Big Pharma and Congress gouge Americans
On April 10, The Bee carried a half-page ad on page 2A urging Rep. David Valadao to oppose HR 3061. This ad claims the bill will “limit access to the medicines you need” – nothing could be further from the truth.
This bill would allow Medicare to negotiate, just as Tri-Care does, for lower prescription drug prices. Currently, Medicare cannot do this, resulting in prescription drug spending that’s 40 percent higher than Canada. It has doubled since 1980 while spending on hospital care has dropped by 18 percent as a total of health care spending.
Don’t believe me? Read the book “Nation on the Take” by Wendell Potter and Nick Penniman.
This ad is a shameless attempt to blame liberal politicians for a cost that is supported by big pharmaceuticals and their Republican (and a few Democratic) lackeys.
Potter is a former health insurance executive turned whistle-blower who has written extensively on how Big Pharma influences Congress and costs the government and taxpayers billions.
Robert Engleheart, Lemoore
This story was originally published April 18, 2016 at 7:41 AM with the headline "Big Pharma and Congress gouge Americans."