. . . Docs Expose Big Pharma's Scheme to Turn Democratic Candidates Against Medicare for All

[Judi Lynn]

Published on
Thursday, August 02, 2018
byCommon Dreams

'We Need Healthcare Champions, Not Puppets': Docs Expose Big Pharma's Scheme to Turn Democratic Candidates Against Medicare for All
"Democrats running in a primary election will say they support 'Medicare for All,' but what do they say to lobbyists behind the scenes?"

byJessica Corbett, staff writer


As a growing number of political candidates facing November elections proclaim their support for single-payer healthcare—which the majority of Americans want to replace the nation's current for-profit system—the Democratic primary for Hawaii's 1st Congressional District is shedding light on the insurance and pharmaceutical industry forces working against a transition to Medicare for All.

At least three of the six candidates running to represent the "reliably" Democratic district in Hawaii "took time out from their schedules to talk to a consultant dispatched by the Healthcare Leadership Council, a lobbying group that seeks to advance the goals of the largest players in the private healthcare industry," according to a new report by The Intercept.

Although much of the report focuses on the Hawaii race, as The Intercept notes, the Healthcare Leadership Council—which is funded by Big Pharma companies such as Pfizer and Novartis—spends more than $5 million a year representing the interests of "insurers, hospitals, drugmakers, medical device manufacturers, pharmacies, health product distributors, and information technology companies" across the nation.

The lobbying group reached out to and met with former state Sen. Donna Mercado Kim, Hawaii Lt. Gov. Doug Chin, and Honolulu City Council Member Ernest Martin, then crafted dossiers that included "their photos, biographical sketches, contact information for their campaigns, and a checklist for determining their positions on certain issues of importance to the Healthcare Leadership Council," based in part upon the candidates' answers to a survey about specific policy proposals.

More:
https://www.commondreams.org/news/2018/08/02/we-need-healthcare-champions-not-puppets-docs-expose-big-pharmas-scheme-turn

[Wwcd]

1. Ahhh. Commondreams again.

Sorry, they tend to skew as well.

I'll have to find another link to the story.

But thanks for the subject matter.

[Judi Lynn]

3. You are the first person I've heard to make that charge against Common Dreams.

If you trust that the story in any way has value, maybe one day you can find a truthful version of the story which will be totally different, presumably.

I don't post a lot of articles from Common Dreams, so I'm assuming other DU'ers have brought the quality level far below your standards, when you said "Commondreams again."

As I said, it's a first for me.

[saidsimplesimon]

2. Oh, the stories I may tell someday.

I worked for more than one world wide corporation.