The Media Fund Title: "Rx Canada"

ELDERLY MAN: “There’s fourteen drugs I take. If I don’t take it, I would not be here. It’s simple as that.”

ANNOUNCER: “Yet President Bush sided with the drug companies, blocking Medicare from negotiating lower prices …”

New Medicare Law Will Produce Significant Savings On Prescription Drugs; Government Price Negotiation Would Not Reduce Costs Further

According To Nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office, Government Negotiation Would Not Reduce Costs; Under New Law, Private Plans Will Negotiate “Substantial Savings.” “CBO has examined the effect of striking the ‘noninterference’ provision (section 1860D-11(i) of the Social Security Act) as added by P. L. 108-173, the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003. That section bars the Secretary of Health and Human Services from interfering with the negotiations between drug manufacturers and pharmacies and sponsors of prescription drug plans, or from requiring a particular formulary or price structure for covered Part D drugs. We estimate that striking that provision would have a negligible effect on federal spending because CBO estimates that substantial savings will be obtained by the private plans and that the Secretary would not be able to negotiate prices that further reduce federal spending to a significant degree. Because they will be at substantial financial risk, private plans will have strong incentives to negotiate price discounts, both to control their own costs in providing the drug benefit and to attract enrollees with low premiums and cost-sharing requirements.” (Douglas Holtz-Eakin, Director, Congressional Budget Office, Letter To Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, 1/23/04)

Letting Government Set Drug Prices Is “Bad Idea For Consumers,” Warned Wall Street Journal Columnist Alan Murray. “In truth, allowing the federal government to negotiate drug prices is a bad idea for consumers. Why? Because the Medicare market is so large that the government wouldn’t really be negotiating prices – it would be setting them. … That’s why Democratic Sen. Ted Kennedy of Massachusetts, at least until [November 22, 2003], opposed price controls and supported a Medicare benefit administered by private companies.” (Alan Murray, Op-Ed, “Drug Makers Hand Democrats A Target On Prescription Bill,” The Wall Street Journal, 11/25/03)

John Kerry And Democrats Supported Ban On Government Price Negotiation Just Four Years Ago

“Noninterference” Language Originally Appeared In 2000 Senate Democrat Bill Co-Sponsored By Sen. Kerry. The bill, which was introduced by Senator Daschle and co-sponsored by Senator Kerry, included this provision: “NONINTERFERENCE.--In administering the prescription drug benefit program established under this part, the Secretary may not-- (1) require a particular formulary or institute a price structure for benefits; (2) interfere in any way with negotiations between private entities and drug manufacturers, or wholesalers; or (3) otherwise interfere with the competitive nature of providing a prescription drug benefit through private entities.” (S.2541, Introduced 3/10/00; S.2541, Thomas Bill Summary, Introduced 5/10/00; Julie Rovner, “GOP, Dems Spar Over Negotiating Language In Drug Law,” National Journal’s CongressDaily, 2/10/04)

ANNOUNCER: “… and banning Americans from importing low-cost drugs from Canada.”

ELDERLY MAN: “If they ever stop me from going to Canada, my feeling is, let the government arrest me. Let them pay for my drugs. Put me in jail.”

Safety Risks Currently Prohibit Legalizing Drug Importation; Bush Administration Is Studying Possibility Of Developing Safe, Effective Program

Currently, The Food And Drug Administration Cannot Guarantee Safety Or Origin Of Imported Drugs. “The FDA says it cannot guarantee the drugs’ safety, or even that imported drugs come from Canada as claimed instead of originating in other countries like Thailand. The government has intercepted pills made of sugar as well as drugs that require refrigeration shipped hot.” (Lauran Neergaard, “AP Interview: FDA Chief Says Agency Means Business On Drug Importation Ban,” The Associated Press, 1/9/04)

ü In One Test, Nine Out Of Ten Drug Imports Violated U.S. Drug Safety Laws. “[A] spot check of more than 1,100 packages of mail-order drugs from foreign suppliers turned up evidence of tampering, counterfeiting or other violations of U.S. drug safety laws in nearly nine out of every 10 of those packages.” (Robert M. Goldberg, “Drugs From Canada,” The Washington Times, 1/12/04)

ü FDA Has “Limited Resources And Authorities To Detect And Block Potentially Unsafe Imports.” “‘There is no evidence that unapproved imported drugs are becoming any safer or more reliable,’ FDA Commissioner Mark McClellan said in a press release. ‘Given FDA’s limited resources and authorities to detect and block potentially unsafe imports, we are concerned about any measures that would increase the flow of these unapproved drugs, or provide easier channels for them to enter the United States.’” (Ceci Connolly, “FDA Steps Up Enforcement On Drug Imports,” The Washington Post, 9/30/03)

ü Surgeon General Richard Carmona Said “Extremely Robust” Drug Counterfeiting System Complicates Efforts To Safely Legalize Drug Imports. “Counterfeiting operations would complicate development of a safe and cost-effective program for importing lower-cost prescription drugs from Canada and other countries, Surgeon General Richard H. Carmona said … In an Associated Press interview, Carmona said drug makers made compelling arguments during a forum … that legalizing importation would make it easier for drug counterfeiters to market unsafe products. ‘We were not aware of the extremely robust counterfeiting system,’ said Carmona, chairman of a government task force investigating whether drugs can be imported safely and efficiently.” (Lolita C. Baldor, “AP Interview: Surgeon General Sees Challenges In Safely Importing Drugs,” The Associated Press, 4/6/04)

Clinton’s Health And Human Services Secretary, Donna Shalala, Agreed That Importation Was Neither Safe Nor Cost-Effective. “[U.S. Surgeon General Richard] Carmona noted that Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson and his Clinton administration predecessor, Donna Shalala, each reviewed importation plans and decided it could not be done safely and cost-effectively.” (Lolita C. Baldor, “AP Interview: Surgeon General Sees Challenges In Safely Importing Drugs,” The Associated Press, 4/6/04)

Bush Administration Has Convened Task Force That Is Studying Potential For Safe, Effective Prescription Drug Importation Program. “HHS Secretary Tommy G. Thompson today named 13 people to serve on the new Task Force on Drug Importation that is exploring how drug importation might be conducted safely and its potential impact on the health of American patients, medical costs and the development of new medicines. … The task force’s members ultimately will offer recommendations to Secretary Thompson on how best to address the key questions posed by Congress as part of the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement and Modernization Act of 2003.” (U.S. Department Of Health And Human Services, “HHS Names Members To Task Force On Drug Importation,” Press Release, 3/16/04)

President Bush’s Medicare Law Guarantees All Seniors Access To Affordable Prescription Drugs

Bipartisan Law Provides Significant Prescription Drug Savings For All 40 Million Seniors And Disabled In Medicare. “For the first time in Medicare’s history, a prescription drug benefit will be offered to all 40 million seniors and disabled Americans in Medicare to help them afford the cost of their medicines. Beginning next year, seniors would save 10-25% off the cost of most medicines through a Medicare-approved drug discount card. … Beginning in 2006, seniors without coverage would be able to join a Medicare-approved plan that would cut their yearly drug costs roughly in half, in exchange for a $35 monthly premium.” (“The Bipartisan Medicare Agreement,” Fact Sheet, The White House, 11/17/03)

Over 60 Health Care And Seniors’ Organizations Support Medicare Law, Including 35 Million-Member AARP, American Hospital Association And American Medical Association. (Fact Sheet, Office Of The Majority Leader, 11/18/03)

Bush Administration Implemented Program To Save Consumers As Much As $3.5 Billion Each Year By Moving Low-Priced Generic Drugs To The Market Faster. “President Bush today announced new regulations to hasten the pace at which generic drugs are brought to market, a measure the administration says will save $3.5 billion annually after it takes effect Aug. 18. … Specifically, the regulations will limit original drugmakers to one 30-month ‘stay’ blocking the entry of generic drugs by filing patent lawsuits. … The FDA also said it will make internal changes, speeding its review procedures to reduce the time it takes for generic drugs to be declared safe. With a $13 million increase in its budget for generic drugs requested by Bush, the FDA aims to reduce its generic drug application process to 17 months from 20 months.” (Dana Milbank, “New Drug Rules Aim To Speed Generics,” The Washington Post, 6/13/03)

ANNOUNCER: “Prescription costs are climbing.”

No kidding. With President Bush letting them put their hands in taxpayer's pockets, what else would one expect? It's a big business celebration. Not only did taxpayers pay for the research on 65% of the top 25 prescription drugs, now we'll pick up an inflated tab thanks to the stupidity of our leaders.

2 posted on 04/23/2004 3:25:41 PM PDT by ETERNAL WARMING (He is faithful!)

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