HEALTH CARE -- WHITE HOUSE SPOKESMAN INSISTS PRESCRIPTION DRUGS ARE CHEAP ENOUGH

[Don_1967]

The federal government does not need to negotiate lower prescription drug prices for seniors on Medicare, claimed White House counselor Dan Bartlett said yesterday, insisting that drug prices have "come down" and that "the proof is in the pudding." Wherever the proof might be, it certainly isn't in the facts. Drug makers have increased the prices on many of the top selling drugs this year by as much as six percent, double the inflation rate. Because Medicare doesn't require any discount over the list price, "drug makers are being paid as much as 20 percent more for the same drugs that they had already been providing to recipients under Medicaid." Furthermore, spiraling drug costs are expanding the coverage gap in Medicare Part D, leaving millions of Americans without coverage. The New York Times reports that, with the current Medicare prescription benefit, big drug companies are enjoying "a financial windfall larger than even the most optimistic Wall Street analysts had predicted." Taxpayers could save as much as $190 billion over the next ten years if Medicaid negotiated prices directly with drug makers, rather than through private insurers which "pay higher prices than government agencies, like the Veterans Administration, that buy medicines directly from drug makers."

[iamjoy]

1. Well, He's Right

None of his friends are worried about the cost of Prescription Drugs, they are all rich. The drugs are cheap enough for HIM.

[Warpy]

4. He gets them all FREE

because all those assholes have the finest socialized medicine in the world, paid for by underinsured and uninsured taxpayers.

Of course he thinks drug prices are just fine. He's not only overpaid, he's getting his medical care for free.

[shain from kane]

8. Agreed. Remember that he gets his Cipro free. And free duct tape and

plastic wrap.

[blondeatlast]

2. The alternative is to get them from those evil, malicious

Canucks, you know.

Can't possibly have that...

Lurking freepers: this post is :sarcasm:

[Jack from Charlotte]

10. We just need to post what VA pays vs what Medicare pays for the same........

drugs. Then ask why Medicare is paying so much more. Take the case to the people which makes the Rethugs look like corrupt fools and shows the Dems to be taking a big step toward efficient govt.

[RamboLiberal]

3. I'd like to see all appointees in the WH and Congress people

Have to pay retail for all drugs until they get a plan that allows all Americans to get prescriptions at a reasonable cost.

Anyone who says prescription drugs are affordable are usually the same people with great health plans and the money to put in to medical savings accounts that pay them back with pre-tax money for their out-of-pocket costs.

These jerks get their health plan from our tax dollars!

I bet Bartlett hasn't a clue on the retail price of prescriptions.

God help anyone who gets a serious illness - even the overpaid WH appointees and Congress people would have trouble with those retail prices.

[Tanuki]

9. Make them self-pay their medical bills, too

and see if they don't get a clue in a hurry.

[Monkeyman]

5. Ya right that's why Hastert and Frist had it signed

with out the whole Congress seeing it

[Red Zelda]

6. My "pudding" costs a fortune

I stay sick when I can

[sarge43]

7. Psst, Bartlett, just one, that's one, of my husband's meds costs one

tenth of his monthly income and we're on Tricare.

You lying sack, who do you think you're bull shitting?

[Ilsa]

11. I guess he didn't hear about people hitting the donut hole on NPR

this morning. Or that taxpayers are still paying big pharma megabucks to cover this program.

[librechik]

12. yeah--$100-200 a month for each and 3 or four to take

sounds reasonable to me

:sarcasm:

do these guys even know what a paycheck means? It means, nom my stock portfolio and daddy don't pick up the slack, you dick!

[sandnsea]

13. Ours are $400 a month

For 4 prescriptions. I have an idea, why don't they come create me a reality where that's cheap.

[Tatiana]

14. Bet he never paid $65 for an antibiotic. n/t

[jmowreader]

15. Drug prices HAVE come down

On the day Little Lord Pissypants was installed, crack was $10 a rock in all the major metropolitan areas.

But due to its added popularity ESPECIALLY among an Administration that would HAVE to all be on crack to think up some of the shit they've done and said in the last six years, crack is down to $8 a rock if you buy at least a hundred at a time. For Shrub, that's only about three days' supply.

OTOH, the drugs law-abiding citizens buy from pharmacists who work in buildings with roofs and doors have gone up so dramatically it's cheaper to buy US-made drugs in Canada and have them mailed back to the US.