Republicans Side With Big Pharma Over Seniors, Medicare

[skews13]

This story is absolutely insane, demonstrating just how bought-off the entire Republican Party is. The Congressional Budget Office made a mistake. It estimated that the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018 would save Medicare $7.7 billion over the next decade in a change it made to a Medicare Part D drug discount program. That was a $4 billion error, in Medicare's favor, and also in favor of Medicare beneficiaries facing high prescription costs. So the changes will save Medicare—meaning the taxpayers—$11.8 billion in the next two years.

It means drug companies have to offer deeper discounts to enrollees who fall in the so-called “donut hole,” or the gap created when an enrollee's prescription costs exceed the coverage limits in their Part D plan. Drug companies have to offer those enrollees a 70 percent discount on drugs, up from 50 percent before the budget bill passed. So drug companies pay more, Medicare enrollees pay less, and it is saving taxpayers money.

The unbelievable, and yet totally predictable, part of this is that Republicans are coming down on the side of big pharma! Not just congressional Republicans, but "Republican think tanks, advocacy organizations and consulting firms." They've actually launched what is being called a "grassroots" effort to void the deeper discount in the law. Because sure, grassroots Republican seniors are going to be really up in arms over saving money on their prescription drugs. Of course it's PhRMA that's behind this.

They claim, as Daniel Seaton, a spokesman for Biotechnology Innovation Organization says, that it is "Forcing companies to divert billions of dollars from the research lab to bail out insurance companies," and that it "will stifle innovation while doing little to save costs for Medicare beneficiaries." This from the industry that is raking in the tax cuts that Congress passed last year.

Just five big pharmaceuticals are going to save a combined $6 billion in 2018 alone. Another 10 are going to save $76 billion total in taxes on offshore revenue. But they're fighting $4 billion they'll lose over the next 10 years when they'll more than reap that back every single year.

Here's some free advice for them: spend some of that tax windfall on research and development instead of executive salaries and gifts to shareholders—and leave the discounts for Medicare patients alone.

Republicans side with big pharma over seniors, Medicare

 

[Ringel05]

This story is absolutely insane, demonstrating just how bought-off the entire Republican Party is. The Congressional Budget Office made a mistake. It estimated that the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018 would save Medicare $7.7 billion over the next decade in a change it made to a Medicare Part D drug discount program. That was a $4 billion error, in Medicare's favor, and also in favor of Medicare beneficiaries facing high prescription costs. So the changes will save Medicare—meaning the taxpayers—$11.8 billion in the next two years.

It means drug companies have to offer deeper discounts to enrollees who fall in the so-called “donut hole,” or the gap created when an enrollee's prescription costs exceed the coverage limits in their Part D plan. Drug companies have to offer those enrollees a 70 percent discount on drugs, up from 50 percent before the budget bill passed. So drug companies pay more, Medicare enrollees pay less, and it is saving taxpayers money.

The unbelievable, and yet totally predictable, part of this is that Republicans are coming down on the side of big pharma! Not just congressional Republicans, but "Republican think tanks, advocacy organizations and consulting firms." They've actually launched what is being called a "grassroots" effort to void the deeper discount in the law. Because sure, grassroots Republican seniors are going to be really up in arms over saving money on their prescription drugs. Of course it's PhRMA that's behind this.

They claim, as Daniel Seaton, a spokesman for Biotechnology Innovation Organization says, that it is "Forcing companies to divert billions of dollars from the research lab to bail out insurance companies," and that it "will stifle innovation while doing little to save costs for Medicare beneficiaries." This from the industry that is raking in the tax cuts that Congress passed last year.

Just five big pharmaceuticals are going to save a combined $6 billion in 2018 alone. Another 10 are going to save $76 billion total in taxes on offshore revenue. But they're fighting $4 billion they'll lose over the next 10 years when they'll more than reap that back every single year.

Here's some free advice for them: spend some of that tax windfall on research and development instead of executive salaries and gifts to shareholders—and leave the discounts for Medicare patients alone.

Republicans side with big pharma over seniors, Medicare

I bet you actually believe the Dems aren't just as firmly in their pocket..........

 

[JGalt]

This story is absolutely insane, demonstrating just how bought-off the entire Republican Party is. The Congressional Budget Office made a mistake. It estimated that the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018 would save Medicare $7.7 billion over the next decade in a change it made to a Medicare Part D drug discount program. That was a $4 billion error, in Medicare's favor, and also in favor of Medicare beneficiaries facing high prescription costs. So the changes will save Medicare—meaning the taxpayers—$11.8 billion in the next two years.

It means drug companies have to offer deeper discounts to enrollees who fall in the so-called “donut hole,” or the gap created when an enrollee's prescription costs exceed the coverage limits in their Part D plan. Drug companies have to offer those enrollees a 70 percent discount on drugs, up from 50 percent before the budget bill passed. So drug companies pay more, Medicare enrollees pay less, and it is saving taxpayers money.

The unbelievable, and yet totally predictable, part of this is that Republicans are coming down on the side of big pharma! Not just congressional Republicans, but "Republican think tanks, advocacy organizations and consulting firms." They've actually launched what is being called a "grassroots" effort to void the deeper discount in the law. Because sure, grassroots Republican seniors are going to be really up in arms over saving money on their prescription drugs. Of course it's PhRMA that's behind this.

They claim, as Daniel Seaton, a spokesman for Biotechnology Innovation Organization says, that it is "Forcing companies to divert billions of dollars from the research lab to bail out insurance companies," and that it "will stifle innovation while doing little to save costs for Medicare beneficiaries." This from the industry that is raking in the tax cuts that Congress passed last year.

Just five big pharmaceuticals are going to save a combined $6 billion in 2018 alone. Another 10 are going to save $76 billion total in taxes on offshore revenue. But they're fighting $4 billion they'll lose over the next 10 years when they'll more than reap that back every single year.

Here's some free advice for them: spend some of that tax windfall on research and development instead of executive salaries and gifts to shareholders—and leave the discounts for Medicare patients alone.

Republicans side with big pharma over seniors, Medicare

I bet you actually believe the Dems aren't just as firmly in their pocket..........

That's true, seeing as the opiod crisis reached its peak when Obama was President.

 

[skews13]

This story is absolutely insane, demonstrating just how bought-off the entire Republican Party is. The Congressional Budget Office made a mistake. It estimated that the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018 would save Medicare $7.7 billion over the next decade in a change it made to a Medicare Part D drug discount program. That was a $4 billion error, in Medicare's favor, and also in favor of Medicare beneficiaries facing high prescription costs. So the changes will save Medicare—meaning the taxpayers—$11.8 billion in the next two years.

It means drug companies have to offer deeper discounts to enrollees who fall in the so-called “donut hole,” or the gap created when an enrollee's prescription costs exceed the coverage limits in their Part D plan. Drug companies have to offer those enrollees a 70 percent discount on drugs, up from 50 percent before the budget bill passed. So drug companies pay more, Medicare enrollees pay less, and it is saving taxpayers money.

The unbelievable, and yet totally predictable, part of this is that Republicans are coming down on the side of big pharma! Not just congressional Republicans, but "Republican think tanks, advocacy organizations and consulting firms." They've actually launched what is being called a "grassroots" effort to void the deeper discount in the law. Because sure, grassroots Republican seniors are going to be really up in arms over saving money on their prescription drugs. Of course it's PhRMA that's behind this.

They claim, as Daniel Seaton, a spokesman for Biotechnology Innovation Organization says, that it is "Forcing companies to divert billions of dollars from the research lab to bail out insurance companies," and that it "will stifle innovation while doing little to save costs for Medicare beneficiaries." This from the industry that is raking in the tax cuts that Congress passed last year.

Just five big pharmaceuticals are going to save a combined $6 billion in 2018 alone. Another 10 are going to save $76 billion total in taxes on offshore revenue. But they're fighting $4 billion they'll lose over the next 10 years when they'll more than reap that back every single year.

Here's some free advice for them: spend some of that tax windfall on research and development instead of executive salaries and gifts to shareholders—and leave the discounts for Medicare patients alone.

Republicans side with big pharma over seniors, Medicare

I bet you actually believe the Dems aren't just as firmly in their pocket..........

That would be a bad bet. The number one polling issue with voters right now is healthcare. Premiums, drug prices, and pre existing conditions. You can now add hospital closings in red states to that list.

Republicans control the government.

I bet you think the voters will be blaming the party not in power.

 

[Darkwind]

This story is absolutely insane, demonstrating just how bought-off the entire Republican Party is. The Congressional Budget Office made a mistake. It estimated that the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018 would save Medicare $7.7 billion over the next decade in a change it made to a Medicare Part D drug discount program. That was a $4 billion error, in Medicare's favor, and also in favor of Medicare beneficiaries facing high prescription costs. So the changes will save Medicare—meaning the taxpayers—$11.8 billion in the next two years.

It means drug companies have to offer deeper discounts to enrollees who fall in the so-called “donut hole,” or the gap created when an enrollee's prescription costs exceed the coverage limits in their Part D plan. Drug companies have to offer those enrollees a 70 percent discount on drugs, up from 50 percent before the budget bill passed. So drug companies pay more, Medicare enrollees pay less, and it is saving taxpayers money.

The unbelievable, and yet totally predictable, part of this is that Republicans are coming down on the side of big pharma! Not just congressional Republicans, but "Republican think tanks, advocacy organizations and consulting firms." They've actually launched what is being called a "grassroots" effort to void the deeper discount in the law. Because sure, grassroots Republican seniors are going to be really up in arms over saving money on their prescription drugs. Of course it's PhRMA that's behind this.

They claim, as Daniel Seaton, a spokesman for Biotechnology Innovation Organization says, that it is "Forcing companies to divert billions of dollars from the research lab to bail out insurance companies," and that it "will stifle innovation while doing little to save costs for Medicare beneficiaries." This from the industry that is raking in the tax cuts that Congress passed last year.

Just five big pharmaceuticals are going to save a combined $6 billion in 2018 alone. Another 10 are going to save $76 billion total in taxes on offshore revenue. But they're fighting $4 billion they'll lose over the next 10 years when they'll more than reap that back every single year.

Here's some free advice for them: spend some of that tax windfall on research and development instead of executive salaries and gifts to shareholders—and leave the discounts for Medicare patients alone.

Republicans side with big pharma over seniors, Medicare

I wonder if you understand "unintended consequences" at all?

 

[Grumblenuts]

Bought off? The whole point of Part D was to further privatize Medicare in the first place, destroying any notion of people having a right to minimal decent medical care or dignity in retirement. Pay or die is nothing new.

 

[Ringel05]

This story is absolutely insane, demonstrating just how bought-off the entire Republican Party is. The Congressional Budget Office made a mistake. It estimated that the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018 would save Medicare $7.7 billion over the next decade in a change it made to a Medicare Part D drug discount program. That was a $4 billion error, in Medicare's favor, and also in favor of Medicare beneficiaries facing high prescription costs. So the changes will save Medicare—meaning the taxpayers—$11.8 billion in the next two years.

It means drug companies have to offer deeper discounts to enrollees who fall in the so-called “donut hole,” or the gap created when an enrollee's prescription costs exceed the coverage limits in their Part D plan. Drug companies have to offer those enrollees a 70 percent discount on drugs, up from 50 percent before the budget bill passed. So drug companies pay more, Medicare enrollees pay less, and it is saving taxpayers money.

The unbelievable, and yet totally predictable, part of this is that Republicans are coming down on the side of big pharma! Not just congressional Republicans, but "Republican think tanks, advocacy organizations and consulting firms." They've actually launched what is being called a "grassroots" effort to void the deeper discount in the law. Because sure, grassroots Republican seniors are going to be really up in arms over saving money on their prescription drugs. Of course it's PhRMA that's behind this.

They claim, as Daniel Seaton, a spokesman for Biotechnology Innovation Organization says, that it is "Forcing companies to divert billions of dollars from the research lab to bail out insurance companies," and that it "will stifle innovation while doing little to save costs for Medicare beneficiaries." This from the industry that is raking in the tax cuts that Congress passed last year.

Just five big pharmaceuticals are going to save a combined $6 billion in 2018 alone. Another 10 are going to save $76 billion total in taxes on offshore revenue. But they're fighting $4 billion they'll lose over the next 10 years when they'll more than reap that back every single year.

Here's some free advice for them: spend some of that tax windfall on research and development instead of executive salaries and gifts to shareholders—and leave the discounts for Medicare patients alone.

Republicans side with big pharma over seniors, Medicare

I bet you actually believe the Dems aren't just as firmly in their pocket..........

That's true, seeing as the opiod crisis reached its peak when Obama was President.

Doesn't matter who was president (except to a political hack) it's simply big pharma is so big with sooo much money lawmakers on both sides won't really try to attack them without having their political career destroyed.

 

[sartre play]

What ! the drug problem is Obamas fault now, of course it is, to funny

 

[Ringel05]

This story is absolutely insane, demonstrating just how bought-off the entire Republican Party is. The Congressional Budget Office made a mistake. It estimated that the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018 would save Medicare $7.7 billion over the next decade in a change it made to a Medicare Part D drug discount program. That was a $4 billion error, in Medicare's favor, and also in favor of Medicare beneficiaries facing high prescription costs. So the changes will save Medicare—meaning the taxpayers—$11.8 billion in the next two years.

It means drug companies have to offer deeper discounts to enrollees who fall in the so-called “donut hole,” or the gap created when an enrollee's prescription costs exceed the coverage limits in their Part D plan. Drug companies have to offer those enrollees a 70 percent discount on drugs, up from 50 percent before the budget bill passed. So drug companies pay more, Medicare enrollees pay less, and it is saving taxpayers money.

The unbelievable, and yet totally predictable, part of this is that Republicans are coming down on the side of big pharma! Not just congressional Republicans, but "Republican think tanks, advocacy organizations and consulting firms." They've actually launched what is being called a "grassroots" effort to void the deeper discount in the law. Because sure, grassroots Republican seniors are going to be really up in arms over saving money on their prescription drugs. Of course it's PhRMA that's behind this.

They claim, as Daniel Seaton, a spokesman for Biotechnology Innovation Organization says, that it is "Forcing companies to divert billions of dollars from the research lab to bail out insurance companies," and that it "will stifle innovation while doing little to save costs for Medicare beneficiaries." This from the industry that is raking in the tax cuts that Congress passed last year.

Just five big pharmaceuticals are going to save a combined $6 billion in 2018 alone. Another 10 are going to save $76 billion total in taxes on offshore revenue. But they're fighting $4 billion they'll lose over the next 10 years when they'll more than reap that back every single year.

Here's some free advice for them: spend some of that tax windfall on research and development instead of executive salaries and gifts to shareholders—and leave the discounts for Medicare patients alone.

Republicans side with big pharma over seniors, Medicare

I bet you actually believe the Dems aren't just as firmly in their pocket..........

That would be a bad bet. The number one polling issue with voters right now is healthcare. Premiums, drug prices, and pre existing conditions. You can now add hospital closings in red states to that list.

Republicans control the government.

I bet you think the voters will be blaming the party not in power.

Then you're a clueless partisan hack who doesn't know how DC really works (most don't). Of course the voters will blame the party in power, duh, that's politics and the highly emotive brain dead constituency.

 

[JGalt]

This story is absolutely insane, demonstrating just how bought-off the entire Republican Party is. The Congressional Budget Office made a mistake. It estimated that the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018 would save Medicare $7.7 billion over the next decade in a change it made to a Medicare Part D drug discount program. That was a $4 billion error, in Medicare's favor, and also in favor of Medicare beneficiaries facing high prescription costs. So the changes will save Medicare—meaning the taxpayers—$11.8 billion in the next two years.

It means drug companies have to offer deeper discounts to enrollees who fall in the so-called “donut hole,” or the gap created when an enrollee's prescription costs exceed the coverage limits in their Part D plan. Drug companies have to offer those enrollees a 70 percent discount on drugs, up from 50 percent before the budget bill passed. So drug companies pay more, Medicare enrollees pay less, and it is saving taxpayers money.

The unbelievable, and yet totally predictable, part of this is that Republicans are coming down on the side of big pharma! Not just congressional Republicans, but "Republican think tanks, advocacy organizations and consulting firms." They've actually launched what is being called a "grassroots" effort to void the deeper discount in the law. Because sure, grassroots Republican seniors are going to be really up in arms over saving money on their prescription drugs. Of course it's PhRMA that's behind this.

They claim, as Daniel Seaton, a spokesman for Biotechnology Innovation Organization says, that it is "Forcing companies to divert billions of dollars from the research lab to bail out insurance companies," and that it "will stifle innovation while doing little to save costs for Medicare beneficiaries." This from the industry that is raking in the tax cuts that Congress passed last year.

Just five big pharmaceuticals are going to save a combined $6 billion in 2018 alone. Another 10 are going to save $76 billion total in taxes on offshore revenue. But they're fighting $4 billion they'll lose over the next 10 years when they'll more than reap that back every single year.

Here's some free advice for them: spend some of that tax windfall on research and development instead of executive salaries and gifts to shareholders—and leave the discounts for Medicare patients alone.

Republicans side with big pharma over seniors, Medicare

I bet you actually believe the Dems aren't just as firmly in their pocket..........

That would be a bad bet. The number one polling issue with voters right now is healthcare. Premiums, drug prices, and pre existing conditions. You can now add hospital closings in red states to that list.

Republicans control the government.

I bet you think the voters will be blaming the party not in power.

Those issues are being dealt with. It was Obamacare that hurting American families, farmers, and small businesses with skyrocketing health insurance costs. The soaring deductibles and co-pays of the Affordable Care Act made already un-affordable plans completely worthless. As it stands now, close to half of U.S. counties are projected to have only one health insurer on their exchanges. The idea behind repealing Obamacare was to force insurance companies to compete for their customers with lower costs and higher-quality service, which they are doing.

 

[skews13]

This story is absolutely insane, demonstrating just how bought-off the entire Republican Party is. The Congressional Budget Office made a mistake. It estimated that the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018 would save Medicare $7.7 billion over the next decade in a change it made to a Medicare Part D drug discount program. That was a $4 billion error, in Medicare's favor, and also in favor of Medicare beneficiaries facing high prescription costs. So the changes will save Medicare—meaning the taxpayers—$11.8 billion in the next two years.

It means drug companies have to offer deeper discounts to enrollees who fall in the so-called “donut hole,” or the gap created when an enrollee's prescription costs exceed the coverage limits in their Part D plan. Drug companies have to offer those enrollees a 70 percent discount on drugs, up from 50 percent before the budget bill passed. So drug companies pay more, Medicare enrollees pay less, and it is saving taxpayers money.

The unbelievable, and yet totally predictable, part of this is that Republicans are coming down on the side of big pharma! Not just congressional Republicans, but "Republican think tanks, advocacy organizations and consulting firms." They've actually launched what is being called a "grassroots" effort to void the deeper discount in the law. Because sure, grassroots Republican seniors are going to be really up in arms over saving money on their prescription drugs. Of course it's PhRMA that's behind this.

They claim, as Daniel Seaton, a spokesman for Biotechnology Innovation Organization says, that it is "Forcing companies to divert billions of dollars from the research lab to bail out insurance companies," and that it "will stifle innovation while doing little to save costs for Medicare beneficiaries." This from the industry that is raking in the tax cuts that Congress passed last year.

Just five big pharmaceuticals are going to save a combined $6 billion in 2018 alone. Another 10 are going to save $76 billion total in taxes on offshore revenue. But they're fighting $4 billion they'll lose over the next 10 years when they'll more than reap that back every single year.

Here's some free advice for them: spend some of that tax windfall on research and development instead of executive salaries and gifts to shareholders—and leave the discounts for Medicare patients alone.

Republicans side with big pharma over seniors, Medicare

I bet you actually believe the Dems aren't just as firmly in their pocket..........

That would be a bad bet. The number one polling issue with voters right now is healthcare. Premiums, drug prices, and pre existing conditions. You can now add hospital closings in red states to that list.

Republicans control the government.

I bet you think the voters will be blaming the party not in power.

Then you're a clueless partisan hack who doesn't know how DC really works (most don't). Of course the voters will blame the party in power, duh, that's politics and the highly emotive brain dead constituency.

It's very simple.

You are either for the Medicare system

Or you are not for the Medicare system

If you are for the Medicare system, then you are for whatever funding mechanism, and regulations, that make it functional, and affordable.

Everything else is bullshit.

 

[mikegriffith1]

Uhhhh, the Dems sided with Big Pharma on a massive scale with Obamacare. They included provisions in Obamacare that took a bunch of over-the-counter (OTC) drugs and made them prescription-only drugs and that took those drugs off the list of drugs that could be reimbursed with HSA funds. Why didn't you liberals scream bloody murder over that genuine outrage? Huh? Where was your outrage then?

 

[Grumblenuts]

Nobody defending Dems here, but you Repugs gotta admit to taking the cake in this arena.
HSAs? Yet another Republican screw job.
Obamacare? It was Romneycare first.

 

[Grumblenuts]

Why didn't you liberals scream bloody murder over that genuine outrage?

Obamacare? Many of us did. Where were you?

 

[jc456]

Oh fk

 

[Defiant1]

Maybe if these old farts didn't take a pill for every little thing that ailed them, they wouldn't be in the hole.

 

[Ringel05]

This story is absolutely insane, demonstrating just how bought-off the entire Republican Party is. The Congressional Budget Office made a mistake. It estimated that the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018 would save Medicare $7.7 billion over the next decade in a change it made to a Medicare Part D drug discount program. That was a $4 billion error, in Medicare's favor, and also in favor of Medicare beneficiaries facing high prescription costs. So the changes will save Medicare—meaning the taxpayers—$11.8 billion in the next two years.

It means drug companies have to offer deeper discounts to enrollees who fall in the so-called “donut hole,” or the gap created when an enrollee's prescription costs exceed the coverage limits in their Part D plan. Drug companies have to offer those enrollees a 70 percent discount on drugs, up from 50 percent before the budget bill passed. So drug companies pay more, Medicare enrollees pay less, and it is saving taxpayers money.

The unbelievable, and yet totally predictable, part of this is that Republicans are coming down on the side of big pharma! Not just congressional Republicans, but "Republican think tanks, advocacy organizations and consulting firms." They've actually launched what is being called a "grassroots" effort to void the deeper discount in the law. Because sure, grassroots Republican seniors are going to be really up in arms over saving money on their prescription drugs. Of course it's PhRMA that's behind this.

They claim, as Daniel Seaton, a spokesman for Biotechnology Innovation Organization says, that it is "Forcing companies to divert billions of dollars from the research lab to bail out insurance companies," and that it "will stifle innovation while doing little to save costs for Medicare beneficiaries." This from the industry that is raking in the tax cuts that Congress passed last year.

Just five big pharmaceuticals are going to save a combined $6 billion in 2018 alone. Another 10 are going to save $76 billion total in taxes on offshore revenue. But they're fighting $4 billion they'll lose over the next 10 years when they'll more than reap that back every single year.

Here's some free advice for them: spend some of that tax windfall on research and development instead of executive salaries and gifts to shareholders—and leave the discounts for Medicare patients alone.

Republicans side with big pharma over seniors, Medicare

I bet you actually believe the Dems aren't just as firmly in their pocket..........

That would be a bad bet. The number one polling issue with voters right now is healthcare. Premiums, drug prices, and pre existing conditions. You can now add hospital closings in red states to that list.

Republicans control the government.

I bet you think the voters will be blaming the party not in power.

Then you're a clueless partisan hack who doesn't know how DC really works (most don't). Of course the voters will blame the party in power, duh, that's politics and the highly emotive brain dead constituency.

It's very simple.

You are either for the Medicare system

Or you are not for the Medicare system

If you are for the Medicare system, then you are for whatever funding mechanism, and regulations, that make it functional, and affordable.

Everything else is bullshit.

If you say so.......
I spent 35 years in the DC metro area, work on the inside with first the Dems then finally the Repubs, there's a reason I'm neither any longer, all the dirty dealing, dirty tricks, bull shit political maneuvering and outright lies from both sides made sure of that. So if you want to continue to be willfully naive more power to ya.

 

[Grumblenuts]

Ready To Join The Resistance?

This story is absolutely insane, demonstrating just how bought-off the entire Republican Party is. The Congressional Budget Office made a mistake. It estimated that the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018 would save Medicare $7.7 billion over the next decade in a change it made to a Medicare Part D drug discount program. That was a $4 billion error, in Medicare's favor, and also in favor of Medicare beneficiaries facing high prescription costs. So the changes will save Medicare—meaning the taxpayers—$11.8 billion in the next two years.

It means drug companies have to offer deeper discounts to enrollees who fall in the so-called “donut hole,” or the gap created when an enrollee's prescription costs exceed the coverage limits in their Part D plan. Drug companies have to offer those enrollees a 70 percent discount on drugs, up from 50 percent before the budget bill passed. So drug companies pay more, Medicare enrollees pay less, and it is saving taxpayers money.

The unbelievable, and yet totally predictable, part of this is that Republicans are coming down on the side of big pharma! Not just congressional Republicans, but "Republican think tanks, advocacy organizations and consulting firms." They've actually launched what is being called a "grassroots" effort to void the deeper discount in the law. Because sure, grassroots Republican seniors are going to be really up in arms over saving money on their prescription drugs. Of course it's PhRMA that's behind this.

They claim, as Daniel Seaton, a spokesman for Biotechnology Innovation Organization says, that it is "Forcing companies to divert billions of dollars from the research lab to bail out insurance companies," and that it "will stifle innovation while doing little to save costs for Medicare beneficiaries." This from the industry that is raking in the tax cuts that Congress passed last year.

Just five big pharmaceuticals are going to save a combined $6 billion in 2018 alone. Another 10 are going to save $76 billion total in taxes on offshore revenue. But they're fighting $4 billion they'll lose over the next 10 years when they'll more than reap that back every single year.

Here's some free advice for them: spend some of that tax windfall on research and development instead of executive salaries and gifts to shareholders—and leave the discounts for Medicare patients alone.

Republicans side with big pharma over seniors, Medicare

I bet you actually believe the Dems aren't just as firmly in their pocket..........

That would be a bad bet. The number one polling issue with voters right now is healthcare. Premiums, drug prices, and pre existing conditions. You can now add hospital closings in red states to that list.

Republicans control the government.

I bet you think the voters will be blaming the party not in power.

Then you're a clueless partisan hack who doesn't know how DC really works (most don't). Of course the voters will blame the party in power, duh, that's politics and the highly emotive brain dead constituency.

It's very simple.

You are either for the Medicare system

Or you are not for the Medicare system

If you are for the Medicare system, then you are for whatever funding mechanism, and regulations, that make it functional, and affordable.

Everything else is bullshit.

If you say so.......
I spent 35 years in the DC metro area, work on the inside with first the Dems then finally the Repubs, there's a reason I'm neither any longer, all the dirty dealing, dirty tricks, bull shit political maneuvering and outright lies from both sides made sure of that. So if you want to continue to be willfully naive more power to ya.

I mostly agree. The Democratic Party primarily exists to legitimize the Republican Party. Both are shit and always have been for the most part. However, there are simple facts to acknowledge. Far more Democrats, liberals, progressives, and/or leftists support Medicare For All / Single Payer health care. Republicans oppose it. Look it up. That's the only reason we don't already have it.

 

[Ringel05]

Ready To Join The Resistance?

I bet you actually believe the Dems aren't just as firmly in their pocket..........

That would be a bad bet. The number one polling issue with voters right now is healthcare. Premiums, drug prices, and pre existing conditions. You can now add hospital closings in red states to that list.

Republicans control the government.

I bet you think the voters will be blaming the party not in power.

Then you're a clueless partisan hack who doesn't know how DC really works (most don't). Of course the voters will blame the party in power, duh, that's politics and the highly emotive brain dead constituency.

It's very simple.

You are either for the Medicare system

Or you are not for the Medicare system

If you are for the Medicare system, then you are for whatever funding mechanism, and regulations, that make it functional, and affordable.

Everything else is bullshit.

If you say so.......
I spent 35 years in the DC metro area, work on the inside with first the Dems then finally the Repubs, there's a reason I'm neither any longer, all the dirty dealing, dirty tricks, bull shit political maneuvering and outright lies from both sides made sure of that. So if you want to continue to be willfully naive more power to ya.

I mostly agree. The Democratic Party primarily exists to legitimize the Republican Party. Both are shit and always have been for the most part. However, there are simple facts to acknowledge. Far more Democrats, liberals, progressives, and/or leftists support Medicare For All / Single Payer health care. Republicans oppose it. Look it up. That's the only reason we don't already have it.

Far more Democrats give lip service support, look at bills presented over the decades that never had a snowball's chance in hell of being passed. Those sponsoring the bills also knew those bills would go nowhere so why did they do it? Two reasons, one to placate the base and two is for political ammunition come election time. Of course the Republicans oppose it in general, ideology + politics = reelection/beating out an opponent incumbent. Lots of moderate Repubs support it but know they would loose their party's support come election time.

 

[Grumblenuts]

Ready To Join The Resistance?

That would be a bad bet. The number one polling issue with voters right now is healthcare. Premiums, drug prices, and pre existing conditions. You can now add hospital closings in red states to that list.

Republicans control the government.

I bet you think the voters will be blaming the party not in power.

Then you're a clueless partisan hack who doesn't know how DC really works (most don't). Of course the voters will blame the party in power, duh, that's politics and the highly emotive brain dead constituency.

It's very simple.

You are either for the Medicare system

Or you are not for the Medicare system

If you are for the Medicare system, then you are for whatever funding mechanism, and regulations, that make it functional, and affordable.

Everything else is bullshit.

If you say so.......
I spent 35 years in the DC metro area, work on the inside with first the Dems then finally the Repubs, there's a reason I'm neither any longer, all the dirty dealing, dirty tricks, bull shit political maneuvering and outright lies from both sides made sure of that. So if you want to continue to be willfully naive more power to ya.

I mostly agree. The Democratic Party primarily exists to legitimize the Republican Party. Both are shit and always have been for the most part. However, there are simple facts to acknowledge. Far more Democrats, liberals, progressives, and/or leftists support Medicare For All / Single Payer health care. Republicans oppose it. Look it up. That's the only reason we don't already have it.

Far more Democrats give lip service support, look at bills presented over the decades that never had a snowball's chance in hell of being passed. Those sponsoring the bills also knew those bills would go nowhere so why did they do it? Two reasons, one to placate the base and two is for political ammunition come election time. Of course the Republicans oppose it in general, ideology + politics = reelection/beating out an opponent incumbent. Lots of moderate Repubs support it but know they would loose their party's support come election time.

Again, I vastly agree. But polls now show a 33 to 51% of the public favoring Medicare for All and growing... It's coming.. one way or another..