Every single republican voted against the legislation that made this happen

[bigtree]

The Associated Press @AP
BREAKING: Prices for 10 of Medicare's most popular and costliest drugs will be cut after deals struck with drug companies.

The discounts, agreed to after months of negotiations with drug manufacturers, range between 38% and 79% on the medication’s list price, which is the cost of medication before discounts or rebates are applied — not the price people actually pay for prescriptions.

The newly negotiated prices will impact the price of drugs used by millions of older Americans to help manage diabetes, blood cancers and prevent heart failure or blood clots. The drugs include the blood thinners Xarelto and Eliquis and diabetes drugs Jardiance and Januvia.

It’s a landmark deal for the Medicare program, which provides health care coverage for more than 67 million older and disabled Americans. For decades, the federal government had been barred from bartering with pharmaceutical companies over the price of their drugs, even though it’s a routine process for private insurers.

“For years, millions of Americans were forced to choose between paying for medications or putting food on the table, while Big Pharma blocked Medicare from being able to negotiate prices on behalf of seniors and people with disabilities,” President Joe Biden said in a statement. “But we fought back -– and won.”

https://apnews.com/article/biden-drug-prices-medicare-prescriptions-34886d6f362c242be268c05d5efd5411


...this was part of the Inflation Reduction Act passed by the 117th United States Congress and signed into law by President Joe Biden on August 16, 2022.

All Democrats in the Senate and House voted for the bill while all Republicans voted against it.

[Johnny2X2X]

1. They're going to get every drug eventually

Every year they now can negotiation more and more drug prices, it will be hundreds of cheaper drugs within several years.

Thank you Joe Biden and Kamala Harris.

[DENVERPOPS]

56. At ten a year

I wouldn't hold you breath........

[Random Boomer]

58. My wife takes two of the drugs on that list.

Looking forward to some extra cash when this goes into effect.

[flying_wahini]

2. Especially when Cost Plus Pharmacy is able to undercut the 'street' prices.

Mark Cuban we thank you!

[Rebl2]

3. So apparently

Republicans not only hate women, they hate older people who take medication.

[CTyankee]

19. And older people who show up and VOTE!

How stupid can you get?

[BattleRow]

27. Then cut off

their cushy health care plans.
I can imagine that would finish off some of the career criminals in Congress ,maybe even the Supremes.

[czarjak]

50. Disability patients too. Burdens on society according to the GOP.

[UpInArms]

61. I always wished that reincarnation was real and that Raygun

would return as a poor old black woman … all of the things he hated …

He hated the poor
He hated blacks
He hated the elderly
He hated women

Not much has changed for the party of hate

[Conjuay]

62. no.

It’s just straight up greed. Big Pharma lobbies hard for deregulation.

[patphil]

4. I worked in the Pharmaceutical Industry for over 36 years.

This is long overdue. We definitely pay too much for prescription medications.
The whole process is geared toward profit.
Long ago, I remember being in a meeting with a vice-president of what used to be Lederle Laboratories. He told us that the company didn't want to produce drugs that cured diseases, but rather treated the symptoms to provide a good quality of life, while requiring that the drug be used over a long period of time; perhaps for the rest of the patient's life.
It was all about profit. Cure a disease and lose a customer was the philosophy.

I know how little it costs to make most of these drugs. Even with research and development factored in, the profits are immense. Add to that the patent rights, and a single drug could bring in billions for a company each year for the length of the patent.

[DENVERPOPS]

9. My Brother who is an MD

says that the Pharmaceutical companies will never find the cure for cancer in any medication.

He says there is no money for the drug companies in finding a cure, but a fortune in "treating" cancer for years......

I can't tell you how many tens of thousands my wife has spent on pills for the past seven years treating her cancer.......

The Pharmaceutical companies, and Prescription Drug Insurance companies are bleeding the people in the U.S. dry, and especially the cancer patients, critically ill, and anyone paying for Medicare Drug plans...........

[Linda ladeewolf]

23. I believe

The same thing applies to most charities. We throw money at the charities for cures to a huge number of diseases like MS, Muscular Dystrophy, Cancer, they research and research, but no cures are ever found, but the researchers and administrators of these charities live really good lives, while the people with those diseases die. Something is wrong with this.

[Hekate]

11. Thank you for that insight

[MagickMuffin]

15. Our taxes pay for the development and research

And they get billions of dollars from the government.


You would think that the customers could get some relief from the price gouging. And of course the pharmaceutical companies don’t want cures, it would put them outta business!


Thank you for providing the information that I already knew was happening. They want us unhealthy. Their livelihoods depend on it.

[Frank D. Lincoln]

20. Great post.

Greed is the greatest corrupter of the human soul.

[Zoomie1986]

33. Even worse than that

Taxpayers fund a high percentage of the research--and then the pharmaceutical scum turn around and take the work we paid for to gouge us.

[DENVERPOPS]

55. Take AZT when it came out

The Government developed the drug.....so no cost for that

The Government agreed to allow the company that would manufacture it, no legal liability and no suits allowed.

The Drug cost to manufacture was 6-12 cents a pill, with many taking 6-8 a day.

The drug company was selling it for SIX DOLLARS A PILL......

Then, when the patent ran out, and china was going to start manufacturing it and selling it for 12 cents a pill,
WBush stepped up and said he was going to allocate 6 Billion dollars to supplying the drug to those afflicted with AIDs, BUT, in the fine print the Government would buy it from the original company, still selling the drug for SIX DOLLARS A PILL. CUTE, HUH.

[patphil]

59. Now that's the Republican way. GOP - Greed Over People every time.

[BoRaGard]

5. G.O.P. does doodley squat for regular people

but busily Brown Noses their billionaire bankroll buddies

[SpankMe]

6. Countdown until Senate Repubs start claiming credit for the reduced drug prices - 3...2...1... n/t

[Mblaze]

7. It wasn't Big Pharma that blocked price negotiation.

It was Dubya's Republican Congress that blocked it.

[DENVERPOPS]

10. AND

I am sorry to say, I can't recall that Obama, in eight years didn't challenge big pharma ever.........

The simplest definition of Fascism, is the merging of Corporations and Government......and the corporations are already about 95% there........................

[Frank D. Lincoln]

24. And Project 2025 would take them to 100%. eom.

[DENVERPOPS]

53. they would already be 100%

January 21, 2020 if Trump had won.......

[Frank D. Lincoln]

57. True, very true.

That's frightening to think about. We were so close to losing it all.

But there's no doubt in my mind that we're going to win in November. And unlike what many people think to the contrary, I don't think it'll even be close.

Furthermore, Republicans cheating are not going to stop this Democratic freight train.

[Mblaze]

39. Agreed

[spooky3]

29. You don't think Big Pharma contributes to any of their campaigns or

lobbies them?

[Mblaze]

40. Of course I do.

Last edited Thu Aug 15, 2024, 05:33 PM - Edit history (2)

Joe Biden has been a big beneficiary of Pharma donations for his whole career and yet he just announced this breakthrough.

[Zoomie1986]

34. LOL Are you serious?

Dubya's GOP buddies tanked price negotations because Pharma paid them to tank it.

The GOP didn't do it out of the kindness of their hearts, you know. They have a cash register where normal people have a heart, and Pharma had those of the GOP sounding like Walmart on Black Friday ca 1985.

Ca-ching, ca-ching, ca-ching!

I'd advise not drinking anymore of that Pharma Kool-Aid of it being only a GOP idea to nix negotiations.

[Mblaze]

38. So you think that Republicans are off the hook

Because they've been bought.

[William Seger]

8. Aside: I HATE that stupid Jardiance jingle

Watching MSNBC, I think I've heard it a hundred times. "The little pill with a big story to tell" is a story one word TOO big for the jingle melody, but they forced it in, anyway. Makes me cringe every time I hear it.

But seriously, the amount of advertising they do for certain drugs is a clue that they are WAY overpriced.

[Dock_Yard]

12. INSTANT MUTE BUTTON for this commercial

[DENVERPOPS]

13. My physician decades ago

said that the Drug companies finally being allowed to advertise Rx drugs is far worse than allowing the tobacco companies to advertise tobacco products.............

On one of my next visits to him, when reviewing my Rx's, I said: "How about ******* drug?" He looked at me and said: "That's for Women". I said, "all I know, is at the end of the ad for *****, they say: "Be sure to ask your Physician about ********" Soooo I am asking you about it"
He cracked up and laughed until he cried...........

[airplaneman]

35. My Dr told me

1/3 of his patients ask for inappropriate meds because of advertising
1/3 won’t take the meds they need
1/3 do the right thing regarding meds
-airplane

[DENVERPOPS]

54. Your Dr.

Should have included the category: who don't have the money for the RX

[PennRalphie]

14. This is fantastic news

Both of my in laws take Eliquis. Their Part D cost is over $150 per month each! When they renewed their Part D plan, they asked my wife and I to sit in with their advisor. Not only do they pay that outrageous price, their plan cost went up too. They will be thrilled to find out their cost is going down. Unfortunately, they earn too much to get help from the manufacturer. This is the plight of so many seniors. They saved their whole life just to see the money go for medicine.

More wins for the Democrats!!

[kiri]

18. But apixaban for $1 per pill

Eliquist is actually made in India and Turkey and Bristol Myers imports the pills, sells them for ~$8 each.,.

I buy from the same companies, direct via a Canadian firm. I save $5,000/yr.

If you are interested, email me. It is very easy and reliable.

[PennRalphie]

37. FDA extended Eliquis exclusivity

I’m not sure which year, it was a few years ago. It had to be during Trump’s term. Biden would have ended that patent protection.

He’s doing it now which is just fabulous news

[kiri]

41. 90-day supply 20 mg for $100, identical color, shape, packaging, efficacy.

Pharma is simply price gauging.

I buy a 90-day supply 20 mg for $100, identical color, shape, packaging, efficacy. From the SAME factory! They pass thru customs. So nothing illegal. I do not understand why more people don't buy abroad.

[PennRalphie]

42. Many Seniors

Like my in laws, would never purchase medicines they need from abroad. I know many do. They won’t. Not sure I would either. It’s great that you do. I like FDA oversight of the drugs we’re putting into our bodies. I’m not sure I trust the oversight of some other countries.

Thanks for the suggestion !

[Seinan Sensei]

44. The FDA already has approved generic Eliquis

BUT
Bristol-Myers Squibb and Pfizer are preventing generics from getting to market
(via "Evergreening" that extend patents)

We COULD have had generic Eliquis beginning Feb 2023.
But (thanks to Evergreening) the earliest Eliquis-generic will be Nov 2026.

Eliquis began at $200 per month (in 2012)
Eliquis now costs $700 per month.

Why is this?
For beginners, CEO Giovanni Caforio has a pay-package worth $20 million (2022).

Fuck Giovanni. Fuck evergreening. Fuck pharma.
Good health is not a strategy for leverage.

Go get 'em Joe!
C'mon Kamala Camelot!

[orleans]

16. from the op link:

(i heard the ass. press add in this last part when they put this on their radio news clip this morning on wcpt during stephanie miller's show-- the way it was said was this was fact or a done deal. the article just implies it is the ceo's position. of course this is rw and fucking associated press stirring the pot as usual. but i hope this does not happen)

Powerful drug companies unsuccessfully tried to file lawsuits to stop the negotiations, which became law in 2022, when a Democratic-controlled Congress passed the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), overhauling several Medicare prescription drug regulations. But executives of those companies have also hinted in recent weeks during earnings calls that they don’t expect the negotiations to impact their bottom line.

Pharmaceutical officials blasted the news from the White House, saying it will spread health care costs to taxpayers in other ways, including their Medicare premiums.

[Diraven]

22. Why would Medicare premiums go up from this?

That makes no sense

[orleans]

31. i don't know... to let ceo's keep up their big lifestyles?

lol

[chouchou]

17. Well ..My goodness. Actually, I'm extremely worried about the grocery male cashier...

...yes, he had a women's earring in his ear. Tsk Tsk....Oh me...

[Diraven]

21. I guarantee Trump will take credit for this

Probably Republican Congresspeople too.

[dalton99a]

25. Kick

[JohnSJ]

26. Yup, and VP Harris had to break the tie.

[BattleRow]

28. R&D

This isn't about curing illnesses..my God,they would lose their customer base.

[Dark n Stormy Knight]

30. But they'll campaign as if they made it happen.

Hypocritical & dishonest af!

[Bundbuster]

32. Yet reichwingers continue to vote against their own interests - this is why

[Jean Genie]

48. Wow!

I didn't know much about LBJ while I was growing up (except what my republican relatives said - that he was "bad for the country," etc.; oh and he picked his dogs up by their ears). But if he said this, he spoke the truth - and the same old manipulative bullshit is going on today. Will it ever end?

[Buns_of_Fire]

36. Which makes it perfect for attacking Nazipublican candidates.

No names named, no direct personal attacks. Just a nice, clean blanket indictment. Let them respond to it, if they dare.

[BumRushDaShow]

43. "All Democrats in the Senate and House voted for the bill while all Republicans voted against it."

And VP Harris provided the "tie-breaker" vote to get it done!

I.e., 2022 was when we had a 50-50 Senate split and it wasn't until Fetterman got in after the 2022 election, that we finally had 51 votes ((D)s + (I)s who caucus with (D)s).

[HeartsCanHope]

45. President Biden and Democratic Legislators helping people every day!

They all rock!

[Jean Genie]

46. Republicans!

Shit-asses, every last one of 'em!

[Johnny2X2X]

47. So powerful!

What a campaign ad.

[ffr]

49. Democrats need to pound these lessons into the minds of the public. Republicans are bad for the economy

Their deferred tax policies just make matters worse!

[recovering_democrat]

51. i am one of these customers

Thank you for this change in the expenses of these very high-cost medications, several of which I have to take. Yes, they are expensive, even as I have very good health insurance that pays a generally large part of some of these. I can't even imagine how much of a hardship they would be for persons without insurance at all. Thank you Mr. President.

[calimary]

52. Let's remember this! These details! This upcoming Election Day.

I saw reports that in each coming year for the next few years, there will be another ten (or so) laws or agreements that will be formalized.

Democrats try to help people.

Republicans try to keep helping themselves and the privileged class.

It’s what benefits the most folks versus which benefits ME most.

[bmichaelh]

60. GOP is insurer friendly

When will some people in this country learn?

GOP will always support the healthcare insurance industry.

When Trump tried to repeal ACA before, he met with insurers not with patient advocates.