This has been a strange implementation of socialized medicine that the GOP rolled out and it's even more bizarre how they've fought against the cost controls of socialized systems. The Medicare program that the Republicans created has turned out to be very profitable for Big Pharma thanks to the shocking disregard for basic price negotiations. I've never understood the Bush-GOP arguments against negotiating prices since they know the US pays more than other rich countries for pharmaceuticals. Anyone in business knows that when you have a large buyer, they demand quantity pricing. That's how it works except here, where the Republicans are happy to help Big Pharma make enormous profits from Medicare.
U.S. pharmaceutical companies benefited from a $3.7 billion "windfall" during the first two years of Medicare's prescription drug coverage, according to a report from Democratic congressional staff released on Thursday.
The report from Democratic staff of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee focused on "dual eligibles," or patients who qualify for prescription drug coverage from both Medicaid, which covers the poor, and Medicare, the health insurance plan for the elderly and disabled.
Main & gay blog