White House Affirms Deal on Drug Cost

[ArcticFox]

Source: New York Times

WASHINGTON — Pressed by industry lobbyists, White House officials on Wednesday assured drug makers that the administration stood by a behind-the-scenes deal to block any Congressional effort to extract cost savings from them beyond an agreed-upon $80 billion.

. . . .

In an interview on Wednesday, Representative Raul M. Grijalva, the Arizona Democrat who is co-chairman of the House progressive caucus, called Mr. Tauzin’s comments “disturbing.”

“We have all been focused on the debate in Congress, but perhaps the deal has already been cut,” Mr. Grijalva said. “That would put us in the untenable position of trying to scuttle it.”

He added: “It is a pivotal issue not just about health care. Are industry groups going to be the ones at the table who get the first big piece of the pie and we just fight over the crust?”


Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/06/health/policy/06insure.html?hp

---

It appears the administration found a need to make a friend in this fight. Divide and conquer? Hopefully, there's room for some negotiation in the future.

[babylonsister]

1. Yes, negotiation. This whole healthcare plan will be full of

negotiations. It will get done. And Representative Raul M. Grijalva is a major part of this. Props!

It's going to be a long month.

[grytpype]

3. Yep. There's a reason why the actual health care industry and pharma are not opposing.

Obama bought them off and it was the right thing to do.

[girl gone mad]

5. If you really believe they aren't opposing this plan...

you're just not paying close enough attention.

[JeanGrey]

15. No. It isn't the right thing to do. This is never going to work

unless the insurance companies are DONE AWAY WITH. There can be no "guarantees" to big pharm.

[GOTV]

46. Let me see if I get this ....

.... we need health care reform to drive down the cost of health care

We cannot get health care reform unless the health care industry and big pharma are on board

We cannot get them on board unless we promise we will not drive down the cost of health care

Is that how it works?

[tiny elvis]

73. it all works out in phase II

http://www.oftlog.com/2005/08/poor-man-cafe-s-not-good-deal.html

The poorman in '05

The Dailykos/Atrios plan of “taking over” the Dems and mysticaly transforming them into a party of idealistic warrior/scholars classically trained in Rocking Your Fucking Socks Off is mildly funny in a sad way and totally unworkable. The same rich amoral fucks who currently lobby the GOP for jillion dollar gimme’s will simply sink their teeth right back into the Democrats if they ever regain the throne

http://www.folded.com/bray/?p=654

[aquart]

2. So that's a giveaway of how much?

[dhpgetsit]

4. It allows Big Pharma to rake in Big Profits at taxpayer expense.

I don't like it.

[JDPriestly]

7. Obama can make this deal, but unless the economy improves,

it will not be kept.

[nolabels]

8. I don't either therefore i will redouble my efforts to get and stay even healthier

They can shove all prescribed drug crap back up their own anus too :argh:

[Amos Moses]

6. Score another one for the working class!

Obama's on a fuckin' roll, baby! :patriot: :woohoo:

[pattmarty]

9. This is looking more and more like Bush's Medicare "reform"................

..........a big give away to the drug companies behind closed doors. So far, can't negotiate drug prices, and no importation from Canada or other countries. The more I see and hear about this "reform" the more I would rather have nothing at this point. Wanna bet there will be no "public option"? This surely was not the "change" I voted for.

[zogofzorkon]

10. No really we got the change

the bankers and pharma got the dollars. Its all in how you hear the words.

[Deja Q]

78. Yet for all the "no drugs from Canada" and "free trade" we hear how the latest med from china is

being recalled.

Globalization my big pasty honky butt.

[pipoman]

11. Drug Cos

were given an ultimatum several years ago. They have responded by making affordable or free drugs available to those who can't afford them. I really don't know how pharm company profits are distributed, I do know that R&D and regulatory compliance for the drug industry is extremely expensive. If profits are taken away from the drug industry what will take the hit? Executive and share holder compensation? Regulatory compliance? I don't think so. It will be R&D for drugs which may benefit less wealthy patients and direction of R&D to areas which may be more elective (and more profitable) like Viagra and Rogaine. This agreement is probably a valid compromise.

[ejpoeta]

12. it's so nice to see that there is someone on capital hill looking out for the little guys....

the pharma companies, the insurance companies, the hospitals.... we wouldn't want them to go without representation in congress.

[sendero]

13. Based on virtually everything..

... Obama has done since he set foot in the White House I have no doubt whatsoever that this legislation, if it passes, will defend the status quo and not entail any real reform, which would require that hospitals, insurance and pharma take less.

It's not going to happen. I've already written this off emotionally.

[totodeinhere]

14. If that's true it's really sad because if we can't get real health care reform now with

a big majority in the House and 60 votes in the Senate, when will we ever be able to?

[sendero]

22. When we elect..

... a government that isn't owned 100% outright by corporate interests.

[Zhade]

45. I'm not voting for him again. I will likely abstain -- I don't reward liars and cowards.

NT!

[kpete]

16. White House Affirms Deal on Drug Cost (Shields Big Pharma from Competition)

Source: New York Times

White House Affirms Deal on Drug Cost

By DAVID D. KIRKPATRICK
Published: August 5, 2009

WASHINGTON — Pressed by industry lobbyists, White House officials on Wednesday assured drug makers that the administration stood by a behind-the-scenes deal to block any Congressional effort to extract cost savings from them beyond an agreed-upon $80 billion.

Drug industry lobbyists reacted with alarm this week to a House health care overhaul measure that would allow the government to negotiate drug prices and demand additional rebates from drug manufacturers.

In response, the industry successfully demanded that the White House explicitly acknowledge for the first time that it had committed to protect drug makers from bearing further costs in the overhaul. The Obama administration had never spelled out the details of the agreement.

“We were assured: ‘We need somebody to come in first. If you come in first, you will have a rock-solid deal,’ ” Billy Tauzin, the former Republican House member from Louisiana who now leads the pharmaceutical trade group, said Wednesday. “Who is ever going to go into a deal with the White House again if they don’t keep their word? You are just going to duke it out instead.”

Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/06/health/policy/06insure.html?_r=1&hp

[Mojorabbit]

17. This will bankrupt medicare down the road

if true. The govt needs to be able to negotiate drug prices. I can't believe the pharm companies were given this deal.

[shraby]

18. I thought only congress could make those kinds of

agreements through legislation. What am I missing?

[Me.]

19. Change I No Longer Believe In

[Myrina]

20. This whole thing is starting to smell REALLY bad ...

...heard on KO last night that Prez O is basically still trying to get 'bi-partisanship' to work and that he's not addressing the Blue Dog effort to shitcan the Dems/Health Care at all?

WTF? Who signs this man's paycheck? I thought it was US! :(

[global1]

21. I'll Wait To See What Ultimately Happens........

cause look who is doing the talking here - Billy Tauzin.

If he can sway more Americans against Obama and health care reform - Big Pharma won't even have to pony up the $80 billion. It's a win-win situation for him and his.

I don't trust him or his word.

[Jeff In Milwaukee]

47. If this is true, he's dead to me.

I'll withhold further judgement untill I see confirmation, but if this administration cut a sweetheart deal with Pharma, I'm through with the whole lousy bunch.

[defendandprotect]

23. There should be a lawsuit over this -- ACLU, where are you????

Where are we all on this -- ????

[balantz]

24. White House Affirms Deal on Drug Cost

Source: The New York Times

WASHINGTON — Pressed by industry lobbyists, White House officials on Wednesday assured drug makers that the administration stood by a behind-the-scenes deal to block any Congressional effort to extract cost savings from them beyond an agreed-upon $80 billion.

Drug industry lobbyists reacted with alarm this week to a House health care overhaul measure that would allow the government to negotiate drug prices and demand additional rebates from drug manufacturers.

In response, the industry successfully demanded that the White House explicitly acknowledge for the first time that it had committed to protect drug makers from bearing further costs in the overhaul. The Obama administration had never spelled out the details of the agreement.

“We were assured: ‘We need somebody to come in first. If you come in first, you will have a rock-solid deal,’ ” Billy Tauzin, the former Republican House member from Louisiana who now leads the pharmaceutical trade group, said Wednesday. “Who is ever going to go into a deal with the White House again if they don’t keep their word? You are just going to duke it out instead.”


- clip -






Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/06/health/policy/06insure.html?_r=1

[kirby]

25. Disgusting n/t

[roguevalley]

32. americablog.com has a blurb on it. fuck rahm and his nerd army

[MannyGoldstein]

26. But Who Is Really Surprised By This?

Seriously. Candidate Obama went on vacation and has left a body double to actually do the presidenting thing.

[jody]

27. Surprising that corporatists would let themselves be revealed as the power behind Obama & Congress.

[lib_wit_it]

28. Giving up the power of a large group to negotiate is absurd, and not exactly "Free Market" is it?

We need a fucking revolution. Look at the guts those Iranian protesters have. We are cowards.

[change_notfinetuning]

29. the same Billy Tauzin who forced through the last ripoff by drug cos.,

Medicare part D. He didn't agree to anything that is in our best interest. This isn't even fine tuning . . . this is business as usual. This is betrayal. Charlie Brown may have trusted Lucy, but even he wouldn't run up to kick a football held by Rahm Emanuel.

[Flaneur]

30. Fuck this shit. Give me socialized health care.

Nationalize the pharmaceutical companies.

Eliminate the insurance companies.

Create universal health care as if we were a civilized country.

I'm tired to death of these capitalist enterprises pimping off our health care needs.

[Hawkowl]

31. Chump Change U can believe N

Obama is going to eclipse Jimmy Carter as the biggest one term failure president in 80 years.

[bushmeister0]

33. Wow, $80 billion. Now, that's chump change.

My GF had to get a prescription filled yesterday. A one month supply of the drug she needs cost $400 at CVS, $101 at Wal-Mart and $87 at the local university pharmacy. Naturally, there is no generic form of this type of drug.



You'd think PHARMA would be nice enough to include a tube of lube with the pills.

[DebbieCDC]

34. This absolutely sucks

Striking a deal with that mo-fo Tauzin that founded the blue dogs and then left congress to head big pharma lobbying.

Nice going. :puke:

[Iowa]

35. One sell out after another...

I voted for Obama because he was better than the alternative. I knew he was a snake when I voted for him, but I honestly didn't think he'd be this bad. His record of betrayal is absolutely breath-taking. I will not vote for Obama again.

[Zhade]

37. Same here. I fell for the hype and have since lost the hope.

I had no idea he'd be so brazen about breaking so many promises so quickly.

I will not vote for him again. I don't reward liars or cowards.

[Zhade]

36. "assured drug makers" = BETRAYED THE COMMON CITIZEN. Again.

"Change"

[Amos Moses]

38. Score another one for the working class!

Obama's on a fuckin' roll, baby!:patriot: :woohoo:

[TheCoxwain]

39. you forgot the sarcasm thingy1

[Amos Moses]

40. Listen to the happy music.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jd9xU8cw1JE

[balantz]

41. Quite the production eh? n/t

[Amos Moses]

43. It's just like the rest of his act.

:puke:

[GOTV]

42. Come on! He's only been in office 7 months .... or, he's playing chess while ... or you want a pony

... or what is the proper cliche to use to shut down criticism again?

[fascisthunter]

44. I am disgusted by this news... we are ruled by corporations. Democracy is dead

[rollingrock]

48. White House: Deal With Big Pharma Bars Price Negotiations

Source: Huffington Post/NY Times

In closed-door negotiations with President Obama and his top aides throughout the spring, Big Pharma offered its support for comprehensive health care reform and pledged to cut $80 billion in costs over the next ten years. Just exactly what Obama promised in return wasn't made public and was the subject of intense debate on Capitol Hill Thursday, as senators wondered aloud if the White House had tied their legislative hands.

Earlier in the week, there were reports that Obama had promised to oppose any congressional attempt to exact further money from the massive pharmaceutical industry, such as allowing Medicare to negotiate for lower prices or import cheaper drugs from Canada -- two major priorities for congressional Democrats.

In a Thursday meeting with Senate Democrats, some of those present thought the White House backed off that deal. The administration has now stepped in to clear up its position: Congress can vote to do those things -- just not as part of the health-care overhaul legislation.

Of course, as the White House acknowledges, senators are free to push for drug-price negotiations or reimportation, but they may have to do so without administration support and, certainly, in the face of Big Pharma opposition.

Read more: www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/08/07/white-house-confirms-deal_n_254408.html

---

So let me get this straight. Congress is free to pursue progressive health reform, but the WH will not support them? So Obama will veto any future bill that calls for drug-price negotiations or re-importation from Canada?

[Stuart G]

49. What does this mean? Has Obama sold out to Big Pharma? Or

is he just making a deal to get something through? Even if that something is not edible to many of us here?

[BobRossi]

50. "Change"

New suit, same guy.

[MarjorieG]

51. Separate legislation? Good faith now to get Bill, and change later.

[Stuart G]

52. But will there really be another chance to change this bill to go after price? nt

[rollingrock]

56. No change later

"but they may have to do so without administration support."

[ProSense]

53. This story is BS

WSJ: The White House buys Big Pharma’s silence

Health Care Coalition On The Rocks: White House Says There's No Deal With Drug Industry

People needs to stop rehashing this story every couple of hours.

[rollingrock]

72. Your links go to

the WSJ and to some entry on a blog.

You think they're more credible than the NY Times?

[ProSense]

74. The two contradict each other.

You do know that the NYT is not above spin either, don't you?

In any case, this story is beyond ridiculous. The gist of this is that the deal announced in June has a secret component: a cap negotiated by the WH. Of course the story also adds that if Congress decides otherwise, they'll do it without the WH support. OK, let's look at that.

Congress is writing the bill that will become law. Even Bush needed the complicit Republicans to pass legislation to screw with Medicare. Why would Obama make a promise he can't keep (because Congress has no intention of honoring this so-called deal)? And what are the chances that Obama is going to veto the health care bill Congress passes because it cuts drug prices even more?

Ludicrous.




edited typos

[rollingrock]

75. A cap sounds good if true, but

'a secret deal negotiated by the WH' is the part that bothers me.

[GOTV]

76. Sounds like the wall street article you posted agrees with the NY Times ...

From the article:

"...or perhaps it is more accurate to say were bought. This week it emerged that the pharmaceutical industry’s supposedly voluntary peace offering to cut drug costs by $80 billion to help finance ObamaCare was an explicit quid pro quo in exchange for White House protection."

[MannyGoldstein]

54. The Audacity of the Status Quo n/t

[grytpype]

55. It's because reforming health insurance is his top priority.

He had to make a truce with pharma to have any chance of getting insurance reform.

Maybe you think you know better than him. I know I don't.

I do know I'm sick of whiny libs crying they aren't getting everything they want.

[salguine]

57. I know when I'm getting screwed.

[ProSense]

58. Seriously,

some people are more interested in the gotcha moment than true reform. They jump on every story based on speculation and rumor from unreliable sources.

[MannyGoldstein]

59. The NY Times Is An Unreliable Source?

Not since Howell Raines got kicked out of the top spot, I think.

[ProSense]

63. When they make bogus claims they are.

They are rehashing an old story to create the impression that something secret took place.

[MannyGoldstein]

66. You're Saying It's An Old Story, But True?

I don't think it's old:

Pressed by industry lobbyists, White House officials on Wednesday assured drug makers that the administration stood by a behind-the-scenes deal to block any Congressional effort to extract cost savings from them beyond an agreed-upon $80 billion.

[ProSense]

67. That's BS. n/t

[FrenchieCat]

61. They are 24/7 soundbyte cynics......as they are required to be based on the

dog whistles provided by the 24/7 media.

The media whistles, and they, the soundbyte cynics, in unison respond.
It is Quite pavlolian but effective.

[rollingrock]

60. What did we get then? If anything?

Are you talking about the 80B dollars in savings over 10 years? First of all, who is going to hold the drug companies to that promise? Anything can happen in 10 years.

Secondly, so what if the drug companies cut their costs by 80B?
It means nothing to the end consumer if they do not pass along those savings (to their customers). The 80B dollars saved from cost cutting will just go to boost drug company profits, not savings for the customer. Because drug price negotiations will not be allowed. So again, I'm trying to figure out just what we're getting out of this 'deal?' besides screwed?

[grytpype]

62. What were getting if it can be done is insurance reform.

Which would be a huge thing to get.

[rollingrock]

64. Elaborate please

if you can.

[grytpype]

65. .

A public plan.

More regulation.

More people insured.

[rollingrock]

68. You seem to be confusing

the healthcare bill which deals primarily with insurance, and the policy on medical drugs which is what this thread is about.

two separate issues.

[grytpype]

70. No, I am not confused.

Obama made a truce with pharma, limiting how much cost savings would be squeezed from them, to cover that flank so he could take on the insurers.

He's playing chess, some people are playing grabass.

[rollingrock]

71. Huh?

that's some very odd chess strategy right there. or is it strategery?

[Hannah Bell]

77. where's the insurance reform?

[NJCher]

69. guest on C2C last night said

Last night a guest on Coast to Coast AM said Obama had made such a deal and that he had to. The guest said that Big Pharma was way more powerful than any president.

He said any president who tried to take them on would lose because they are that powerful.

I believe the guests was Dr. John Abramson, author of Overdosed America. He was definitely a truthteller, not the usual right wing hack that Coast to Coast so often indulges.


Cher