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.

Internal Memo Confirms Big Giveaways In White House Deal With Big Pharma

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"Government big enough to supply everything you need is big enough to take everything you have" Thomas Jefferson

I don't why they deny it, no one would believe you could get eighty billion out of Big Pharma without giving something up. The real question is, what was given?

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"We must recognize the fact that adequate food is only the first requisite for life. For a decent and humane life we must also provide an opportunity for good education, remunerative employment, comfortable housing, good clothing and effective and compassionate medical care." Norman Borlaug

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.”


Hot Air » Blog Archive » Smoking gun: Memo proves secret deal denied by Obama and pharma?

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"Government big enough to supply everything you need is big enough to take everything you have" Thomas Jefferson

From what I am hearing in DC, Mermaid is 100% accurate. Big Pharma will be left alone as long as they support the Democratic plan. The only outstanding question is do they have to support the Democratic-version of the plan or just an overall demo-house plan or can they support the kinda senate-kinda white house plan (sans public option). Right now, they are just being asked to be quiet, and they are doing it.

Either way, this highlights another "issue" with a public option. One of the biggest costs in health insurance is drug prices. If the White House has agreed to not use their full bargaining power on drug prices, what does that leave. From my cheap seats, I see that hospitals, medical centers, and doctors will pick up the slack and the Pharma's skate on by... If someone else is hearing something else, please chime in as I am not a crazy health care change opponent/propenent.

Throw in the exclusivity and taking a right to purchase drugs elsewhere? If it is smells like a rat, it is a rat!

Smells fishy to me! I mean, why not a Drug Czar?

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Who is Lynnie?? ~~~~~~~Signed, All Y'all

viagra will not be over the counter or generic....that's worth several trillion

"Viva Viagra" I absolutely love the song on their commercials. At least they put their money back into making good vocal soundtracks.

Just remember to consult your doctor if you you remain 'affected' for more than 8 hours after taking the drug. Really? Sounds like the time to conslut a close personal friend But that's just me.