What deal was made to get Pharma on board? ..the AMA?

[annabanana]

How could a bill be good for us if the drug companies are "on our side"?

Have there been promises made not to negotiate for good prices? Will generics be put off for another decade or two? What?

[cyclezealot]

1. My guess

No public option. Don't you know Pharma has more power than say, - 5 million protesters engulfing the Capitol Building..

[foginthemorn]

2. The WH promised they would not push Congress to negotiate drug prices.

I forget what was promised the AMA at the moment.

[nightrain]

3. what has come out recently about drug manufacturers' lobbying

efforts is--law on 12 yr wait on generics (you can than Dr Howard Dean for his participation there), and in the proposals--no cheaper drug importation from Canada, and no negotiation on drug prices.

I'm not sure about what the AMA got.


There's some more detail in my journal.

[customerserviceguy]

4. I thought with the AMA

that the Federal Government wasn't going to lower the Medicare reimbursement level.

[Laelth]

5. The AMA got a provision in the House bill ...

... that says no doctor nor any hospital will be required to take "public option" insurance patients. The original proposal (a mandate requiring all doctors and hospitals that take Medicare to also take public insurance) was fought by the AMA, and they won. They got the rule they wanted.

There is no reason to believe that the bills currently being considered will do any good at all (except for those who have been denied insurance due to pre-existing conditions).

:dem:

-Laelth

[annabanana]

6. So there will be NO downward pressure on prices . . .sigh. . n/t

[timeforpeace]

7. Why is it we keep thinking that electing someone like Obama will change anything?