Why can't medicare negotiate for the cheapest drug prices?

[Cant trust em]

Can someone forward me the law or wherever this comes from?

Thanks.

[liberalpragmatist]

1. Because the 2003 Medicare Prescription Drug bill banned them from doing this

nt

[ejpoeta]

5. in the interest of competition no doubt.

[rustydog]

7. Come on now, whole story...Republican pressure to guarantee

Uncle Sam could not negotiate lower drug prices for Americans is why this occurred.
Shit, WalMart negotiates with drug companies for lower drug prices and has 4.00 prescriptions!

Further proof the GOP is not pro-American, they are pro business at the expense of American lives and welfare.

[JerseygirlCT]

9. Yup. That simple.

And sickening.

[spanone]

2. because politicians are so stupid they gave away a bargaining chip worth gazillions

well, they didn't give it away, they got paid for it through contributions to their campaigns

quid pro quo

[Cant trust em]

3. They're not stupid.

They knew exactly what they were doing.

What's worse? A corrupt official, or an inept official?

[Hippo_Tron]

4. So that Harry and Louise would be on the Democrats' side this time

[katkat]

6. your government at work for BigPharma n/t

[JSK]

8. A Repuke plan to destroy Medicare

Seriously.

[Quasimodem]

11. If Americans start ingesting those cheap Canadian drugs . . .

. . . they might live two years longer.

And ruin American's record for always finishing first.

[Uncle Joe]

10. Because that would help the American People too much. n/t

[asjr]

12. It should have happened. VA prescription medicine

set the precedent.

[sharesunited]

13. Title 42 United States Code, Section 1395w-111

(i) Noninterference

In order to promote competition under this part and in carrying out this part, the Secretary -

(1) may not interfere with the negotiations between drug manufacturers and pharmacies and PDP sponsors; and

(2) may not require a particular formulary or institute a price structure for the reimbursement of covered part D drugs.


~~~

BUT WHATEVER HAPPENED TO THIS?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medicare_Prescription_Drug_Price_Negotiation_Act_of_2007