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Re: ISI-Politico just posted a draft version of Obamacare reform bill - No direct mention of drug pricing Here's a linky Note this part: The plan also includes $10 billion per year in “state innovation
grants,” which are a version of high-risk pools but appear to allow for a
broader array of uses for the money by states. The money could be used
by states to help sick people get coverage and stabilize premiums. What is a "high risk pool"? Try cancer patients as in a pre-existing condition unable to afford $10K+/month drugs, and ones the private insurers aren't going to touch, unless the State kicks in a huge subsidy. Debate around these high risk pools include: 1. What will it cost? Is $10B enough nationwide for cancer patients? Add in insurers premiums free to go up. 2. Will there be lifetime caps. Price says yes, Ryan says no. The $10B being adequate for just cancer victims is very much in question. Much less the States using part of it for other healthcare purposes. If adequate, then literally life goes on for patients, and the latest drug a CELG can bring to market. If inadequate to fund, then companies like CELG will either have to apply steep discounts to their latest drugs, or the cancer patient will have to rely on more affordable, and less effective older treatments. Where even then they better hope there is a local compounding pharmacy which can distribute the drug. IMO, it's doubtful you are going to find specific language dealing with drug pricing in any Obamacare reform legislation. It will be left to the free market, and the Fed to provide funding or not. |
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