Baucus, White House in deal with drug industry

[jefferson_dem]

Baucus, White House in deal with drug industry

Associated Press - June 20, 2009 3:23 PM ET

WASHINGTON (AP) - Officials say Medicare beneficiaries would receive better drug coverage and a portion of President Barack Obama's health care legislation would be paid for under an $80 billion agreement among the pharmaceutical industry, the White House and key lawmakers.

The deal marks a major triumph for Sen. Max Baucus, D-Mont., as well as the administration. The chairman of the Senate Finance Committee has been negotiating with numerous industry groups for weeks as he tries to draft legislation that meets Obama's goals of expanding health coverage, winning bipartisan support and not adding to the deficit.

A formal announcement is expected later Saturday.

http://www.newsrunner.com/display-article/?eUrl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.localnews8.com%2Fglobal%2Fstory.asp%3Fs%3D10567299&eSrc=ABC+-+KIFI+8+-+Idaho+Falls%2FPocatello+ID&eTitle=Baucus%2C+White+House+in+deal+with+drug+industry

[msongs]

1. remember when the govt was gonna force meds competition for medicare? what happnd to that? nt

[Hieronymus]

8. The Big Pharma lobby and folks like Baucus.

[Joanne98]

2. Dealing with the drug dealers. He should go to jail for that!

[underpants]

3. "negotiating with numerous industry groups" Nice prioritie$ there Baucus

I thought the government was supposed to protect the people from industries....oh that was just the Constitution

never mind

[vaberella]

9. Ugh..he said over and over and over again Obama was going to lower prices for

people who have health insurance. It's for the people with health insurance that's different from the public option.

[babylonsister]

4. More in depth here:

Baucus, White House in deal with drug industry
By DAVID ESPO Associated Press Writer


Jun 20th, 2009 | WASHINGTON -- The pharmaceutical industry agreed Saturday to spend $80 billion over the next decade improving drug benefits for seniors on Medicare and defraying the cost of President Barack Obama's health care legislation, capping secretive negotiations with the White House and key lawmakers.

The deal, expected to be announced later in the day, marked a major triumph for Sen. Max Baucus, D-Mont., as well as the administration. The chairman of the Senate Finance Committee has been negotiating with numerous industry groups for weeks as he tries to draft legislation that meets Obama's goal of vastly expanding health coverage, has bipartisan support and does not add to the deficit.

Under the deal, which several officials confirmed, drug companies would pay as much as half of the cost of brand-name drugs for lower and middle-income seniors in the so-called doughnut hole -- a gap in coverage that is a feature of many of the plans providing prescription coverage under Medicare.

In addition, the entire cost of the drug would count toward a patient's out-of-pocket costs, meaning their insurance coverage would cover more of their expenses than otherwise.

Officials said Medicare patients with incomes up to about $80,000 or $85,000 would realize some benefit.

While none of the changes in the prescription drug program would directly lower government costs, the industry also agreed to additional measures that would give the Treasury more money under federal health programs. In particular, officials said drug companies would likely wind up paying pay higher rebates for certain drugs under Medicaid, the program that provides health care for the poor.

Those funds would be used to help pay for legislation expanding health insurance for millions who now lack it.

more...

http://www.salon.com/wires/ap/us/2009/06/20/D98UJB400_us_health_overhaul/index.html

[otohara]

5. Thanks

[jefferson_dem]

6. Obama statement here -

"I am pleased to announce that an agreement has been reached between Senator Max Baucus and the nation's pharmaceutical companies that will bring down health care costs and reduce the price of prescription drugs for millions of America's seniors. As part of the health reform legislation that I expect Congress to enact this year, pharmaceutical companies will extend discounts on prescription drugs to millions of seniors who currently are subjected to crushing out-of-pocket expenses when the yearly amounts they pay for medication fall within the "doughnut hole" any payments by seniors not covered by Medicare that fall between $2700 and $6153.75 per year. The existence of this gap in coverage has been a continuing injustice that has placed a great burden on many seniors. This deal will provide significant relief from that burden for millions of American seniors.

"The agreement by pharmaceutical companies to contribute to the health reform effort comes on the heels of the landmark pledge many health industry leaders made to me last month, when they offered to do their part to reduce health spending $2 trillion over the next decade. We are at a turning point in America's journey toward health care reform. Key sectors of the health care industry acknowledge what American families and businesses already know - that the status quo is no longer sustainable. The agreement reached today to lower prescription drug costs for seniors will be an important part of the legislation I expect to sign into law in October. I want to commend House chairmen Henry Waxman, George Miller and Charles Rangel for addressing this issue in the health reform legislation they unveiled this week. This is a tangible example of the type of reform that will lower costs while assuring quality health care for every American."

[vaberella]

7. JD can you make it it's own individual thread.

And can you make a clarification taht Obama has come through on half thepromise he made so far when it comes to his plan for health care reform. He stated he would work with the pharmacuetical companies to bring down prices for everyone involved and that goes for Big Pharma. This issue is specifically independent from the public option ----ie expansion of medicare/medicaid plan---for the 51 million other people---not counting small business.

[jefferson_dem]

10. Sure.

I've pasted in the statement but have not offered any context. Plese feel free to chime in here if you like - http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x8486287

[Thrill]

11. Why couldn't they do this before. Why did it take a threat of serious reform before they limit their

greed?

[Raine1967]

12. I call BS... I still do not trust Baucus.

I could be wrong... But I read this from CBS, Earlier: Also from the AP:

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/06/20/health/main5100305.shtml

While none of the changes in the prescription drug program would directly lower government costs, the industry also agreed to additional measures that would give the Treasury more money under federal health programs. In particular, officials said drug companies would likely wind up paying pay higher rebates for certain drugs under Medicaid, the program that provides health care for the poor.

Those funds would be used to help pay for legislation expanding health insurance for millions who now lack it.

One official said the deal was agreed to late Friday night when Billy Tauzin, head of the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA), called Baucus.

These are promises, at this point. nothing more than that. And this is all about Baucus. I just do not trust it. I am not ready to trust anything from Big Pharm.

This is not about Pharm - it is about healthcare in America. Medicine (pharm) needs to take a step back.

Seriously-- We will get meds -- right now we ned affordable healthcare. Big Pharm needs to back the fuck off.

[leftofthedial]

13. we done been sold down de ribber...