H.R.4 - Medicare Prescription Drug Price Negotiation Act of 2007 Sponsor: John Dingell / 110th Congress

Title
110th Congress - To amend part D of title XVIII of the Social Security Act to require the Secretary of Health and Human Services to negotiate lower covered part D drug prices on behalf of Medicare beneficiaries. hidemore...
Summary
Legislation requires the secretary of health and human services to negotiate prescription drug prices covered by Medicare Part D. (by MAPLight.org)
Status
The bill was voted on in the House on January 12, 2007

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Lower Drug Prices for Medicare Participants by Milan Sundaresan, Jul 31, 2008 (7:41pm)

H.R. 4 allows the federal government to negotiate lower drug prices with pharmaceutical companies for Medicare members. Clearly the bill garnered support from various workers’ unions but was opposed by larger pharmaceutical companies.

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Revisiting Medicare Part D by doctablade, Mar 21, 2009 (2:02pm)

the time is now to revisit Medicare part D.

As a physician with a large geriatric practice,in my primary care private office I give congress a D for Medicare PArt D.

At first “savings” were appreciated…but by whom?

Some patients benefited in that drugs that were previously unaffordable now were a co-pay away. pharmaceutical companies of course were able to see their branded meds continue to have a substantial niche in the market. Pharmaceutical managed care companies reaped benefits in becoming mega-pharmacies to millions.

However to the taxpayers. Pharmaceutical costs skyrocketed overall, well beyond inflation, or even health inflation for that matter. Even the costs of well established mdications went up despite the larger sales, despite the reasoning of market place forces.

many patients found themselves in a doughnut hole when the prescription benefit ran out usually in October November. My patients would ask for samples, and if I had none tough choices would follow. Unwisely ,Some stopped their meds altogether. Others decided to take half doses or every other day dosing to stretch out their supples. Some paid out of pocket. Others changed thei med to a generic. A few asked for scripts to be mailed to Canada. My mom who lives near mexico got hers south of the border.

Congress now has an opportunity to fix Medicare part D.Here are some proposals that will make the system more efficient, less wasteful:

1) negotiate the best price possible on brand names for all Medicare part D patients.

2)tier the system. Lowest copay for generics, highest for drugs that need to be brand name only, or that are of a sort where
less expensice choices exist.A three tier system works well empowering the patient to play a role on how to distribute resources

3)restrict the medication formulary. Some drugs sre reaonable over the counter. Others from manufacturers who refuse to negotiate with medicare Part D representatives should be prohibited.

4)Eliminate the donut hole, if generics are used, except when no other option exists.

5) Allow the Canada option

6)Windfall tax those who personally makle over $250 K directly from this new Medicare Part D system

7 monitor pharmaceutical manufactures and Insurance companies and distribution centers to prevent fraud and misuse.

8)lastly cover smoking cessation drugs! how bottom line foolish it is to not do everything we can to get people to live healthier lifestyles.

Thank you for allowing me a moment to speak up

doctablade@hotmail.com

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