Trump's surprise: calls CBC's Cummings three times to strategize

Axios ^ | March 30, 2017 | Caitlin Owens

[onona]

So let's cut the crap and allow the US government to negotiate directly with Pharma, instead of having drugs cross country lines, and then shipping them back to the US.

that just invites fraud, waste, and abuse.

[rb22982]

So let's cut the crap and allow the US government to negotiate directly with Pharma, instead of having drugs cross country lines, and then shipping them back to the US. that just invites fraud, waste, and abuse.

Why? I can reimport TVs, Laptops, iPhones, Furniture and every other type of product on the planet. Why should pharma and medical equipment get special treatment?

[onona]

I don’t think you understand what “re-import” means.

[sargon]

How is negotiating drug prices against Republicans or free market? Or importing cheaper drugs?

Very good question.

I'm sure the GOPe rationalizes it with some balderdash about "quality" or some such...

[rb22982]

LOL - Way to avoid the argument I made. I know exactly what re-import means but I probably should have said reimport or import. In the case of pharma it would be re-imported as most of it is made in the US or US territory and shipped to Canada/Europe and would go back. The reason that doesn’t happen in other industries is because they don’t have that protection that pharma has so they have to charge comparable pricing everywhere (and not to mention, competition as well).

[rb22982]

The answer is - it’s not - but big pharma lobby’s a lot and donates a lot of dinero to politicians.

[Iscool]

One of the drugs I take sells to the insurance company for 900 bucks a month...My cost is 300...And that’s the generic version...If Trump or anyone can bring that price down, I’ll be elated...

[House Atreides]

Sorry, but YOU don’t know what your drug costs your insurance company. The costs of drugs to your insurance company are negotiated between them & the drug manufacturers and are KEPT CONFIDENTIAL. If you think the “retail price” printed on your prescription (along with the “you pay” cost) is your insurance company’s cost, you’re gullible. Sorry, but that is the truth.

[Iscool]

Sorry, but YOU don’t know what your drug costs your insurance company. The costs of drugs to your insurance company are negotiated between them & the drug manufacturers and are KEPT CONFIDENTIAL. If you think the “retail price” printed on your prescription (along with the “you pay” cost) is your insurance company’s cost, you’re gullible. Sorry, but that is the truth.

So how do you know I'm gullible if the costs are kept secret???

One of today's prescritions was 45 bucks...The girl at Walgreens told me the insurance company saved me over 600...I don't know if that figure is correct or not...I don't care if it is...But I wouldn't be surprised since the insurance companies just pass the cost on down to the consumers...

But 45 bucks for a generic drug is nuts...Those things cost pennies to make...

[House Atreides]

I hear you. I sometimes think that I’d love to find an “insurance company” to which I could pay relatively low premiums and be entitled to pay only 100% of the providers’ & the insurance company’s negotiated rates. I’m sure my family’s net annual costs (Insurance premiums & payments to providers) would be less than I’m paying now (with the insurance company paying most of the costs.