Thune: Pelosi Drug Bill is a Bad Prescription for the American People
“It boils down to this: Government price controls mean access to fewer drugs.”
WASHINGTON — U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) today discussed the Pelosi prescription drug bill, Democrats’ latest installment in their campaign to have the government takeover Americans’ health care. If passed, the bill would reduce Americans’ access to lifesaving treatments. Thune encouraged Congress to find a solution to lower prescription drugs costs without resorting to government price controls and cited bipartisan proposals that could be passed through both chambers of Congress.
Thank you, Senator Thune.
Government “control” of communication in one press release, hands off in the next. The hypocrisy would be comical if it werent so sad.
Here’s what I don’t understand. Like it or not health care has been determined a right. Not enshrined in the constitution of course but most facilities have to treat you regardless of your ability to pay. Utilities on the other hand are highly regulated and by no means are considered a right.
There are legitimate cases where these drugs are being dramatically overcharged and every other country gets them for cheap. When are we going to quit defending the multi billion dollar industries and make them give a little? I feel like we are being suckered!
The cost of healthcare is going beyond what many can afford and we don’t have the best healthcare so one way or another something has to give before we get another democratic wave and we go full on government run healthcare!
I don’t like Obamacare but we were told elect Republicans and they will do it better. Another year another increase of over $100/month increases. For a service I thus far have rarely used.
Unsustainable!
First, healthcare is not a right. We need to be very careful in using that word.
Second, not every country gets the drugs cheaper as you state. That’s a falsity pushed by big government activists. Most countries are YEARS away from providing their citizens with access to newest, life saving therapies.
Do not fall for the Pelosi/AOC/Warren/Sanders/Biden talking points.
I’m getting my talking points from my health insurance bill that I pay every month. If you want to keep sticking your head in the sand you’re not gonna like the end result coming up here shortly.
If you’re getting your talking points from your health insurance bill then that’s even worse.
Did you know that insurance companies negotiate for extreme discounts on prescription medications and then charge their policy holders a huge mark up when you fill your prescription? Did you know that insurance companies have routinely barred pharmacists from telling patients that there are less expensive ways to get the prescription? Did you know that if you purchase your prescription with cash (which can save money) the insurance companies don’t let that count toward your deductible? Did you know that insurance companies put in all kinds of cost saving measures for themselves while continuing to raise premiums and refusing to share discounts and rebates with policy holders? Did you know your doctor can prescribe a medication to you and that the insurance company can say that they’re not paying for it? Did you know that your insurance company can deny paying for treatment because they think a different, cheaper treatment might work better? Did you know that you may have to get permission from your insurance company before getting treatment? Did you know that your insurance company can tell a cancer patient that they’d like them to try some other ways of treating the disease before going with the treatment planned outlined by medical professionals? Did you now your auto insurance can deny a claim for a paint job after an accident because they think that a can of spray paint from Menards could cover the scratches as well? (Okay that last one is made up and no one would ever let that happen, but that’s what happens with health insurance all the time).
I would guess you didn’t know. But go ahead, continue to get your talking points from the company that continues to raise your premiums, deductibles and co-pays and shuts you out of any discounts or prohibits you from gaining additional insight into your care.
People’s heads have been in the sand for too long and their anger is misdirected at those providing treatment and finding cures rather than those who are actually charging all of us too much in premiums for the privilege of having to pay more at the pharmacy counter or the clinic.
Easy there! I see how you put together your thoughts now.
My premium has doubled in 4 years. That is my talking point.
I’m not sure your solution then if the government can’t interfere and the greedy insurance companies are left to taking us for a ride. Are you secretly a member of Congress and why nothing has been done? Please share your ideas so that we can fix this! Your talking points aren’t worth a cup of coffee so far.
Why do you even need health insurance?
Illegal aliens don’t pay premiums and many often visit the ER/Dr. office with no bills to be paid.
Here’s how we fix it.
When an insurance company negotiates a discount or rebate – which they do because they’re essentially buying in volume – pass those savings along to the consumer at the pharmacy counter.
If a treatment is prescribed by a provider, cover it.
If a medication cost less than the co-pay, let that count toward your deductible.
Stop having seniors pay 5 times the amount the insurance company pays in Medicare.
Drop the Cadillac tax on insurance plans.
Stop letting the insurance companies dictate healthcare policy.
Increase transparency in health care. Let us know what we’re paying and to who. Give us the break down.
Let’s say for a minute that is everything we need to do. How do you intend to get the insurance companies to do this?
Same way that government compels anyone to do anything: pass a law.
That’s how you would achieve drug companies lowering their prices. Why are we so quick to go after them with proposed laws, but when someone mentions an insurance company pass a regulation or law it’s an odd concept?
I would hope that the insurance companies would begin doing this to avoid regulation. Some already are. Industry self-regulation is obviously better than government interference.
Have you had to buy insulin lately?
That is not a health insurance problem.
Read up!
And does insurance not cover your insulin? Something that you need to live?
The sudden price increase of insulin is appalling as is the increase in epipen.
My point is that the insurance companies deserve a lot of the blame for people’s out of pocket costs. Why pay into a system that offers no coverage?
Not entirely true. Nearly every drug is available in other countries. The newest ones can be expensive. But generally other countries get their drugs MUCH cheaper. Most have national health and the government can negotiate prices. Our hands off government leaves is at their “mercy”.
Its really interesting when you’ve been on top of the Dems finances like a hawk the last couple months but when a story breaks that Noem has inflated her daughter’s salary and not given increases across the board to education (which is codified by the way) this forum is silent on the topic.
Can you say narrative? There’s plenty of other places providing the information you’ve only touched on.
I guess I would like to see a conservative forum address it and not getting information from CAH, the Argus, and Kelo.
There’s no defense so there will be no addressing by GOP blogs.
Not everyone wants to speak truth. You have to find that for yourself. Money talks.
What I wish is that someone would finally call out AARP for not putting people first. Setting aside their liberal tendencies, they are first and foremost an insurance company. They don’t want seniors paying less for drugs they want to increase their profit margins.
It’s time to walk away.