Dear Mr. President, I’d Like to Report a Fishy Drug Deal
By Linda Anselmi on August 7, 2009 at 10:00 PM in Health Care, Linda Anselmi
Dear Mr. President:
I read a post on the Whitehouse blog called “Facts Are Stubborn Things” that said:
Scary chain emails and videos are starting to percolate on the internet, breathlessly claiming, for example, to “uncover” the truth about the President’s health insurance reform positions.
And that:
There is a lot of disinformation about health insurance reform out there… These rumors often travel just below the surface via chain emails or through casual conversation. Since we can’t keep track of all of them here at the White House, we’re asking for your help. If you get an email or see something on the web about health insurance reform that seems fishy, send it to flag@whitehouse.gov.
I understand your concern about misinformation distorting the healthcare debate. Healthcare is too important to let special interests use fears and smears to sway citizenry. And I agree that only through truth and transparency can we reach decisions that are in the best interest of the American people.
Remember back in June, when you proclaimed a “major step forward” in the comprehensive reform of health care by announcing that the pharmaceutical industry had agreed to cut the cost of prescription drugs for seniors through Medicare?
From CBS News:
In the deal, the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) has agreed to reduce its draw of revenues by $80 billion over 10 years by discounting the cost of medicines in Medicare’s Part D prescription drug program for some seniors by as much as 50 percent. The discount would go to seniors who fall into the “doughnut hole” — a gap in Medicare Part D coverage. Currently, once seniors have received $2,700 worth of drugs, they are left to pay the full cost of their medication until that cost reaches $6,100.
“This gap in coverage has been placing a crushing burden on many older Americans,” Mr. Obama said. The agreement, he said, will make health care “more affordable for millions of seniors and restore a measure of fairness to Medicare Part D.”
The agreement with PhRMA was negotiated with the White House and Sen. Max Baucus (D-Mont.), who is leading health care reform as chair of the Senate Finance Committee. Baucus stood by the president on Monday as he praised the agreement, as did Sen. Chris Dodd, who is leading health care deliberations in the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee and Barry Rand, head of the senior citizens’ advocacy group, AARP.
The president pointed out that the pharmaceutical industry stands to benefit from the millions of more customers it could receive as a result of reform. Therefore, he said, “it’s only fair” that pharmaceutical companies do their part to reduce costs.
Since drugs represent about 10 percent of the U.S. healthcare budget and you yourself have warned many times that the U.S. health care system was a huge drain on the Treasury and threatens economic growth, I was a bit disappointed to learn that this PhRMA deal did not provide for the federal government to use its weight to negotiate down drug prices or facilitate the importation of cheaper drugs from Canada.
Don’t get me wrong, it gladdened my heart to learn Medicare “doughnut hole” seniors would be helped by your efforts. But I, and many other Americans, had really hoped to hear you come out with a deal that would help all Americans. After all, it is not just the seniors being hurt by the extraordinarily high drug prices in the U.S. And both importation and negotiation were a part of your healthcare campaign promise (h/t janicen):
Obama will allow Americans to buy their medicines from other developed countries if the drugs are safe and prices are lower outside the U.S.
Obama will repeal the ban on direct negotiation with drug companies and use the resulting savings, which could be as high as $30 billion [a year], to further invest in improving health care coverage and quality.
Which made it even more disappointing to learn that:
Analysts said while the deal would crimp profits for the companies, the $80 billion in discounts they were offering was less than initially feared. The government had opened negotiations asking for $130 billion.
So okay, as a first step in the overall march to healthcare reform in general and on prescription drugs in particular this big PhRMA deal included a few too many stubbed toes and skinned knees to be a boot-stomping, butt-kicking success. But since the real process of overhauling and reforming healthcare was yet to come, I still had hope.
Then, just the other day, I read in the New York Times that White House Affirms Deal on Drug Cost
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.
…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.…
A deputy White House chief of staff, Jim Messina, confirmed Mr. Tauzin’s account of the deal in an e-mail message on Wednesday night.…
Mr. Tauzin said the White House had tracked the negotiations throughout, assenting to decisions to move away from ideas like the government negotiation of prices or the importation of cheaper drugs from Canada. The $80 billion in savings would be over a 10-year period. “80 billion is the max, no more or less,” he said. “Adding other stuff changes the deal.”
After reaching an agreement with Mr. Baucus, Mr. Tauzin said, he met twice at the White House with Rahm Emanuel, the White House chief of staff; Mr. Messina, his deputy; and Nancy-Ann DeParle, the aide overseeing the health care overhaul, to confirm the administration’s support for the terms.
“They blessed the deal,” Mr. Tauzin said.
Immediately upon reading this, I thought, it can’t be true. The President wouldn’t make a deal for just the seniors and only for a miserly $80 billion over 10 years, and leave the rest of us Americans to pick up the bill of wildly escalating drug costs. So I madly searched the Internet to prove this was false, but every source was saying the same thing. You approved the deal.
Then it dawned on me. This big PhRMA drug deal is fishy. Really fishy. The fishy confirmation email from deputy White House chief of staff, Jim Messina. That fishy PhRMA guy, Mr. Tauzin switches sides from drug industry overseer to lobbyist (h/t bayareavoter). The fishy contributions of nearly $1 million from healthcare and PhRMA (h/t elise) to Senator Baucus’ campaign committee. And fishy is exactly what the Whitehouse blog warned about.
So I’m following your instructions Mr. President. I’m reporting this fishy drug deal to flag@whitehouse.gov. I know you’ll get to the bottom of this and clear up all the rumors and misinformation so the American people can understand simply and clearly what truly is in (and not in) your drug deal with PhRMA.
Thank you Mr. President.
Sincerely,
A Fellow Concerned Citizen for Truth and Transparency
(Release: November 13)
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Reel Em In…!!
He just can`t decide…..Red Pill or Blue Pill.
Well written post!
We NEED healthcare reform but these bunglers just don’t have what it takes to do it right! He’s so bought and paid for it makes me sick. The Dems are as bad as the Rs. Until we take the $$ out of politics we’ve lost our democracy.
Hillary was so right for this task–it’s a real shame we have the B team in charge playing 3 card monte with our future.
exactly, BAV; the whole damn gov’t is bought and paid for, and any “reform” that they come up with will be nothing but another giveaway to their well-connected fat-cat friends. average americans will be screwed again.
Let’s just say I’m skeptical. Not against it just leery. Will big Pharma really give up billions of profits? What are they getting in return? Ain’t no such thing as a free lunch.
According to this article on Slate, they are getting plenty in return. Read, “Obama’s Biggest Health Reform Blunder, How Big Pharma’s Billy Tauzin Conned the White House out of $76 Billion”.
http://www.slate.com/id/2224621/
Wow, this PhRMA deal is even worse than I thought. Thanks so much for sharing this excellent article janicen!
Janicen thanks for the link. I hoped I was wrong. Sigh.
Will backtrack send the acorn troops to Philadelphia.
There is a place there called Independence Hall. That and the surrounding area have a history of dissent. They formented a revolution at one time. If that idea is spread who knows what could happen. People might really begin to think they have a right to speak out against the government when they are not doing a good job. They might think they have the right to protest and march and carry signs.
WOMEN WITH INTELLIGENCE AND EXPERIENCE,MEN WHO SUPPORT THEM AND COUNTRY BEFORE PARTY ALWAYS
PUMAS,BUBBAS,EQUALISTS AND THOSE PEOPLE RULE
Good one Linda! After R&D costs (and many drugs result from tax-paid NIH grants), drugs only cost pennies anyway. Big Pharma will always win.
Phew! I just reported myself for clicking on your post and agreeing with it. See you in Gitmo!
Gitmo? Hell no. We’re all fishy types. We’re all destined to be wrapped up in newspaper (Rahm Emanuel style) and then dumped on the Capitol steps with the note “Liberty sleeps with the fishes.”
Either that or be fed to the “flesh eating” robots.
Do you remember the evil Mr Tauzin from the good ole Bush Days when they cranked out the expensive donut hole medicare part b plan? He was the poster boy for the revolving door of pay to play.
Here’s what USA Today said back in 2004:
Tauzin switches sides from drug industry overseer to lobbyist
By William M. Welch, USA TODAY
WASHINGTON — “Retiring Rep. Billy Tauzin, R-La., who stepped down earlier this year as chairman of the House committee that regulates the pharmaceutical industry, will become the new president and CEO of the drug industry’s top lobbying group.”
So now he’s working with Max Baucus instead of Bush’s henchman.
Thanks so much for the information bav.
Linda, did the NYT report Sen Max Baucus has accepted more than $500k from Pharmacuticials and health products from 2005-2010 and almost half a mil from health professionals during the same time period?
http://www.opensecrets.org/politicians/summary.php?cid=N00004643&cycle=2010
Home page> Politicians & Elections> Congress> Max Baucus
Geez, this deal just keeps getting fishier and fishier! Thanks Elise. I may just have to give my letter a post script.
Its like musical chairs, when the music stops they change seats.
Why has no one pointed out that on health care the “community organizer” President is remarkably unorganized?
This is how fishy it is.
As writer and author Larry Schweikart has chillingly documented, Obama’s monstrous “healthcare” Bill includes, among hundreds of other horrors:
Page 22: A mandate for the Government to audit the books of all employers that self insure.
Pg 30: A Government committee that will decide what treatments/benefits a person may receive.
Pg 42: The Health Choices Commissioner will choose your HC Benefits for you. You will have no choice!
Pg 50: HC will be provided to ALL non-US citizens, illegal or otherwise.
Pg 58: Government will have real-time access to an individual’s finances and a National ID Healthcard will be issued!
Pg 59: Government will have direct access to your bank accounts.
Pg 65: Sec 164 is a payoff subsidized plan for retirees and their families in Unions and community organizations like ACORN.
PG 85: The Government will ration your Healthcare!
Pg 95: The Government will use groups, i.e. ACORN & Americorps, to sign up individuals for Government HC plan.
PG 85: Specifics of Benefit Levels for AARP members - your Health care WILL be rationed.
pg 124: No company can sue Government on price fixing and there can be no “judicial review” against Government Monopoly.
Pg 145: An Employer MUST auto-enroll employees into public option plan. NO CHOICE.
Pg 126: Employers MUST pay for healthcare for part time employees AND their families.
Pg 149: ANY Employer with payroll $400k & above who does not provide public option pays 8 percent tax on all payroll.
pg 150: Businesses with payroll between $251k & $400k that don’t provide public option pay 2-6 percent tax on all payroll.
Pg 167 ANY individual who doesn’t have acceptable HC according to Government will be taxed 2.5 percent of income.
Pg 170: Any NONRESIDENT Alien is exempt from individual taxes. (Americans will pay).
Pg 195: Officers & employees of the Healthcare Administration (the GOVERNMENT) will have access to ALL Americans’ finances and personal records.
PG 203: “The tax imposed under this section shall not be treated as tax.” Yes, it says that.
Pg 239: Government will reduce physician services for Medicaid. Seniors, low income, poor affected.
Pg 241: Doctors—doesn’t matter what specialty—will all be paid the same.
PG 253: Government sets value of Doctor’s time, professional judgment, etc.—literally, the value of humans.
PG 272: TREATMENT OF CERTAIN CANCER HOSPITALS - Cancer patients - welcome to rationing!
Pg 317-318: Government will mandate that hospitals cannot expand.
Pg 354: Government will RESTRICT enrollment of Special needs people!
PG 425: Government mandates Advance Care Planning Consultations for seniors… end-of-life prodding.
Pg 425: Government will instruct & consult regarding living wills, durable powers of attorney. Mandatory!
PG 425: Government provides approved list of end-of-life resources, guiding you in how to die.
PG 429: “Advanced care consultation” may include an ORDER for end of life plans. AN ORDER from the Government to end a life!
PG 430: The Government will decide what level of treatment you will have at end of life.
Pg 469: Community-Based Home Medical Services/Non-profit orgs. (ACORN Medical Services here?)
Pg 494-498: Government will cover Mental Health Services including defining, creating, and rationing those services.
If I print out this list, and take it to the townhall meeting my “representative” is holding at the end of the month, will I be told I’m a liar?
Will I be arrested for “fomenting” trouble, or disseminating “disinformation”?
Then, I’ll do it.
You made me laugh…
Wish I could go with you.
House Ways and Means Committee HC Bill
Heller Amendment, July 16, 2009
Exempts Congress from any government-run HC system.
What other groups or individuals are exempt???
Congressman Darrell Issa, R Southern California, with whom I disagree on many things, was just on the Bill Maher show and said that he had authored an amendment to the healthcare bill that gives citizens the same health insurance that Congress has.
I thought that was what BO said we’d get during his campaign. But I hadn’t heard reported ANYWHERE that the Rs were suggesting this for health care reform. He made so much sense tonight about health care and other things that I’m just shaking my head.
i think it was Hillary that had this option as a part of her health care plan, not BO, unless he stole it from her. not sure, though.
IT was Hillary. She was just going to enroll people into an insurance plan, not payoff all of BO’s sponsers. And, remember, her plan was paid for by cutting abuse and fraud.
What a concept??????????
CAROL HAKA
Well, Linda, I’m sorry, but as an Obamanazi, I had to report your ‘fishy’ post to the White House. Not to worry though, it bounced back–I think I misspelled the e-mail address.
Seriously, is this alleged ‘deal’ a binding contract? Maybe pharma agreed to only bill Medicare 50% off on post-mortem prescriptions to euthanized senior citizens.
But just because you have BC/BS PPO federal, with 100% hospital coverage, does not mean, if you get very sick, they won’t stop paying for the care provided by your physicians or, for you to remain hospitalized when they - someone at BC/BS - determines you should go home, notwithstanding your doctors deem hospitalization medically necessary to prolong your life.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b4kEvdyIcBk
Single payer health: everyone in; no one out.
Single payer will mean everyone in alright, everyone in the same cesspool.
i think it was Hillary that had this option as a part of her health care plan, not BO, unless he stole it from her. not sure, though.
Oops…forgot to say great post! Looking forward to your next one.
from BARACK OBAMA’S PLAN FOR A HEALTHY AMERICA:
http://www.barackobama.com/pdf/HealthPlanFull.pdf
See pg 10 - Drug reimportation. & Lowering Medicare prescription drug benefit costs.
Wonderful post! Yes, it does sound fishy to me too. Problem is that they won’t listen. Obamanation has made a deal with the devil all for the sake of pretending to have accomplished something.
Cicero sure has Obama’s number.
Stunningly apropriate quotes Tzada, thanks.
You are welcome. I never, ever thought it would come to this. I plan on making copies and sending them to my representatives.
When any government official tells people to turn others in for their position on a subject, then they have crossed the line. Sen McCaskill (sp) crossed it in Mo by telling people to turn others in for having anti Obama signs ect.
My husband is laid back about things, but when I told him about the request to turn people in by the current administration it hit him, hard. He will be at the coffee shop and he has more friends than anyone I know. They totally respect him and he will talk tomorrow and they will listen.
I felt so sorry for one woman who posted in a comment section. She said that her cousin, had written 30 people, that had forwarded an email about HC and told them that she was turning all of them in. So it has started.
Oh, more code words! I’m a Catholic, and sometimes Catholics are called “mackeral snappers” because of the custom of eating fish on Fridays.
Mr. Obama, shame on you! You think Catholics respect life, even of 80 year olds with cancer. You think Catholics want prenatal care for everybody. You think Catholics want to be sure special needs kids get a proper education.
I see where you are going with this. “Fishy” = Catholics.
I’m joking, but only in part. Why use the word ‘fishy’? I mean, I know some folk with their minds in the gutter may think ‘fishy’ could be read as a slur on women’s genitals. Obama never does anything without a reason. Is he trying to link Catholic Right-to-lifers (and not all of us are RTL by any means) to ignorant, fishy people who protest his health plan? What other group is thought of as predominanty Catholic. Hmm. Let’s see. How about Mexicans? A co-worker of mine always complains that the Mexicans have too many kids and “breed like cockroaches.”
There are some ethicists who believe that deformed babies should be left to die. (Remember that story about babies dying in hospital closets?) Yes, how tidy it would be if we just got rid of the unproductive people, young and old.
I am going to spend my Saturday, as I usually do, with my 82 year old mother. I bring my autistic brother (who lives in a group home) to visit my mom on Saturdays. The State of New York spends a lot of money keeping my brother healty and providing him with a good life. Waste of money, some people might think. My 82 year old mother (who still works, by the way) has had life saving treatments that would be unavailable to her if she didn’t have insurance via her job. Is she a waste of money too?
Anything that starts us down the dangerous path of assigning values to human live is not only dangerous, it is despicable. Don’t think because I talk like this I’m a fundie or a Right-to-Lifer. I’m not.
Sorry, but I’m thinking about my beloved brother and how happy he’ll be to see me today and my blood is boiling.
Why did Obama use the word “fishy”? I do think it is a Catholic and ethnic slur.
That’s an interesting point AT. I do find it odd, that they used such a vague word as “fishy.” My assumption was they were trying to make their request seem as overly benign as possible and all inclusive.
I’ll confess, I totally didn’t make a connection to Catholicism or misogyny. I will ponder this.
Also remember, the symbol for Christ was a fish. Perhaps the Obamanazis want ALL Christians monitored.
Wouldn’t surprise me a bit. He picked the word “fishy” for a reason.
White House Blog Seeking Snitches
snip
http://justoneminute.typepad.com/main/page/2/
Real good site, with plenty of snark
Indicative of Socialism
THE GREAT RATIONING
Re: Peter Ferrara’s The Great Socialist Takeover:
http://spectator.org/archives/2009/08/07/indicative-of-socialism/print
I have forwarded each BS form letter I have gotten from my senators and congresswoman to the “snitch” line with Verrrrrrrry fishy email in the subject line. More would be a good thing.
[...] a reprint of the original post, expanded to include comment information. Major h/t janicen, bayareavoter and [...]
[...] confirmed — that Tauzin, an active player in White House health care negotiations, had secured a behind-closed-doors flip-flop, enlisting the administration to push for continued protection of drug prices. Now we know why the [...]