60 Minutes exposed how the US gets screwed on Drug costs -- so now what?

[cthrumatrix]

When is the House special session to express the "outrage" for how the US Citizens are getting $$$ screwed every day bt the pharmacuatical companies. We pay twice as much as the rest of the world for the same drugs...sometimes more than that. And this was from a guy from Pfeizer.

Maybe I'm wrong...Bush was probably talking about this all day and is changing the laws. Sean Hannity and Rush have probably organized a march on Washington.

Can't wait to watch the special session on this.

Why do we put up with this crap?

[LostInAnomie]

1. Why should Rush care?

He doesn't get his drugs from a pharmacy in the first place. He gets them from a dealer who stole them out of an open semi.

Like those dumb shits in the Senate didn't know. They only took millions in campaign contributions from pharmaceutical companies to establish a legal monopoly in the US, and now they act surprised when they find out that they are charging an arm and a leg.

[cthrumatrix]

2. I was being sarcastic.... the RW clowns would never bring up the mafia

like behavior

[Raster]

10. big pharma employs more lobbyists and passes around more cash

on Capital Hill than ANY OTHER INDUSTRY. Big pharma--various companies--have donated HUGE amounts to bushco*. Don't expect anything positive from Congress or the pResident. They are owned lock, stock and barrel.

[Warpy]

3. Not much alternative for most people

especially those in the heartland who don't have computers and therefore easy access to online pharmacies in Canada and Mexico (yes, MEXICO) and lack the wherewithal to travel there twice a year to stock up.

People with insurance rarely see what their drugs "cost." Insurance companies generally pay what the drug costs out of Canada, leaving the gap between copay and insurance company burden very small.

Only the elderly and uninsured get socked with those 200% markups.

The cost shifting the Repuglicans have presided over in all levels of medicine from pharmacy to hospital has been to take the burden off the insurance companies and place it squarely on the backs of those least able to pay, the sick and elderly who can't get reasonable insurance.

And now they can't even get bankruptcy protection.

[indepat]

4. And didn't the Congress make it illegal to bargain for better prices for

those on Medicare? If so, may the guilty rot, then burn, in eternal hell or is this over the top by making a mountain over a molehill?

[cthrumatrix]

6. correct...medicare refrom forbids the "concentration of govt buying"

doesn't that make sense..?

[killbotfactory]

5. A gov't by the people* and for the people*...

shall not perish from this earth!

...

*for the purposes of the above statement, corporations will be considered legally people. people with enourmous pocketbooks. and lobbyists. lots and lots and lots of lobbyists.

[Montauk6]

7. The LOL part for me

When the Devil's advocate tried to get away with the old "OK, if you want to sacrifice health and safety just so that you can get cheaper drugs..." angle.

But I was hoping for the figures on how much taxpayers are actually funding the same R&D that's supposedly the reason why the pharmies feel it necessary to jack up their prices. Also, I wonder if they could do more to defray these alleged costs by yanking some of these annoying TV ads that have permeated the airwaves like cockroaches. (Yes, ask your doctor about this pill that we're not going to even hint about what it's for other than it makes you fly a kite in the summer in big lovely field)

[KharmaTrain]

8. Interesting Counterpoint...

Having helped my father run his practice and other family members in the medical field I have some very established thoughts as to why there's a healthcare crisis and where the blame can be pointed...the pharamacuetical companies in conjunction with insurance companies.

Both these industries are heavily profit and market driven putting corporate value over quality and leading to endless belt-tightening and cost cutting to maximize profits and an ever expanding management that feeds off both the profits and the stock price. A lot of this done with the benefit of taxpayer dollars that all put provide them with billions in free research and testing.

However, I read on another board, an intrepid soul came out on this topic and cited the crap shoot pharamcuticals have in this country in getting a drug developed, tested, approved and marketed...and all the costs that go into this...from the man hours to legal expenses to political payoffs. Then there's a clock on many of these drugs as once their patents expire they can go into the generic market; greatly decreasing their value.

The dude got slammed big time as it's a shame companies have to put their profits ahead of people's health and ability to just live a decent life. He came back and mentioned the bath Merck is taking...first with their stock price and in legal and future litigation costs. He expects the company to go belly-up or into bankruptcy to escape any real Vioxx liability. That went over real well as well. LOL.

[Raster]

11. executives at merck should be flogged in the public square for

selling a drug THEY KNEW WAS A KILLER. They knew it. They had too much money invested in the "pipeline," so they sold a drug that they knew would kill people to keep the profit center intact. It's called murder. The company should go belly-up.

[Avalux]

9. We could stop buying their drugs

but that will NEVER happen and they know it. We need them to extend our lives as long as possible. We'll do whatever they say because they are in control.

[cthrumatrix]

12. maybe if Doctors got paid to push "fruits and vegatables" as opposed

to pushing pills....WE migh be better off.

Doctors don't counsel thier patients on proper nutrition and it's benefits. All becuase of:$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$.