Bills to Help Americans With Drug Prices

From the KHN Morning Briefing: Thursday, July 26, 2018

Stat: Democrats Introduce A Bill To Allow Medicare Negotiations And Sidestep Patents If Talks Fail

As the Trump administration labors to execute its blueprint for tackling high drug costs, a group of Democratic lawmakers introduced a bill on Wednesday that would allow the federal government to negotiate on behalf of Medicare — and authorize licenses for lower-cost generics when talks fail. Unlike other bills that would permit negotiations over Part D drugs, the legislation would allow the Department of Health and Human Services to pursue a generic alternative by issuing a competitive license when a company refuses to offer a reasonable price. In effect, the bill would create a new mechanism for the U.S. government to sidestep patents when it would be in the public interest to do so. (Silverman, 7/25)

All Americans, when you see bills like this being introduced to help all of us with the obscene prices of medications from “Big Pharma,” take notice! Think this through. Why would any of our politicians not want our government to be able to negotiate with Big Pharma to lower drug prices. What possible reason could there be for a politician to want you to pay more for your medications?

There has to be a reason. Follow the money. Our politicians must make more money by having their fellow Americans pay more for their medications. Right? What other explanation can there be?

I don’t care if you are a Republican or a Democrat. We must all stand together when one of our political parties votes to hurt us in measures such as this.

I think I have always been a Republican, but if I see a Republican vote no on measures that will help the American People, a Democrat is definitely getting my vote. Is it time we elect an independent for president?

God bless you all from the Maverick Doctor,

Rick R. Redalen, M.D.

Pick up a copy of my book “God’s Tiniest Angel and the Last Unicorn,” available on Amazon.

Dr. Rick is a retired American physician, entrepreneur and philanthropist who has done mission work around the country and around the world. He is now on a mission to improve healthcare in America. Visit maverickdoctor.com or email him at rickr@maverickdoctor.com.