The adoption of single-payer health care systems are being encouraged at the state level, in the hopes of influencing federal policy. However, some very important information about the influence of the rx cos. and rx costs has come to light.
According to a report by the Center for Public Integrity, Big Rx has been spending tens of millions of dollars on lobbying, campaign donations and gifts to try to state officials to not pass laws that would cut into their profits.
Over $44 million lobbying state governments was spent in 2003 and 2004, according to the center. In addition, over $8 million to state political candidates/groups was spent for meals, golf tournaments and baseball games for some public officials.
continued
Ken Johnson, of PhRMA
“State legislatures have considered punitive measures that could have damaged physician-patient relationships and jeopardized the future development of potentially life-saving and life-enhancing medicines.”
PhRMA, in its 2003-04 annual report, claimed victory for Medicaid changes in Kansas, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, South Carolina and Washington.
Not counting what the states do pay for their employees, retirees, prison inmates, Medicaid have paid approximately 16% of the rx costs. In response to this, 2/3 of the states have passed legislation that includes buying medicine in bulk, promoting generic drugs, and creating lists of preferred drugs covered by state plans.
Roberta Baskin, executive director of the Center for Public Integrity:
“At the same time that the pharmaceutical industry has been splurging millions of dollars to influence state legislature and drug prices, they’re celebrating enormous profits. The losers, of course, are American consumers who continue to pay some of the highest prices for prescription drugs anywhere in the world.”
The concentration of rx lobbying occurred in states with the largest number of rx drug dollars and in states like New Jersey and Indiana, as the rx industry had a large presence.
California had approximately 20% of all lobbying expenses as it has the largest rx drug budget of all of the states.
In Massachusetts, state Sen. Mark Montigny claims the rx industry has blocked industry for blocking legislation to allow bulk purchasing. Montigny further stated,
“There’s no close second in terms of their effectiveness.”
With this in mind, would a state-by-state approach to health care reform that includes rx coverage be at all effective?
(That 2 diary limit got to me, especially when I was feeling motivated yesterday–in one of my writing moods.)
Previously posted at My Left Wing and in orange
hey Kid..don’t have anything interesting to say today…other than big business(any big business) really does hate regular people don’t they…or maybe I should say don’t give a shit. Been that way since the beginning of this country and no doubt will continue. Big business/big corporations are not the warm fuzzy do gooding companies they like to portray themselves in ads. And they won’t change their ways unless forced to with people protesting and marching in the streets to get legislation to make them be more ‘people centered’..making a profit doesn’t have to mean screwing regular people-it is possible for a company to be humane and make a profit…gee what a concept right?
Well I think I kinda got off the subject of big pharma specifically didn’t I.
I don’t think you’re off the subject at all. Our health has been hijacked and is being used for the increased profits and maintenance of power by the wealthy class, and corporations-as-ruthless-people are the primary tool they’re using to accomplish this.
Neither do I. Any type of disability is pervcieved as being useless or a burden on society. People/Entities are getting meaner and being rewarded for that. Money is power in today’s society. And, disability is also commonly percieved as powerless, thus justifying the expoitation of people, so more corps. can make a buck.
Hey Street Kid, keep up the good work, keep this topic on focus.
The Health Care crisis will soon push Iraq and scandals to page 42. Here is a good resource link, maybe you already know of it… all things health, health insurance, health care quality, medicare, the elderly, medical debts..
Within that link is this:
(with video and multimedia presentation)
Gas prices are expected to hit US$4 gallon, national average before July 4th, we already have reports of people pawning items for gas money to be able to get to work…housing market on decline..(interview heard on NPR)
we’re in some serious deep, deep doo with no rope, no leadership. If Democrats can’t win on this issue, the party deserves banishment.
I know you are trying to encourage me and I thank you for that. However, I am completely unsure if I am going to continue w/this, as I see very little indication that what I write is being taken seriously by anyone, except for the same people.
I had really hoped to open some eyes as to what is really going on w/Medicare D(isaster) and those who are effected by it. Those who were most effected by Medicare D(isaster) and health care are people like chocolate ink, Indy Lib, and myself.
As I said, I am completely unsure at this point…Do the dems even care?
That is really bugging me and has been for quite a long time. Like you said, since they have not grabbed onto this and made the most of it, they deserve banishment.
I just don’t know any more.
Thanks for the info. If I continue w/this, I’ll use it.
I do think you are having an effect SK. This issue is getting traction, slowly, yes, but it is coming. And in more mainstream places, too. One tiny example: My mom, in her mid-80’s, lives in a place absolutely infested with Bush supporters, including a “ranger” or three. They have some not-so-wealthy, not-very-healthy people and family members among them who rely on SSDI, many who depend on Medicare, many who are not able to ignore health costs, and these folks are having the scales drop from their eyes. I’ve sent some of your excellent pieces to my mother to help her see the plight that many of her friends are in. She is fortunate in being part of a teacher’s association that has excellent drug coverage benefits, so she has been spared much of the current difficulties. Her best friend with two disabled adult children is not so fortunate. Your fine work has helped spur a small bit of advocacy in quarters that are not known for agitating about healthcare issues.
That may not sound like much, but I think it is important.
I am one of the many and it is scary as hell.
I have no clear idea how frightening.
For us personally it is a looming dark cloud – I cannot feel what it must be like to be in it, but we see it coming, like a great west Texas dust storm that you can see for miles. No shelter is built that it will not penetrate with its terrible dark matter.
My husband has been terribly ill this year, and may yet have to quit working entirely. There goes the “good” health insurance, leaving my crappy HMO (Health Minimum Organization). And I am not all that far from being shuffled off myself – will I lose use of my hands before I get to the traditional age of retirement? Who can say? But there goes mine, a day fast approaching. And there we are. . our drug costs are far beyond what we can afford unless something happens to change the present debacle.
So. . .we look like this would not be an important issue for us, but with a couple of changes, which are in fact real possibilities, we’d be right in this mess. We are already sliding over the edge. . .and the fear is rising.
I have no clear idea how frightening.
I know you don’t. And, with what you are feeling right now, which is NOTHING compared to the Medicare D(isaster) nightmare, I would like to ask you just one question:
Have you written a lte or contacted your congresscritter(s) about your opposition to Medicare D(isaster)?
Yes. Three times.
Thank you!!! Have been having doubts as to whether or not I was wasting my time on this. I have contacted them too and am involved in yet another project, actually, going on 2 now re: MedD(is) and single payer health care. Talk about exhausting.
SK, Just dropped by and saw your reply to mine upthread.
Many times we write diaries within these pages and they’re ignored. Sometimes I posted only to see it roll into cyber hole and I’ve felt ignored. It’s especially so when within the hour or 2 days later I see the piece is headlined at other sites or picked up and front paged by others here. Hell, that’s a real bummer but I won’t give up.
Yeah, it’s discouraging for you…but you’re doing yeoman’s work and of that you can be proud. Very proud. I hope members will acknowledge, – use the rate all – when they pause to read an entry they find interesting. I’m saying as a courtesy to others.
Your diaries are always important and informative. A topic that touches us all. Truly, as the header (in my comment linked upthread), indicates, it’s An All American problem.
Be well SK.
It’s not just the writing and that, in some instances, they are ignored, or picked up elsewhere that is getting to me.
Like you said, it is an all-american problem. And I really sometimes wonder what others are doing about the health care situation in this country.
All of the info that you have posted is very important–I guess that I doubt that others see the importance of health care reform to a single payer system.
See where I am coming from?
Yes, I have, Kid.. Levin, Stabenow and (for all the good it does) Rogers. I’ve written to all of them several times. So far, Mom’s Plan D is working ok, but I know that for a lot of people, like yourself, it’s an unmitigated disaster, so I’ll keep rattling cages until the program is fixed. I’ve also been bending their ears about single payer insurance – we’re getting whacked at close to $450 a month for major medical and with that much going out we can’t afford the preventative care that the policy doesn’t cover.
And he never will. Neither does his “challenger”.
Fact of the matter is what has really been irritating is the Petals For Peace nonsese. Hell, for what it takes to order a flower, something could be done to assist people who are low-income w/the increased co-pays! If that had happenned, maybe Eddie Rose would still be alive. (And, God knows, there are probably more that haven’t been reported.)
God knows it is desperately needed by many, not just me.
But I guess actually doing something that would really help a person out is not as much fun.
I know that Rogers doesn’t give a rat’s pattoie about anyone other than his big donors, but I keep writing because not to would be giving up. I didn’t get involved in sending flowers to him or anyone else because I can’t afford it. But I do volunteer at the local Senior Center and last year I knit almost 150 caps, 100 scarves, and a number of lap robes and shawls from donated yarn. The caps & scarves went to a local organization that helps the needy and the other items went to nursing homes. I may not have dollars to donate, but I have two hands and a skill so I do my best to help with in that manner.
I didn’t get involved in sending flowers to him
And thanks for what you do. (Sending flowers to Rogers turned my stomach.) I mean, it didn’t accomplish a thing.
And I also don’t have $$, but, I give what I can by writing.
“And I also don’t have $$, but, I give what I can by writing.”
I wish I had one tenth of your skill at putting the facts together and making them easy to understand. I’ve sent links to your diaries to a number of people so don’t underestimate the power of your words.
I’m glad to know that more people are being aware of this crisis.
And, I thank my high school english teacher, as I still follow the structure that he insisted on. (It’s automatic now.)
Extremely important diary. It exposes that to allow lobbyists for hire to peddle their beliefs to the highest bidder in Congress, is to undermine the very foundations of this democracy.
THANK YOU so much!!!!!! You understood!
“State legislatures have considered punitive measures that could have damaged physician-patient relationships and jeopardized the future development of potentially life-saving and life-enhancing medicines.”
What a collossal pile of shit!
Since when do the Corporate Pill Cartel’s profits on prescriptions damage physician-patient relationships?
That is such a fabrication.
Not only are fair prescription prices an imperative in a healthy doctor patient relationship, but they are imperative to a healthy pharmaceutical market.
Fucking scumbags.
Down with the Corporate Pill Cartel!
Also imperative to a single-payer health care system.
So much that is wrong with our country could be fixed if we could just eliminate their access to legislators. If we could only trick Congress into passing a law that made it a criminal offense for them to accept favors, gifts, etc. from anyone! Our elected officials are the most culpable. All the money in the world couldn’t buy influence if there wasn’t someone willing to be influenced by it. Congress is our unfaithful spouse, the lobbyists are the homewreckers.
Seems to me that there is not a need for a trick, as it is up to the government to prove itself honest. Similar to the “Diebolding” of the past Presidential electin.
And they are the ones who can least afford it:
…
Among them: most of the 6.4 million low-income people transferred from state Medicaid drug programs. Most had no co-payments for drugs under Medicaid but now pay $1 to $5 per drug. Others include those who used to get drugs for free from drug companies or at reduced cost in state programs; those who had less expensive employer retiree coverage; and those with little or no current drug expenses who signed up for a Medicare plan as a hedge against future costs.
I would be in that last group, except I will not sign up for this swindle. I did the math, and this thing will cost me almost twice as much money than paying for my meds out of pocket does. If you’re healthy and working, it’s not [necessarily] a swindle to pay for insurance. But once you’re disabled, poor, and dependent on SSDI, you just can’t rationalize paying extra money for insurance on top of what you’re already paying for meds.
The frightening thing is that this is exactly how this program is supposed to work — those of us who are already poor and sick but who have low costs for medication are supposed to sign up so we can cover the costs for those who have expensive medication needs. The social responsibility that we should all share to pick up the expenses for medication for those who need it the most has been shifted to fall almost solely on the shoulders of those of us who are already sick and poor, but who don’t have high medication costs. That’s why, after May 15th, there will be a penalty on all those who haven’t signed up yet, which the government has said will be “at least 1% per month” in increased premiums. No doubt the next step for the Republicans will be to force us to enroll. So far, the primary “opposition” plan I keep hearing from Democrats is to push to give us more time to sign up. This is not opposition, by any definition.
But the rich get to keep their massive tax cuts, and the corporations get to keep their welfare, and this fucking war is looking to cost us over a trillion dollars, while the oil companies are still bringing in record profits. Yeah, that’s fair.
Checked out the links that you posted and found some more info:
link
For some reason, I have found more that needs to be written. I don’t know if I can. I am terrified.
It is horrific. I can’t speak for the other states, but the healthcare system was already very bad in Florida when I left 11 years ago. Frighteningly bad. And rather than hold the government responsible, most people tended to scapegoat immigrants for it.
I was healthy then, and I used to manage a small law firm. Among other things, we handled guardianship cases for the elderly. Nursing home scandals, elder abuse, disabled seniors abandoned by their families and wandering around naked on the beach and living on cat food — this was common even back then. With even fewer social services, there will absolutely be mass death.
On a more personal note, I hope you are still considering taking a break, Street Kid, at least for a few days. Sometimes even just a few days spent solely taking care of yourself can go a long way. Self-care is so important — especially now that we know that practically no one else is going to take care of us.
Death caused by Medicare D–man unable to afford rx’s, also corporate profits up.