Tax extenders bill may include drug discounts

[babylonsister]

Tax extenders bill may include drug discounts
By Julian Pecquet - 05/15/10 04:05 PM ET


Drugmakers would be forced to offer more discounts for hospitals that treat the poor under a provision that may be included in the tax extenders bill expected to be unveiled early next week.

The provision was excised at the last minute from the health reform bill under pressure from the pharmaceutical lobby but it has bipartisan support in the House and Senate.

The provision is part of a short “wish-list” of health provisions that Democrats still hope to pass this year, said a Republican health policy consultant. The tax extenders package is seen as the last best shot to get it done.

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Under the current law, drugmakers must offer deep discounts to federally qualified health centers and other places that serve poor patients – but only for outpatient care, for patients who haven’t been admitted to a facility such as a hospital.

The Senate health reform bill would have extended the discounts to cover people in the inpatient setting. The Senate provision had the support of President Barack Obama but was removed at the 11th hour.

Now lawmakers are trying to get it through.

more...

http://thehill.com/homenews/house/98041-tax-extenders-bill-may-include-drug-discounts