The new majority party in Congress didn’t wait long before it starting pulling rank.
Under the current Medicare law, passed in 2003, the federal government is prohibited from negotiating drug prices or establishing a list of preferred drugs. Soon-to-be House Speaker Nancy Pelosi says the Democrats will try to repeal the ban straight out of the starting gate. (Kaiser Network)
So much for Republicans’ efforts to partially privatize the system.
One of the concerns about the government negotiating prices is that it may favor its own drug plan over better private plans. The Kaiser Network entry has more details, including links to related editorials.
Some Democratic politicians have accused the former Republican majority of catering to pharmaceutical companies and other corporate interests at the expense of recipients. Democratic Congressman Pete Stark, who will become chair of the House Ways and Means Health Subcommittee, said he plans to pass a bill that will reduce reimbursement rates for private health insurers that offer Medicare Advantage plans. (Kaiser Network)
And the political games continue.
