Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Trump calls for Medicare to negotiate drug prices
The Hill ^ | 01/26/2016 | Peter Sullivan

Posted on 01/26/2016 6:37:47 AM PST by GIdget2004

Donald Trump is calling for Medicare to be able to negotiate with pharmaceutical companies to lower drug prices, a policy long backed by Democrats and opposed by Republicans.

The Republican presidential candidate told a crowd in Farmington, N.H., Monday night that the policy would save billions of dollars, but then took a shot at pharmaceutical companies, which strongly oppose the proposal.

"We don't do it. Why? Because of the drug companies," Trump said, according to The Associated Press.

Democratic candidates Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders, as well as President Obama, have called for the same policy of letting Medicare negotiate prices, which it is currently banned from doing under the 2003 Medicare prescription drug law. The Democratic candidates also have both bashed the drug companies on the stump.

(Excerpt) Read more at thehill.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Government; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: donaldtrump; socializedmedicine; trump
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-72 next last
To: Toddsterpatriot

It happens because our politicians are paid off to let health care providers, ‘insurance’ companies, and pharma companies rape the people of this nation to the tune of 1/5 of our GDP.


41 posted on 01/26/2016 7:49:36 AM PST by perfect_rovian_storm
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 35 | View Replies]

To: ConservingFreedom

Reagan had four factions to deal with . . Neoconservatives, the Old Right, Libertarians, and the New Right. He managed to bring them all together eventually, but the Old and New Right and the Libertarians were not agreeable with the more liberal, ‘Democratic’ leanings of the Neoconservatives.

“They thought he meant to roll back government and radically shrink it to a size they imagined, eliminating huge programs such as Social Security along the way. Reagan did not think in these terms, rather, he thought more of efficiency—more bang for the taxpayer’s buck. Stated another way, Reagan wanted to make government work better, not merely make it smaller. Further, he wanted government to be less intrusive in the daily lives of citizens as they sought to make their way in life. Neoconservatives were more attuned to this view and were, thus, the main beneficiaries of Reagan’s economic stance. Their manta was “democratic capitalism,” not free market economics. In short, Neoconservatives ended up being appointed to many important posts of Reagan’s government. - See more at: http://www.visionandvalues.org/2004/07/ronald-reagan-and-the-changing-face-of-conservatism/#sthash.c4D4iPws.dpuf


42 posted on 01/26/2016 8:11:54 AM PST by ElainaVer
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 38 | View Replies]

To: Toddsterpatriot

Been an RN 40 years not an international negotiator. I just know what pharmaceutical companies charge Americans when others are paying less.


43 posted on 01/26/2016 8:16:10 AM PST by nclaurel
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 39 | View Replies]

To: ElainaVer
I read your link - nothing there supports your claim that "hard-nosed Conservatives accused [Reagan] of having a Democrat agenda when he was running for Prez."
44 posted on 01/26/2016 8:19:29 AM PST by ConservingFreedom (a "guest worker" is a stateless person with no ties to any community, only to his paymaster)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 42 | View Replies]

To: babygene
Medicare part D is a payer contracting service with hundreds of plans. Prices for covered Part D drugs are determined by negotiations between drug manufacturers and prescription drug plans.

Government doesn't really negotiate, they would dictate. The democrats would love to use this as an avenue to initiate price controls. And there are a lot of alleged conservatives who would cheer them on. If consistent, these same cheerleaders would demand that government negotiate worker wages lower so we get lower prices at the store. The government already tells doctors what they can charge for Medicare services and that's worked out so well that new Medicare patients can't find doctors. Same thing will happen when you want to find a new drug. Lower prices and little innovation. Great.

45 posted on 01/26/2016 8:21:28 AM PST by Mase (Save me from the people who would save me from myself!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: Toddsterpatriot

If Americans are allowed to buy prescription drugs from foreign pharmacies, the prices that foreign pharmacies charge will go up, while American pharmacies will charge less. Simple supply and demand.

The cost of prescription drugs would thus level out across borders through unrestricted capitalism. Pharmaceuticals will still make their profit and if they choose to direct those profits into research, then that is their choice.

Drug research will continue as long as it is profitable.

Why should Americans be the only ones paying for the research?


46 posted on 01/26/2016 8:27:31 AM PST by kidd
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 34 | View Replies]

To: GIdget2004

It looks like in the end that Trump is not going to be so good as we hoped. One could start with removing the laws make it illegal for someone to buy prescription drugs overseas and import them back to the US. We are talking about the same drugs made by the same companies being sold at a mere fraction of the cost overseas. And congress has passed special law to protect this behavior. The governments involvement in Health Care is the reason that its hopelessly screwed up in the first place.


47 posted on 01/26/2016 8:29:30 AM PST by Revel
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: perfect_rovian_storm
It happens because our politicians are paid off

That could explain why our prices are high, not why foreign prices are low.

48 posted on 01/26/2016 8:30:56 AM PST by Toddsterpatriot ("Telling the government to lower trade barriers to zero...is government interference" central_va)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 41 | View Replies]

To: Reagan Disciple

http://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/266929-federal-healthcare-spending-outpaces-social-security-for-the-first-time


49 posted on 01/26/2016 8:31:41 AM PST by Harpotoo
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: nclaurel
I just know what pharmaceutical companies charge Americans when others are paying less.

If you find out why others are paying less, please let me know.

50 posted on 01/26/2016 8:31:55 AM PST by Toddsterpatriot ("Telling the government to lower trade barriers to zero...is government interference" central_va)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 43 | View Replies]

To: kidd
Why should Americans be the only ones paying for the research?

Can you explain why the Canadian healthcare system, for example, isn't paying for our research?

51 posted on 01/26/2016 8:35:18 AM PST by Toddsterpatriot ("Telling the government to lower trade barriers to zero...is government interference" central_va)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 46 | View Replies]

To: kidd
the prices that foreign pharmacies charge will go up, while American pharmacies will charge less.

No, the prices of drugs in most every foreign market are set by government and cannot deviate. Governments do what they do best by restricting capitalism. There is also a huge black market in pharmaceuticals that is managed mostly by organized crime. You want to import price controls to the US, and you want to allow Americans access to adulterated and counterfeit drugs. Great.

Why should Americans be the only ones paying for the research?

It's true that Americans pay a wildly disproportionate amount of the cost to develop new drugs. You should read more about it to learn why. The lesson learned would be that socialism fails wherever it is tried so demanding socialism at home is probably not a good idea.

52 posted on 01/26/2016 8:44:29 AM PST by Mase (Save me from the people who would save me from myself!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 46 | View Replies]

To: ElainaVer; Reagan Disciple

I don’t believe Reagan changed parties as much as Trump:

Trump’s party affiliation has changed over the years. Until 1987, he was a Democrat.[4] Then he was a Republican from 1987–99.[3] He then switched to the Reform Party from 1999–2001.[3] From 2001–09 he was a Democrat again,[3] and switched to the Republican Party again from 2009–11.[3] An independent from 2011–12, he returned to the Republican Party where he has remained from 2012–present.[


53 posted on 01/26/2016 8:48:42 AM PST by navet97
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: Toddsterpatriot
Most will deny it, but what they are really telling us is that the Canadian system is superior to ours. If so, why not just enact our own Canadian-style price controls here? I wish these folks would have the courage to be honest about what they want.

There are more than a few politicians that are eager to give them what they think they want. Big government conservatism marches on.

54 posted on 01/26/2016 8:48:55 AM PST by Mase (Save me from the people who would save me from myself!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 51 | View Replies]

To: NorthMountain

Nowhere and you are absolutely right. If it were possible to simply shut the program down for good I would be right next to you cheering.

Alas, this behemoth is entrenched so it needs to be cored our before it can be killed.


55 posted on 01/26/2016 8:49:32 AM PST by Reagan Disciple (Peace through Strength)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 20 | View Replies]

To: perfect_rovian_storm

A whole chapter! Well sign me up then. Let’s forget altogether that he’s suggesting what Hillary is.


56 posted on 01/26/2016 8:50:50 AM PST by Reagan Disciple (Peace through Strength)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 40 | View Replies]

To: navet97

You didn’t post a link, navet.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/3387449/posts
Trump has voted straight Republican since 1987.


57 posted on 01/26/2016 9:08:26 AM PST by ElainaVer
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 53 | View Replies]

To: Reagan Disciple

A winner would be someone who asks for negotiation for lower prescription prices. But you go ahead and pay those skyrocketing prices.


58 posted on 01/26/2016 9:24:59 AM PST by bgill (CDC site, "We still do not know exactly how people are infected with Ebola")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: ElainaVer

It was from Wikipedia


59 posted on 01/26/2016 9:57:49 AM PST by navet97
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 57 | View Replies]

To: bgill
Yeah dude - they tried that with Part D. But ignore that too.

You want to be fooled that Trump is this master negotiator and ignore his liberal leanings and willingness to cut deals with McConnell and Schumer, your choice for sure.

He's a winner alright.

60 posted on 01/26/2016 10:15:28 AM PST by Reagan Disciple (Peace through Strength)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 58 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-72 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson