Democrats to unveil their proposed changes for drug benefit

[question everything]

Tuesday, June 27, 2006

Democrats to unveil their proposed changes for drug benefit

By: KEVIN FREKING - Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON -- Any buyer knows the advantage of buying in bulk.

Think about the advantage when you're negotiating on behalf of 43 million elderly and disabled Americans. That's the image painted by Democratic lawmakers who want the federal government to negotiate drug prices on behalf of Medicare recipients.

The Democrats envision using the money that is saved to close a gap in coverage, called the "doughnut hole," that will affect an estimated 6.9 million people this year.

(snip)

The Democratic proposal, being introduced Tuesday, provides an alternative viewpoint to how the drug benefit should be shaped. Currently, seniors and the disabled select from dozens of plans offered in their state by private insurers, who negotiate prices. The Democratic proposal would let beneficiaries choose a plan administered by the federal government.

(snip)

Democratic lawmakers contend that insurers do not have the clout the federal government would have when negotiating the purchase of medicine for seniors. They cited a study from the advocacy group, Families USA, which indicated that the Veterans Affairs prices for drugs were consistently lower than prices charged by Part D plans. The median price difference was 46 percent.

(snip)


http://www.nctimes.com/articles/2006/06/27/news/politics/08_01_065_26_06.txt

[LynneSin]

1. The current prescription plan program is anything but a "BENEFIT"

I could easily write the legistlation for putting together a program.

Currently, your insurance company negotiates with the pharmacies to get the best price possible and then puts those drugs into a tiered plan where generics are the best price and have the lowest co-pay, the next tier is the best negotiate price ones and have the second lowest co-pay and this works it way up to a group of drugs that have no negotiated price but could be available if you're willing to pay a higher price. This is the norm for all regular prescription plans and should be the same for our seniors.

Second you offer 3 plans: One at regular price, one where you pay more into the plan but receive cheaper co-pays for product (good for people on a higher number of prescriptions) and a final plan to opt-out of the plan (for those who perhaps can afford the drugs and would prefer to not be hinder by selection).

It's that simple - I could write it.

[jwirr]

2. I would hope that they would do something about Congress/*ss

playing doctor. I just got my mess with the drug program straightened out when I get a call that my severely disabled daughter cannot get a medication she has needed for 30 years covered under any of the drug programs.

Not because the private insurance does not pay for it but because *ss and his rubber congress have decided they are qualified to decide if a person with the severest type of epilepsy that exists should take a generic form of dilantin instead of the real thing. They want her to go through trials. We have already gone through a voluntary trial with it that did not work and actually made her worse. Who in the hell made these decisions and can I sue him/her/them for practicing medicine without a license.

There are many terrible things about these programs but when they take vital decisions out of the hands of doctors (qualified ones - not frist & that Oklahoma quack) then they are going to kill people.