I cannot afford my medication, so I buy it from a Canadian pharmacy via mail order. I CANNOT LIVE WITHOUT MY MEDICINE. PLEASE STOP CONGRESS FROM TAKING AWAY MY RIGHT TO PURCHASE OVER THE INTERNET. Joanne

The ugly politics behind drug pricing

posted Wed, 6 Jun 2012

Last week, Republican members of the House Energy and Commerce Committee released email documentation that proves what we suspected all along—top White House officials engaged in secret negotiations with PhRMA back in 2009 in order to secure the drug lobby’s help to secure passage of the Affordable Care Act (ACA).

To be clear, these sorts of closed-door negotiations happen all the time on Capitol Hill. But President Obama was elected based on the promise of change. He railed against the pharmaceutical industry during his campaign. But perhaps he was naïve to think he could fight such behemoth special interests.

It’s clear from the released emails that PhRMA bigwigs understand what a sweetheart deal they finagled for themselves. It wasn’t enough that the ACA would give them access to millions of new consumers (since more people will have access to insurance), they wanted assurance that they wouldn’t have to bow to price controls (like all the other developed countries in the world) or face the threat of legalized importation. In exchange, PhRMA promised $80 billion of taxes and drug savings towards the ACA over the next 10 years and an advertising campaign in support of the bill.

You might remember that PhRMA helped to finance commercials 15 years ago that helped to tank President Clinton’s health plan. This time, President Obama convinced them to support his healthcare plan through an ad campaign. Ironically, the same characters were revived for the new commercials.

The pharmaceutical and health products industry spends—by far—the most of any industry on lobbying, which means they will continue to have a heavy hand in politics.

Business as usual persists and Washington continues to chew up good intentioned politicians and spit them out.

More details about the emails and the deal:

Report: W.H. pushed hard for PhRMA health reform deal

Threats, deals got drug companies on board with Obama

Emails Describe Deal-Making on Obama Health Bill

 

 

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