General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: Presidents should be questioned and confronted, not idolized [View all]nadinbrzezinski
(154,021 posts)the Federal Government, under it's negotiating authority, should negotiate a single formulary. This will crater the prices of medications and, actually be a measure of cost control This was not even considered during any of the five full versions of the bill. I remember writing back then, before it even passed, let alone signed. that this was going to be a problem.
That is an actual policy position, Then Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi and President Obama did not push for this, never mind that multiple specialists in policy said that cost of medications was essential for cost control, ultimately.
I admit, I like pain. I read all five versions of the bill, major versions, and a few minor ones, hoping this would make it in there. but give Medicare Part D, which forbade the Federal Government from doing precisely that, I was not too surprised when that did not happen.
This is actually something that needs to be fixed at the legislative level, and in a rational nation, it would. I might add, this fix also goes for Medicare Part D. I am also willing to bet resistance from both Pharmaceutical companies and insurance companies to this rational policy level change.