"Senate Panel OKs Negotiating Drug Prices"

[in_cog_ni_to]

Senate Panel OKs Negotiating Drug Prices
By KEVIN FREKING, Associated Press Writer
Thu Apr 12, 10:21 PM

WASHINGTON - An effort to let the government negotiate drug prices on behalf of the elderly and the disabled moved a step closer to reality Thursday with the approval of legislation by a Senate committee.

Democratic lawmakers used their majority status to pass the measure. They said government negotiations in some cases could lower the cost of prescription drugs for Medicare beneficiaries. People in Medicare drug plans now rely on their insurers to conduct those negotiations.

"When you're negotiating on behalf of 43 million people, that's leverage," said Sen. Kent Conrad, D-N.D.

The legislation approved Thursday simply strikes a clause that prohibits the secretary of Health and Human Services from interfering in the negotiations between drug makers, insurers and pharmacies. The committee approved the bill 13-8, with two Republicans, Sens. Olympia Snowe of Maine and Gordon Smith of Oregon, voting with the Democrats on the committee.<snip>

http://www.comcast.net/news/health/index.jsp?cat=HEALTHWELLNESS&fn=/2007/04/12/635257.html

[spanone]

1. Big Pharma won't be happy.

That pleases me to no end.

[Warren Stupidity]

2. That's COMMUNISM!

You cannot negotiate prices!

[Delphinus]

3. Let's see how far this goes!

I hope something good comes from this; the people sure do want it.