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Now Drugs Are Free in FL
vanity | 6/15/07 | Claire W Solt, PhD

Posted on 08/17/2007 7:47:18 AM PDT by ClaireSolt

Often, when people want to slam Republicans to being spenders, they cite the Medicare Modernization Act saying it will cost 8 trilion dollars and is the biggest new entitlement since Medicare was passed in the 1960's. These people ignore the effect of infusing competitive market forces in this measure. They have pushed prices down to the point that now prescription drugs are free in Florida. Here is how that has happened.

About three years ago this bill set the giants of the retail and insurance industries at each other to compete for the business of millions of seniors for prescription drug coverage. In addtion to insurance companies we saw Walmart and Walgreen enter this market. After about a year, Walmart offered one $4 price for generics for all customers. Target quickly matched that offer. Now, Florida's premier grocer, Publix, has announced that it will fill all prescriptions free. Surely, the retailers ae using drugs as a loss leader to drive more business to their stores. Also, the cost has to be factored into their prices. At the same time, know that they have negotiated the lowest possible prices, because they still have to compete with the other stores. Drug customers aren't suporting a building with ten thousand bureucrat price fixers in Washington.

This is a terrific success and conservatives should study it, understand it, and praise those who made it happen. We were being hammered weekly with rising health care costs, but those prophets of doom have gone quiet, lately. Free enterprise explains why.


TOPICS: Business/Economy
KEYWORDS: drugs; medicare
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1 posted on 08/17/2007 7:47:20 AM PDT by ClaireSolt
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To: ClaireSolt

Deceptive headline. Only run-of-the-mill generics are “free” but most Seniors require expensive, still in patent “name brand” drugs that can cost hundreds or even thousands per month.


2 posted on 08/17/2007 7:49:43 AM PDT by Yo-Yo (USAF, TAC, 12th AF, 366 TFW, 366 MG, 366 CRS, Mtn Home AFB, 1978-81)
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To: ClaireSolt

This should be in breaking news.


3 posted on 08/17/2007 7:50:32 AM PDT by flashbunny (<--- Free Anti-Rino graphics! See Rudy the Rino get exposed as a liberal with his own words!)
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To: flashbunny

So have they stopped paying the pharmacists?


4 posted on 08/17/2007 7:51:45 AM PDT by massgopguy (I owe everything to George Bailey)
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To: massgopguy

Everything is free. The economy is now powered by magical unicorns who fart out $100 bills.


5 posted on 08/17/2007 7:52:39 AM PDT by flashbunny (<--- Free Anti-Rino graphics! See Rudy the Rino get exposed as a liberal with his own words!)
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To: Yo-Yo

I believe Publix is only giving 9 antibiotics away for free. Publix is offering some free prescription drugs at all its stores with pharmacies. They include seven popular antibiotics, including penicillin.


6 posted on 08/17/2007 7:52:44 AM PDT by milwguy
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To: Yo-Yo; ClaireSolt

If all drugs were free, the $1400 per month I pay would justify a plane trip for sure.


7 posted on 08/17/2007 7:54:47 AM PDT by CholeraJoe ("I shall need the clankers.")
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To: milwguy

Its only a few generic antibiotics. Publix is a great store to shop in. They actually have customer service!


8 posted on 08/17/2007 7:56:06 AM PDT by driftdiver
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To: ClaireSolt

Publix is offering seven generic antibiotics (and only these seven drugs) free-of-charge. It’s also stopped matching the general $4 generic policy at some of its competitors. I can’t link to the article due to FR’s policies, but a GOOGLE for “Publix’s free-drug offer has flip side” will take you to coverage of Puplix’s policy.


9 posted on 08/17/2007 7:57:10 AM PDT by M. Dodge Thomas (Opinion based on research by an eyewear firm, which surveyed 100 members of a speed dating club.)
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To: ClaireSolt
Now, Florida's premier grocer, Publix, has announced that it will fill all prescriptions free.

No. Publix is providing a list of seven common antiobiotics "without cost" to the customer for 14-day prescriptions. These include penicillin and amoxicillin. All prescriptions are NOT free.

10 posted on 08/17/2007 8:00:12 AM PDT by SoFloFreeper
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To: flashbunny
"The economy is now powered by magical unicorns"

Powdered unicorn horn will cure anything. But just try to buy some - I hear the drug companies bought up the patents and are keeping it off the market.

11 posted on 08/17/2007 8:00:57 AM PDT by M. Dodge Thomas (Opinion based on research by an eyewear firm, which surveyed 100 members of a speed dating club.)
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To: SoFloFreeper

Hey - facts don’t matter in a vanity!!!!


12 posted on 08/17/2007 8:02:08 AM PDT by flashbunny (<--- Free Anti-Rino graphics! See Rudy the Rino get exposed as a liberal with his own words!)
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To: M. Dodge Thomas

http://www.sptimes.com/2007/08/09/Business/Publix_ditches_4_drug.shtml

there’s a link to the info about them offering free antibiotics but stopping the $4 generics they were offering to match Walmart


13 posted on 08/17/2007 8:03:39 AM PDT by dawn53
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To: flashbunny

Woo Hoo! Free free free!! This working BS is for SUCKERS!!

;->


14 posted on 08/17/2007 8:04:51 AM PDT by Rush4U
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To: CholeraJoe

If you are paying $1400 for prescription drug coverage which averages $41/mo, there is no hope for you.


15 posted on 08/17/2007 8:05:14 AM PDT by ClaireSolt (Have you have gotten mixed up in a mish-masher?)
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To: ClaireSolt

So are you going to come back and correct your factual errors in your vanity?


16 posted on 08/17/2007 8:09:32 AM PDT by flashbunny (<--- Free Anti-Rino graphics! See Rudy the Rino get exposed as a liberal with his own words!)
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To: ClaireSolt

I repeated the report I heard on Publix. If it is not correct, I apologize. However, I must say it is discouraging how quickly you pick up on the negativity of the MSM. One would think that anyone could calculate that free antibiotics and $4 generics save people a ton of money. If you want to go along with the negativity in that Tampa article, I am sorry for you and me.


17 posted on 08/17/2007 8:14:50 AM PDT by ClaireSolt (Have you have gotten mixed up in a mish-masher?)
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To: milwguy

You are right milguy.


18 posted on 08/17/2007 8:17:20 AM PDT by lastchance (Hug your babies.)
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To: ClaireSolt


Hey, far out, man!
19 posted on 08/17/2007 8:18:42 AM PDT by LIConFem (Thompson 2008. Lifetime ACU Rating: 86 -- Hunter 2008 (VP) Lifetime ACU Rating: 92)
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To: ClaireSolt

LOL. Nice new york times behavior. You came here and posted a vanity in news/activism saying how all the naysayers were.

To quote you:

“Often, when people want to slam Republicans to being spenders, they cite the Medicare Modernization Act saying it will cost 8 trilion dollars and is the biggest new entitlement since Medicare was passed in the 1960’s. These people ignore the effect of infusing competitive market forces in this measure. They have pushed prices down to the point that now prescription drugs are free in Florida. Here is how that has happened.”

You say “these people ignore the effect” - but you don’t even have your facts straight! You’re trying to lecture people based on faulty information!

You’re trying to defend liberal republican behavior and the only way you can do it is to post a vanity that is based in bogus “facts”. Now that you’re being called on it you play the victim card.

If I were you I’d ask the moderators to pull the thread to avoid long term embarrassment.


20 posted on 08/17/2007 8:20:48 AM PDT by flashbunny (<--- Free Anti-Rino graphics! See Rudy the Rino get exposed as a liberal with his own words!)
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