Mystified and ConfusedAsclepios January 4, 2007 . Volume 7, Issue 1 Inside the Beltway, the dollars and doublespeak from lobbyists for the pharmaceutical industry tend to drown out the voice of the American people. The views of the public are useful if they accord with the lobbyists' agenda; otherwise, the rabble are shunned and their opinions attributed to ignorance. Take, for example, the spin the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA), the industry lobby, put on recent polling data on the Part D prescription drug program for people with Medicare. A survey by the independent Kaiser Family Foundation found that 85 percent of Americans support having Medicare negotiate lower prescription drug prices. That finding prompted PhRMA Senior Vice President Ken Johnson to accuse Kaiser of advocating changes to the Part D program. Kaiser did not advocate price negotiations; it merely asked the question. Johnson found it "difficult to believe" the poll results, citing polls that showed people enrolled in Part D considered other issues a higher priority. But why should it be so hard to believe that people with Medicare want lower drug prices while putting other issues-the war in Iraq topped the list-as higher priorities? With the exception of pharmaceutical lobbyists, many people put the troubles facing their fellow citizens-soldiers dying in Iraq, for example-above their own personal needs, no matter how pressing. Mr. Johnson also found it "mystifying" that the public would want Medicare to negotiate lower prices when surveys report that 80 percent of those enrolled in Part D are "satisfied" with their prescription drug plan. Those same surveys, however, show that 31 percent are paying about the same and 14 percent are paying more for their prescription drugs now that they are enrolled in Part D. It's no mystery. People are grateful to have some coverage for the spiraling cost of prescription drugs but also believe that, at a cost of one trillion dollars, the government can do better. That is why Kaiser reports that 69 percent of older adults support changes that would improve the program. Mr. Johnson tried to spin that finding in his favor but, in a breathtaking display of arrogance, accuses the public of being "confused" when they express skepticism that Medicare-negotiated drug prices will hurt research and development for new medicines. The American people are not "confused." Every night, we see the millions of dollars drug manufacturers are spending on television ads implying that sunshine and smiles will result if we swallow their pills. We read the papers and know that PhRMA companies have reaped windfall profits from Part D and know that PhRMA gave lucrative jobs to the lawmakers and Congressional staff, including Mr. Johnson and his boss, PhRMA CEO Billy Tauzin, who gave us Part D. Drug manufacturers have profits to spare for research and development. Taxpayers, however, need to make sure we get the highest quality medicine at the best price with our Medicare dollars. Medical Record "I carefully chose a Part D plan that would cover all of my medications, but
the price has increased about $10 a month for each one. I reached the
doughnut hole a month ago and now have the option of paying 100 percent of
the cost or not taking my medications. I have been forced to take only half
the dosage of several medications to make them last until January. My Part D
plan is raising my premium by $7.50 a month for 2007, increasing the copay
and changing tiers on several of the medications I must take" (Story
submitted to the Part D Monitoring Project
(http://www.kintera.org/TR.asp?ID= "While there is debate in Washington about whether and how to do it,
substantial majorities of Democrats (92%), Independents (85%), and
Republicans (74%) support allowing the government to negotiate drug prices
under Medicare (85% overall, including 65% strongly and 20% somewhat
favoring it)" ("The Public's Health Care Agenda for the New Congress and
Presidential Campaign
(http://www.kintera.org/TR.asp?ID= When asked to compare their drug costs with what they were paying before
Part D, 31 percent of older adults enrolled in Part D plans said they are
"paying about the same amount" and 14 percent said they are paying more
("Seniors and the Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit
(http://www.kintera.org/TR.asp?ID= "The data also is mystifying when several independent surveys over the past
year-including two conducted by the Foundation itself in April and July-show
that nearly eight in 10 seniors are satisfied with their Part D prescription
drug plan...The Kaiser respondents also are confused regarding the impact of
federally 'negotiated' drug prices on research & development investment by
America's pharmaceutical research companies" ("PhRMA Statement on Kaiser
Family Foundation Survey
(http://www.kintera.org/TR.asp?ID= "Without research, the drug industry cannot discover new and potentially
lucrative drugs. It is counterintuitive that the industry would reduce R&D
[research and development]. If anything, the reduction of drug prices could
intensify R&D prompting companies to come up with more discoveries that
would sustain profitability despite reduced prices" ("Would Lower
Prescription Drug Prices Curb Drug Company Research & Development?
(http://www.kintera.org/TR.asp?ID= * * * * Fast Relief: Part D Monitoring Project The Medicare Rights Center (MRC) needs to hear about all the problems with the Medicare Part D benefit, whether they happen to you or someone in your community. With this information, we will be armed with the needed evidence to push for a Medicare-administered drug benefit. Submit your story at http://www.medicarerights.org/partdstories.html * * * * The Louder Our Voice, the Stronger Our Message * * * * The Medicare Rights Center (MRC) is the largest independent source of Medicare information and assistance in the United States. Founded in 1989, MRC helps older adults and people with disabilities get good, affordable health care.Visit our online subscription form to sign up for Asclepios at http://www.medicarerights.org/subscribeframeset.html 011007 |