Tell me we're not being gouged.
http://abcnews.go.com/Health/WomensH...ry?id=13104588
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/41994697...lth-pregnancy/
Quote:
By Mike Stobbe
The Associated Press
http://msnbcmedia3.msn.com/i/msnbc/C...s/sourceAP.gif
ATLANTA — The price of preventing preterm labor is about to go through the roof.
A drug for high-risk pregnant women has cost about $10 to $20 per injection. Next week, the price shoots up to $1,500 a dose, meaning the total cost during a pregnancy could be as much as $30,000.
That's because the drug, a form of progesterone given as a weekly shot, has been made cheaply for years, mixed in special pharmacies that custom-compound treatments that are not federally approved.
But recently, KV Pharmaceutical of suburban St.Louis won government approval to exclusively sell the drug, known as Makena (Mah-KEE'-Nah). The March of Dimes and many obstetricians supported that because it means quality will be more consistent and it will be easier to get.
None of them anticipated the dramatic price hike, though — especially since most of the cost for development and research was shouldered by others in the past.
-
-
-
The cost is justified to avoid the mental and physical disabilities that can come with very premature births, said KV Pharmaceutical chief executive Gregory J. Divis Jr. The cost of care for a preemie is estimated at $51,000 in the first year alone.
"Makena can help offset some of those costs," Divis told The Associated Press. "These moms deserve the opportunity to have the benefits of an FDA-approved Makena."
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is not involved in setting the price for the drugs it approves.
I really cannot see any justification for this price gouging.
Re: Tell me we're not being gouged.
When drug companies deal with private clinics they argue about cost. When your new medicare comes on line some civil servant wont bother to argue and just pay, after all it is not his money. One of the many downfalls of a national health scheme. Stricter controls are needed to deal with drug companies. IMO the drug companies are just hiking the price now to pave the way for higher charges to your new medicare. Am I barking up the wrong tree? There is a joke there about Aspirin, but I won t bother.
Re: Tell me we're not being gouged.
Quote:
Originally Posted by
bigboab
When your new medicare comes on line some civil servant wont bother to argue and just pay, after all it is not his money. One of the many downfalls of a national health scheme.
It's not that our civil servants don't care, they're specifically forbidden from negotiating price with Big Pharma.
You can thank Republicans for this brilliant concept.
The very cornerstone of capitalist giants like Wal-Mart is "Size Matters"- i.e., they can negotiate low prices because they buy in incredible bulk- which somehow becomes "Socialist Medicine" when used by the government.
Republicans calculated that protecting pharmaceutical companies was more critical than representing the best interests of their constituencies.
A revealing decision, especially given the make up of their base which is overwhelmingly older and white...the most medicated group in human history (which should logically make them the most interested in cost controls).
Re: Tell me we're not being gouged.
Quote:
Originally Posted by
clocker
Quote:
Originally Posted by
bigboab
When your new medicare comes on line some civil servant wont bother to argue and just pay, after all it is not his money. One of the many downfalls of a national health scheme.
It's not that our civil servants don't care, they're
specifically forbidden from negotiating price with Big Pharma.
You can thank Republicans for this brilliant concept.
The very cornerstone of capitalist giants like Wal-Mart is "Size Matters"- i.e., they can negotiate low prices because they buy in incredible bulk- which somehow becomes "Socialist Medicine" when used by the government.
Republicans calculated that protecting pharmaceutical companies was more critical than representing the best interests of their constituencies.
A revealing decision, especially given the make up of their base which is overwhelmingly older and white...the most medicated group in human history (which should logically make them the most interested in cost controls).
Obama should alter this set up now. That will ensure that the National Health Service will be a success. On second thoughts caring for people in general might be a vote winner and all thoughts of going down that road will be fought tooth and nail.
Re: Tell me we're not being gouged.
It seems to me that is a good example of not letting the free market do its job and rather letting the federal government decide which company will be allowed to make the drug and sell it.
Hmmmm ?
Re: Tell me we're not being gouged.
Quote:
Originally Posted by
999969999
It seems to me that is a good example of not letting the free market do its job and rather letting the federal government decide which company will be allowed to make the drug and sell it.
Hmmmm ?
It costs the NHS(UK) a fortune for drugs because they take advantage of the NHS yet sell the same drugs cheaper in other countries. The NHS should threaten to make their own drugs. No chance of that at the moment with this lot trying to break up the NHS. Profiteering off the sick is a sad business.
Re: Tell me we're not being gouged.
Quote:
Originally Posted by
999969999
It seems to me that is a good example of not letting the free market do its job and rather letting the federal government decide which company will be allowed to make the drug and sell it.
Hmmmm ?
This is the perfect example of exactly how the "free market" does it's job.
Protected by patents, the manufacturer can charge anything it wants with no fear of competition.
The right's version of the "free market" abhors competition and does anything within it's power to constrain and eliminate it.
Re: Tell me we're not being gouged.
Quote:
Originally Posted by
999969999
It seems to me that is a good example of not letting the free market do its job and rather letting the federal government decide which company will be allowed to make the drug and sell it.
Hmmmm ?
Do you think this kind of business protection has profits, or the end-user in mind? The "free market" more often than not, ends with larger companies buying out smaller ones until it can control the market and set its own price for the goods. This is a case where all competition was eliminated- I am sure none of the previous manufacturers were compensated for being driven out- without such "troubles" of purchasing that monopolistic position. However, they jumped straight to what single-suppliers do...charge a premium once they have that monopoly.
Businesses left to run "free" abuse those freedoms and need to be regulated. Regulations (typically) ensure multiple sources, and competition.
