Should the Government Negotiate Drug Prices?

Comment: The White House & President said they would veto such a measure because they claim it would raise prices for everyone. Excuse me while I cough “Bull Shit”. The Government already has programs that pay for prescription drugs for some Americans. Negotiated for lower prices will increase competition and in no way increase prices anywhere. Competition lowers prices, basic economics.

I’ll tell you what this is, Big Pharmaceutical Money influencing the White House under the leadership of G.W. Bush once again.

I pray Congress would overturn the President’s veto.

NPR Report:
January 12, 2007 · The House passes a bill that would require the secretary of Health and Human Services to negotiate with drug makers for lower prices for Medicare patients. The vote was 255-170 in favor of the bill, including some two dozen Republicans. Those supporting the measure ignored a veto threat from President Bush.

The administration contends that government price negotiations — which are currently barred by law — would ultimately threaten the availability of drugs for seniors, and could raise, rather than lower, prices. But polls have shown the public is strongly behind the idea of government negotiation.

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=6837624

And this week, a key Democratic backer of the existing Medicare drug program, Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus, said he now supports eliminating the ban on government negotiation.