Trump will not call for negotiation on Medicare drug prices despite Democratic hopes

The Hill ^ | 05/10/2018 | Peter Sullivan

[GIdget2004]

President Trump's drug pricing plan will not include a call for Medicare to negotiate drug prices, a leading Democratic idea that Trump previously supported, a senior administration official said Thursday.

“We're not calling for Medicare negotiation in the way that Democrats have called for,” the official said on a call with reporters previewing Trump’s speech on drug prices scheduled Friday.

However, the official said there will be other proposals to increase competition in Medicare, likely using private sector players rather than Medicare directly negotiating prices.

Democrats have been pressuring Trump ahead of his speech to renew his call for Medicare to negotiate drug prices, something that Trump touted on the campaign trail in 2016, in a break with Republican party orthodoxy.

[Buckeye McFrog]

Trump is using a staged approach. Give them a chance to respond to lighter measures and keeping the big stick in his back pocket for later.

Do these people know anything about negotiating?

[grania]

Do these people know anything about negotiating?

There are people who are dying or in their old age giving up everything they have for a medication they can't afford. It's extortion by the pharmaceutical companies.

I have a neighbor who had a positive result from a new drug test. Taking that test was risking his life. Once the test was over, he wasn't allowed to keep taking the drug. How crazy is that?

[onona]

Wow. A free market approach to healthcare.

In before the price control tweakers...

[norwaypinesavage]

This is a very good move on Trump's part. Here's why. I recently became eligible for Medicare, and so am forced to be on it. I've had two medical procedures that required use of expensive state-of-the-art equipment and doctors. These were laser eye surgery and MRI guided cancer biopsy. The total bills for these procedures were both in the range of 3 to 4 thousand dollars each. Medicare paid around $100 for each procedure. The providers were required by Medicare law to accept that amount IN FULL.

This, of course, didn't even cover the cost of the receptionist and waiting room, much less the specialist doctors and medical equipment. Who, then, paid the true cost?

Of course, it is YOU who are not on Medicare. I did, of course, pay my share of expenses for others during my more than half century of Social Security and Medicare deductions from my pay checks. But that was when about 20 of us were paying for each recipient. Now that it's down to two or three of YOU, it's simply not fair to add the costs of medical drugs as well.

[GailA]

NO they don’t.

Medicare: Trump plan won’t allow Medicare to negotiate prices but will propose some drug plans share discounts
https://www.cnbc.com/2018/05/10/trump-to-propose-medicare-drug-plans-share-some-rebates-with-patients.html

Why Can’t Medicare Patients Use Drugmakers’ Discount Coupons?
https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2018/05/09/609150868/why-cant-medicare-patients-use-drugmakers-discount-coupons

Trump touts plan to lower drug costs but rejects Medicare negotiations
https://www.politico.com/story/2018/05/10/trumps-drug-prices-532682

When Cancer Patients Ask About Weed, Many Doctors Say Go For It
https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2018/05/10/610039787/when-cancer-patients-ask-about-weed-many-doctors-say-go-for-it

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/newpix/2018/05/10/16/4BC9800300000578-5714365-Social_media_users_are_convinced_that_Hillary_Clinton_is_sportin-a-11_1525967722252.jpg

Documents: Mount Holly doctor traded pain pills for sex
http://www.fox46charlotte.com/news/local-news/mount-holly-doctor-allegedly-traded-pain-pills-for-sex

Nurse charged in the death of H.R. McMaster’s father
https://www.cnn.com/2018/05/10/us/hr-mcmaster-death-nurse-charge/index.html

Building a NASA for Prescription Drugs
https://newrepublic.com/article/148361/building-nasa-prescription-drugs

Medicare covers less than you might think. Here’s how to avoid surprises
https://www.cnbc.com/2018/05/10/what-does-medicare-cover.html

[Iron Munro]

Democrats are always full-up with ideas of what republican presidents should do.

It’s always the things they never did when they had the White House and congressional majorities.

Every if now and then one of them actually stumbles on a half-way good idea nothing ever happens.

When they get power they are too busy pursuing their ultra crazy leftist agenda to spend time on anything sensible.

[Mr. K]

"However, the official said there will be other proposals to increase competition in Medicare, likely using private sector players rather than Medicare directly negotiating prices."

Duhhhhhhhhhhh that's probably even better.

We've seen the deals the government 'negotiates'.

[Buckeye McFrog]

I have a neighbor whose son works for a drug company which patented a new treatment for a certain condition. Their patent runs for ten years, and the drug costs $100K per year.

The same company is funding development of a diagnostic tool that will use artificial intelligence to steer doctors into diagnosing this particular condition, for which this company has the patent on the only drug, which costs $100K per year.

In the words of Dr. Johnny Fever, this is so deeply warped, even I get it.

[grania]

Thanks for those sources, Gail. I’ve read part of and saved the CNBC source about what Medicare covers and what medical costs will be for seniors. FWIW (fingers crossed), I’m still basing staying healthy on life style and nutrition to boost my immune system.

[PeterPrinciple]

Of course, it is YOU who are not on Medicare. I did, of course, pay my share of expenses for others during my more than half century of Social Security and Medicare deductions from my pay checks. But that was when about 20 of us were paying for each recipient. Now that it’s down to two or three of YOU, it’s simply not fair to add the costs of medical drugs as well.

---

In the same way we are beneficiaries of all the Social Security payments our parents received. Because that money was there, I did receive a small inheritance that would not have been there.

Also, which I would have done if needed, I did not have to financially support my parents.

Not all things in life are financial. But, I am trying to be honest here, we do receive some benefits from all the government spending we detest.

It is not that we as conservatives don’t want a safety net, it is that the safety net has a lot of mission creep.

USSR had only one safety net, a small pension. (for the little people)

[grania]

I called Sherrod Brown's office on behalf of my neighbor who couldn't afford the life saving drug for which he was a test subject. My question was specifically why can't there be a law that those who participate in the study can get the drug for free if the trials prove it's a successful drug for them.

It just makes sense. Having those people the drug worked for continue to use it would provide long-term studies of its safety and long-term success rate.

Sherrod Brown's even more useless than most dems. He never got on it. Is he beholden to Pharmaceutical and Medical deep pockets? I would think this is a common sense issue liberals would embrace.

[Revolutionary]

Rediculous Medicare reimbursement rates are what caused the rapid rise in health care costs to begin with; thus providing an opening for Obama care. Huge example of cost shifting.

[Georgia Girl 2]

Most large pharmaceutical companies will give you their drugs for free or at a reduced cost if you cannot afford them. I got my Mom on Evista for $30 a month directly from the company a few years back. It generally costs about $115.

[i_robot73]

>
It is not that we as conservatives don’t want a safety net, it is that the safety net has a lot of mission creep.

USSR had only one safety net, a small pension. (for the little people)
>

Sorry, but then the (C) moniker is a phony as a $3. Nothing there is A1S8, let alone doesn’t violate 5th, 9th, 10th and 13th.

[GailA]

Then be sure to stay away from FDA approved drugs. They ruined my health. I’m beating OP with Bone Vits/Mins. It’s slow, but it’s safe.