Trump aims to reduce drug costs under medicare

[mvaliz]

Throwing this bone out to the Dumpsters...

https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/med...are/ar-BBITGMP

While this is something nice for a change and not a direct attack on Medicare like most are suspecting would happen, I'll admit this is a nice unexpected start from Dump (not that it forgives the past year+ of political attrocities he's committed) - but, given Dump's reputation, I'm more than suspecting this might be a "Walmart giving raises due to taxes - but a day later announces 65 Sams Clubs closing" bullshit distraction before hitting with the catch, of which I'm more than suspecting that catch to be drastic cuts to medicare/medicaid.

But hey, if Dumpy does this without sticking it to people later - at least it's a small win for him that I would give credit to,.... .

[Breccia]

It's true, the federal government has a pretty big stake and bargaining chip to work with here. It'd be nice to see something done about one of the biggest expenses the oldest and sickest Americans face.

Let's see if anything actually happens.

[Cthulhu 2020]

Well lookie here, more socialist welfare for baby boomers and gen X.

[Kujako]

Sure, like he aims for trillions in infrastructure, military parades and two scoops of ice cream. It's good to have goals, but if you lack the ability to follow through don't expect people to care.

[Beazy]

How can he control the price of drugs though? That's something Bernie would say. I didn't expect to hear something like that from Trump.

[Elegiac]

How can he control the price of drugs though?

Like every other developed country with universal healthcare does.

That's something Bernie would say. I didn't expect to hear something like that from Trump.

Why? They're both populists with no follow through.

[Beazy]

Why? They're both populists with no follow through.

Because republicans act like the feds controlling the price of something is the devil. That would be like hearing Nancy Pelosi asking for the wall the be built.

[Lenonis]

I'm willing to bet I know far more about drug pricing than Trump does. Volumes more.

And as such, I'm also willing to bet his solution will be the wrong one.

But hey, I guess good for him for trying to tackle the issue? (Which isn't nearly as big an issue as most people think anyway)

[mvaliz]

Why? They're both populists with no follow through.

Ummm... the citizens of Vermont would like to have a word or two with you about that...

[minteK917]

Its not like Trump talk alot out of his ass about pretty much anything. Plus we saw by now he cant actually negotiate for shit, so its not like he can negotiate for shit against one of the biggest lobbying.

[Vankrys]

How can he control the price of drugs though? That's something Bernie would say. I didn't expect to hear something like that from Trump.

Canada does it with a system called single payer. Basically, since the government is the sole client, it gives it more power to negociate price. Drug company can't afford to lose an entire country as a market, thus willing to negotiate. As a small HMO, or worse, as an individual, negotiation power against big pharma is limited, practically inexistant.

So yeah, saying he wants to reduces the price of drugs does not make it so. It's gonna be tough negotiation and Trump is going to need leverage. Bernie Sanders' plan is to move to a universal healthcare that would provide all the leverage he needs to negotiate with pharma.

[Breccia]

Trump is going to need leverage.

At least until 2018, he has some leverage. He can threaten to gut Medicare to the ground, which means old people just get sick and die instead of getting meds. And he has a GOP majority for now. And before anyone says "he would never do that" he's already tried to repeal the entire ACA, and when that failed, repealed the part that requires people to get insurance that covers medicine.

[Vankrys]

At least until 2018, he has some leverage. He can threaten to gut Medicare to the ground, which means old people just get sick and die instead of getting meds. And he has a GOP majority for now. And before anyone says "he would never do that" he's already tried to repeal the entire ACA, and when that failed, repealed the part that requires people to get insurance that covers medicine.

we are ... in 2018.

[Breccia]

we are ... in 2018.

Should have said "election" or some such.

[Togashii]

Canada does it with a system called single payer. Basically, since the government is the sole client, it gives it more power to negociate price. Drug company can't afford to lose an entire country as a market, thus willing to negotiate. As a small HMO, or worse, as an individual, negotiation power against big pharma is limited, practically inexistant.

So yeah, saying he wants to reduces the price of drugs does not make it so. It's gonna be tough negotiation and Trump is going to need leverage. Bernie Sanders' plan is to move to a universal healthcare that would provide all the leverage he needs to negotiate with pharma.

Roll Medicare Pard D into B, and take it away from the secondary market. This will give the feds the leverage like they currently do with Part A/B. Also, uniform premiums for it will be a benefit for consumers.

[kail]

As soon as the policy is implemented, I'll give it a thumbs up. He needs to be careful though, such ideas will cause him to bleed even more supporters.

[Sunseeker]

Why? They're both populists with no follow through.

You can't really accuse Bernie of having no followthrough when they're not in a position to actually...follow through.

[Omega10]

Well lookie here, more socialist welfare for baby boomers and gen X.

It is definitely that. And if it passes in anything like what it is now - the goal will be to keep it active long into the future. Both steps will be hard. It will be hard getting it enacted, and it will be hard keeping it from being watered down over time. The more effective it is at reducing overall costs, the more intense the opposition will be since the drug and health insurance companies do not want what they think of as THEIR money paying for the medical costs of non-wealthy Americans.

And yes, the drug and health insurance companies DO hate Trump supporters just as much as they hate everyone else that is non-wealthy.

[Resurgo]

I'... (Which isn't nearly as big an issue as most people think anyway)

Curious, what would be? All the middle men?

[Lenonis]

Curious, what would be? All the middle men?

Drug costs only represent 10-20% (depending on which estimates you want to take) of heathcare costs. It's not the problem with system -- it's the cost of care and the access to it. People don't go bankrupt because of pharmaceuticals.

Also, as you mentioned, you really need to look at the pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) for where a LOT of the issue is. Drugs have a list price that really nobody pays. Either you go through insurance and the PBMs get a rebate on the cost and (in theory) should be passing savings on to you, or you don't have insurance and go through a patient assistance program that the pharma companies themselves manage.

And lastly -- US pharma spend essentially drives drug research. If you choke off that revenue stream to pharma companies you are going to have to answer some really tough questions about where drug R&D is going to happen -- and who is then going to pay for it.

People paint the pharma companies as evil -- which I certainly won't argue is entirely undeserved due to some shady behavior in the past, but drug pricing really isn't the simple issue that drives healthcare costs as people think.