I have been very impressed with this newsletter. The site is fairly new, but getting a lot of attention for its thorough Medicare coverage.
Newsletter from Center from American ProgressSNIP...."MEDICARE
Dead Canadians?
"The Republican-led conference committee finally released the text of the Medicare legislation yesterday (read it yourself HERE) and there were no pleasant surprises.
The legislation is still a " big sloppy kiss to the pharmaceutical and insurance industries , it makes no attempt to hold down rising drug costs, it starts down the path toward dismantling of Medicare." The LA Times writes that there's a big expectations gap, as "analysts say many seniors will find that the plan fails the what's-in-it-for-me test...."more at site.
AND about those Canadian drug imports:
SHOW ME THE DEAD CANADIANS: Leaders in Congress so far are ignoring the wishes of average Americans by refusing to back down to the powerful drug lobbyists and allow reimportation of inexpensive drugs from Canada . While versions of the reimportation bill have passed both the House and Senate, the conference report leaves it out. That has many conservative lawmakers threatening to withhold their votes and some state lawmakers threatening to buck the federal government. Saying, "There's a difference between paying a premium and being a chump ,"
Gov. Tim Pawlenty (R-MN) announced plans yesterday to offer state assistance to help Minnesotans buy prescription drugs from Canada . He is hoping to have a website up and running by year's end which would "give residents information on how to order less expensive medications from reputable, licensed Canadian pharmacies." Drug companies have tried to play the safety card, claiming reimportation is risky, that the drugs are unsafe. Pawlenty called their bluff yesterday: "My first response to that is show me the dead Canadians . Where are the dead Canadians?"