Bush Corporate Welfare for Pharaceutical Companies Shot Down

[Dr Ron]

From Liberal Values--see original post for links:

http://liberalvaluesblog.com/?p=392


US To Stop Seizing Canadian Drugs

One of the measures of the Bush Administration to provide financial rewards (corporate welfare) to one of his major contributors, the pharmaceutical industry, is ending. Late in 2005, before the Medicare Part D program came into effect, the government began seizing drugs purchased from Canadian pharmacies and shipped into the United States. At the time there was speculation that cutting off the supply of cheaper medications from Canada was one means of forcing seniors into joining the Medicare program to obtain their prescription drugs. Following intervention from Congress, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection agency will discontinue their policy of seizing Canadian pharmaceuticals.

The change in policy at this time will be particularly helpful for the many seniors who are now faced with the donut hole in the Medicare program which forces them to pay the full cost of their prescriptions. While most goods and services in health care are provided at a discount (which is often taken into consideration in setting prices), the Medicare Part D program specifically prevents negotiation for discounted prices. Last September the Annals of Internal Medicine compared Canadian and American drug prices and found that “Americans can save a mean of approximately 24% per unit of drug if they purchase their medications from Canadian Internet pharmacies instead of from major online U.S. drug chain pharmacies.

[Erika]

1. W pushed the one world corporate agenda

and then said U.S. citizens could only buy internally. He's running his ass off now to reverse his corporate decisions.

[jbnow]

2. I read they will stop seizing them when

people are carrying them across the border but that mail orders still wouldn't be safe.

I hope to find out for sure. Not as many people are able to get to Canada to pick them up and not getting your drugs in the mail as expected creates it's own horror stories.

Of course drugs bought in Canada (or an unapproved store here) doesn't count toward the spend down in the donut hole. Many people who get into it won't get out. But at least going to Canada for them they will still get the drugs.Having lost other help, like from the drug companies or other programs for those with no coverage, people without high incomes who get into donut hole would just not be able to get their more expensive drugs-and so many of the newer drugs are crazy expensive.