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Adversity temporarily visits a strong man but stays with the weak for a lifetime. -
Re: The Shining City Upon a Hill
Obama cut a sweetheart deal with Big Pharma. He sold out.
Internal Memo Confirms Big Giveaways In White House Deal With Big Pharma
By Ryan Grim
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A memo obtained by the Huffington Post confirms that the White House and the pharmaceutical lobby secretly agreed to precisely the sort of wide-ranging deal that both parties have been denying over the past week.
The memo, which according to a knowledgeable health care lobbyist was prepared by a person directly involved in the negotiations, lists exactly what the White House gave up, and what it got in return.
It says the White House agreed to oppose any congressional efforts to use the government’s leverage to bargain for lower drug prices or import drugs from Canada — and also agreed not to pursue Medicare rebates or shift some drugs from Medicare Part B to Medicare Part D, which would cost Big Pharma billions in reduced reimbursements.
In exchange, the Pharmaceutical Researchers and Manufacturers Association (PhRMA) agreed to cut $80 billion in projected costs to taxpayers and senior citizens over ten years. Or, as the memo says: “Commitment of up to $80 billion, but not more than $80 billion.”
Representatives from both the White House and PhRMA, shown the outline, adamantly denied that it reflected reality. PhRMA senior vice president Ken Johnson said that the outline “is simply not accurate.” “This memo isn’t accurate and does not reflect the agreement with the drug companies,” said White House spokesman Reid Cherlin.
Stories in the Los Angeles Times and the New York Times last week indicated that the administration was confirming that such a deal had been made.
Critics on Capitol Hill and online responded with outrage at the reports that Obama had gone behind their backs and sold the reform movement short. Furthermore, the deal seemed to be a betrayal of several promises made by then-Sen. Obama during the presidential campaign, among them that he would use the power of government to drive down the costs of drugs to Medicare and that negotiations would be conducted in the open.
And over the past several days, both the White House and PhRMA have offered a series of sometimes conflicting accounts of what happened in an attempt to walk back the story.
The White House meeting took place on July 7th, as first reported that evening in the Wall Street Journal. Also on the same day, a health care lobbyist following the talks was provided the outline of the deal by a person inside the negotiations. That outline had been floating around K Street before being obtained by the Huffington Post. In order to learn more about its origin, HuffPost agreed not to reveal the name of the lobbyist who originally received it.
“That is the PhRMA deal,” said the lobbyist of the outline. He then clarified, “It was the PhRMA deal.”
The deal, as outlined in the memo:
Commitment of up to $80 billion, but not more than $80 billion.
1. Agree to increase of Medicaid rebate from 15.1 - 23.1% ($34 billion)
2. Agree to get FOBs done (but no agreement on details — express disagreement on data exclusivity which both sides say does not affect the score of the legislation.) ($9 billion)
3. Sell drugs to patients in the donut hole at 50% discount ($25 billion)
This totals $68 billion
4. Companies will be assessed a tax or fee that will score at $12 billion. There was no agreement as to how or on what this tax/fee will be based.
Total: $80 billion
In exchange for these items, the White House agreed to:
1. Oppose importation
2. Oppose rebates in Medicare Part D
3. Oppose repeal of non-interference
4. Oppose opening Medicare Part B
Adversity temporarily visits a strong man but stays with the weak for a lifetime.Comment
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Re: The Shining City Upon a Hill
News Flash Obama NOT the President
Apparently your internet is Really really slow its 2021
2009 articles you guys are desperate
PS the US Won World War 2Comment
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Re: The Shining City Upon a Hill
More Good news from the Biden Administration Aims to lower the prices of drugs
Biden’s move to lower drug prices by allowing imports of cheaper drugs from other countries was part of his health care plan during his presidential campaign.
Before Friday, the Biden administration would point to congressional efforts on lowering drug pricing, which involves legislation to allow the secretary of Health and Human Services to negotiate lower prices.
The new order directs the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to work with states on importing prescription drugs from Canada, and directs officials to develop a plan to lower drug prices in 45 days. Biden on Friday noted that a “handful” of companies control the market for vital medicines.
“As a result, Americans pay two and a half times more for prescription drugs than in any other leading country,” he said.
The order also issues new rules so hearing aids can be sold over the counter. Hearing aids can cost thousands of dollars and can’t be sold in pharmacies.
“That’s something the last administration was supposed to get done but didn’t do. We’re going to get it done,” Biden said.Comment
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Adversity temporarily visits a strong man but stays with the weak for a lifetime.Comment
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Re: The Shining City Upon a Hill
McDonald's is among fast-food franchises to raise wages in a tight labor market and plans to reach an average of $15 an hour by 2024 at all company-owned restaurants.
Competition for workers is intense and food franchises like McDonald's and Chipotle are competing with retailers like Amazon, Walmart and Target, McDonald's CEO Chris Kempczinski noted in a recent CNBC Evolve interview.
Labor experts say McDonald's move will pressure the 95% of its restaurants not owned by the company, and at least some McDonald's franchise owners say it is time to raise wages and think long-term.Comment
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Re: The Shining City Upon a Hill
How many times are liberals gonna fall for the bait & switch from Obama and Joe Biden? They sold you out the last time they had a chance to lower drug prices. I posted the leaked memo. Busted red-handed.
It's like Charlie Brown trying to kick the football.
Adversity temporarily visits a strong man but stays with the weak for a lifetime.Comment
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Re: The Shining City Upon a Hill
... the past does not guarantee the future. If you want to be a pessimist, fine.Comment
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Re: The Shining City Upon a Hill
Past behavior is a better indicator of future behavior when compared to promises made by democrats. What happened to defund the police. They can't run fast enough away from that one amid the huge spike in crime that they are responsible for.Adversity temporarily visits a strong man but stays with the weak for a lifetime.Comment
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Re: The Shining City Upon a Hill
One thing to remember about when South Carolina Representative Joe Wilson shouted "You lie" during Obama's address to a Joint Session in November 2009, the really big lie was that Obama even had a plan, or at least on paper. At that time there were 2 plans on paper, Nancy Pelosi's House and Harry Reid's Senate. What we actually ended up with should actually be called Dingy Harry Care.Comment
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