Health Care reform is a pretty straight forward proposition: Improve patient health, for the lowest cost, covering the maximum number of people. But the people in Congress many times have other agendas, namely how can they raise money to get re-elected or get a cushy job in the future. Not paying any attention to those who elected them.
The last big overhaul was Medicare Part D which gave prescription coverage to seniors. Unlike the VA system, Billy Tauzin lead the effort prohibiting Medicare from negotiating drug prices. The result? The VA gets their drugs for 58% less. And Tauzin? He leaves Congress and takes a $2M job with PhRMA the lobbying group. Sticking the taxpayers with the bill.
Can't happen today? Think again. Comparative Effectiveness Research finds out the most effective way for treatment. But Sens. Jon Kyl (R-AZ), Mitch McConnell (R-KY), and Pat Roberts (R-KS) introduced a bill to prohibit Medicare from using it to deny coverage for less effective treatment. They want us taxpayers to pay the pharmaceutical companies for treatments that don't work as well as competitive ones.
I'm hoping the American public holds Congress accountable for their actions and keeps them on task.
I agree with the author, It's sad but's that's the way it is..
Posted by: online pharmacy | 08 July 2009 at 03:00 AM