Senate rejects low-cost drug imports

[Javaman]

Plan would have allowed Americans to buy prescriptions from abroad

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/34438653/ns/politics-health_care_reform/

WASHINGTON - The Senate rejected a plan Tuesday to allow Americans to import low-cost prescriptions from abroad, handing drug makers a victory that may help secure passage of President Barack Obama's health care overhaul.

The vote on the amendment by Sen. Byron Dorgan, D-N.D., was 51-48 in favor, but 60 votes were needed to prevail under a special rule. Obama had supported the measure as a senator, but his administration echoed safety concerns raised by the pharmaceutical industry — which is supporting the Democrats' health care bill.

An angry Dorgan denounced a competing amendment that would permit drug imports if the Food and Drug Administration certifies it can be done without risks.

"Do not vote for this amendment and say you've done something about the price of prescription drugs because constituents will know better," Dorgan admonished his colleagues.

[meegbear]

1. So let me try to understand this ...

we make a drug and sell it to Canada for, say $0.25 each. They now made it so Canada can't sell it back for $0.75 each so the companies that sold it originally can sell it to use for $4.50 each.

And this is good for our country because ....?

And while we're on it, one of the claims from drug companies that we shouldn't allow imports is because the drugs can be weak or bad. Doesn't that therefore imply the drug companies themselves sold them the weak or bad drugs?

[kirby]

2. One correction...

You said 'we make a drug'. Actually, in many instances, the same exact drug put in the same bottle is made in a foreign plant, such as Ireland. That same Irish 'FDA' approved plant produces the same pills that are sold in Canada and the USA at drastically different prices.

[meegbear]

3. I sit corrected ...

thanks! :hi:

[hayu_lol]

5. The point has already been made...

that many of our drugs are made in other countries, yes, including China and India.

So, where is the further risk? Citizens are still buying drugs abroad: Canada and the Netherlands are prime examples, Switzerland is another producing/exporting drug seller.

We need to replace the Senate and House.

[backscatter712]

4. I vaguely remember a deal...

that would close the Medicare Part D donut hole in exchange for killing drug re-importation.

Killing drug re-importation sucks, but I'd like to think that losing the donut hole is at least worth something.

[spotbird]

9. If people could afford their drugs

the doughnut hole wouldn't matter. This is just another transfer of wealth to corporations.

[hatrack]

6. Well, let's see here . . . .

Single-payer was never in the cards, because Baucus et. al. wouldn't even allow testimony in favor of a single-payer plan.

Check.

Public option is gone, thanks to Joe Lieberman (ShittyPampers - CT).

Check.

Medicare buy-in for those between 55 and 65 is gone, thanks also to Senator Frog-Voice.

Check.

We can't cut costs of prescriptions through re-importation.

Check.

So what do we have now . . . Americans will be mandated under penalty of law to buy insurance.

Purportedly, Americans without insurance won't be denied coverage for pre-existing conditions (I think), but there are no legal constraints in the bill requiring insurance companies to hold down costs, or limiting how much they can raise premiums.

Oh, and the pharmaceutical companies crossed their hearts and promised to cut a whopping $8 billion a year out of their profits to "hold down" drug costs. Woooooo!!!!!!!

That's it?

[freddie mertz]

7. That's it. Plus some community health money and taxes on existing HC benefits

That will be passed directly to the middle class consumer, in violation of Obama's campaign promise.

It sucks.

[hatrack]

8. Oh, some health clinic funding?

Well, that at least may be of some use.

[freddie mertz]

10. Yeah, it's not bad.

It is community-based, prevention-oriented care.

We should perhaps split these out from the main bill and pass them individually.