Sanders & Clinton support freeing Medicare to negotiate pharmaceutical prices. Like Trump's earlier statements on Wall Street - "We will tax them, they've being getting away with murder", he is positioning himself to move some policy towards the centre in the general.

He's a pure opportunist. There is nothing to stop him promising increased minimum wages because he will fix trade. Smoke and Mirrors.

[doc03]

1. Democrats have been saying that for years haven't they?

[denem]

3. Yes. Republicans oppose anything that 'threatens' big pharma.

That's the whole sales pitch : Trump - I don't take their money

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

8. Ten Democratic Senators voted for the original bill

including our beloved Dianne Feinstein.

Sen Kerry didn't vote.

Quoting http://www.cnn.com/2003/ALLPOLITICS/11/25/elec04.medicare/index.html :

In a written statement, Kerry said he fought "tooth and nail against this special interest giveaway" but returned to the campaign trail once he decided that his vote would not make a difference.

Prior to the vote, senators on both sides of the issue made impassioned pleas for their side. But two last-minute efforts by Democratic senators failed to block the vote, and the bill won out.

The House passed the bill in a controversial vote early Saturday after late-night phone calls from the president, a move credited with helping get the bill passed there. A three-hour vote was ended by GOP leaders at 6 a.m., after a 218 to 216 deficit flipped to a 220 to 215 victory.

This vote was congressional corruption at its worst.

[KentuckyWoman]

2. Good luck selling that as part of the Republican platform.

And if it starts to look like Herr Trumpenator will really occupy 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue you'll be able to stand in Baltimore and still see the piles of money flinging at congresscritters by the drug companies. They'll need to hire an army of Loomis Fargo trucks to cart it all to the bank.

[denem]

4. If Bernie is Trump's opponent

Big Pharma will be quiet as lambs.

[JudyM]

5. Interesting. Needing to shore up their congressmilitia. Ha. Nt

[denem]

6. Do Pharma own enough of both Dems & GOP

to stop their NSGOP President

[old guy]

7. No one and I mean no one

with one functioning brain cell will believe that hogwash. He says whatever he thinks will sound good to his base and even they will raise their eyebrows at this.

[keithbvadu2]

9. Stupendous idea?

Not regulating prices but open bid competition.

The Medicare Drug plan was written for the benefit of the drug companies.

[w0nderer]

10. Let a gov run establishment

negotiate prices...sounds shoshalishtish to me!

[Gregorian]

11. Well what do you know. Hey, even Reagan had some liberal in him. His son is fantastic.

edit- oops, I posted with my elbow while trying to decide if this was poor taste, or to post it. Too late.