Senate Bars Medicare Talks for Lower Drug Prices

[cal04]

Source: ROBERT PEAR

A pillar of the Democrats’ program tumbled on Wednesday when the Senate blocked a proposal to let Medicare negotiate lower drug prices for millions of older Americans, a practice now forbidden by law.

Democrats could not muster the 60 votes needed to take up the measure in the face of staunch opposition from Republicans. The opponents said private insurers and their agents, known as pharmacy benefit managers, were already negotiating large discounts for Medicare beneficiaries.

Fifty-five senators, including six Republicans, supported a Democratic motion to limit debate and proceed to consideration of the bill; 42 senators voted against it. The Senate had a brief debate on the merits of the bill, which is a priority for the new Democratic majority in Congress.

Republicans framed the issue as a choice between government-run health care and a benefit managed by the private sector. The benefit is delivered and administered by private insurers under Medicare contracts.

Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2007/04/19/washington/19drug.html?_r=1&hp&oref=slogin

[babylonsister]

1. So is this a 'done deal' or is the writer biased? nt

[Hieronymus]

9. Seniors must be made aware that the republicans ..

don't have their best interest in mind. If that happens the Senate will have a huge Democratic majority in '08.
The AARP is on the side of the drug companies .. just watch their ads.:eyes:

[Bitwit1234]

2. The democrats should get all these messages out to the public

Everytime the republicans block a provision that would benefit the public, the democrats should go big time all over the news. Telling them that the republicans have obstructed justice again and again.

[rodeodance]

3. HEY--get the headline right--twas The Senate REPUGS!

[Wiley50]

4. OUTRAGED!

and a reinforced lack of faith in the political process

Ours or theirs

[Faygo Kid]

5. Pharmaceutical industry rules GOP in Congress. They don't lose.

The American people are the losers when it comes to fighting Big PhRMA. They claimed that negotiation would not save money, yet spent millions to defeat this bill, sending out their armies of lobbyists and directing them to shut it down at all costs. If it wouldn't have any effect, why all the effort? All the wonder drugs in the world are of little use to somebody who can't afford to buy them.

[durablend]

7. This is why you're NEVER going to see anything cured

Organizations like PHRMA will have no part in derailing the gray train that's rolling in at light speed. They'd be stupid to even think of it.

[rodeodance]

6. Hagel, specter, smith, coleman collins, snowe voted WITH the dems:

The Republican senators who joined Democrats in voting to take up the bill on negotiating prices were Norm Coleman of Minnesota, Susan Collins of Maine, Chuck Hagel of Nebraska, Gordon H. Smith of Oregon, Olympia J. Snowe of Maine and Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania.

Two candidates for the Republican presidential nomination, Senators Sam Brownback of Kansas and John McCain of Arizona, were not present.

[babylonsister]

11. Did any Dems vote against it, besides Johnson who is still recovering? nt

[John Q. Citizen]

12. It appears one in the Dem caucus voted against.

55 to 42 so 97 total votes.

McCain, Brownback, and Johnson absent.

So I wonder who the one from the Dem Caucus to vote against was?

[Spiffarino]

13. Was it the Lieber-dweeb?

I know he caucuses with the Dems, and you'd expect him to lick Bush's jackboot.

[Spiffarino]

14. self-delete

[babylonsister]

16. Why do I think it might be another rethug? I don't know but want to

find out.
I know Harry Reid weighed in with a 'nay' to keep it going, but :shrug:

[John Q. Citizen]

17. I bet that's it. There were 6 Repos with the Dems . 55 - 6 = 49

Johnson would make 50. So one missing and that would be Reid I bet, to be able to bring it up again.

Makes sense.

[bullimiami]

8. so THIS is the kind of thing thats important enough to fillibuster?

bastards. (and i mean both sides. the repugs for being duplicitous assholes and the dems for being so spineless)

[Shallah Kali]

10. Republicans rip off Seniors and rip off tax payers. Bizarro World Robin Hoods

:grr:

[Spiffarino]

15. Here's the hammer. Now drive the nail into their coffin.

Seniors overwhelmingly support Medicare competition, they aren't stupid, and they VOTE.

Methinks Howard Dean is already working on ads for '08...

[Tracer]

18. Private insurers negotiating discounts? Don't make me laugh.

Even though I take no drugs, to avoid the "penalty" I had signed up for the cheapest possible program.

Recently, I received a notice that the premium was increasing --- by 137%!

I pulled out of that scam.

(This was Humana, BTW)