According to the NYTimes, a consortium of big businesses is pooling resources to lower the cost of prescription meds that the make available to their retirees and employees receiving benefits. What an idea! If we purchase in bulk, we can save money!
You’d think that someone in Congress woulda thought of this rock-solid logic when they passed the Medicare Prescription Drug Act. Since Medicare buys a lot of drugs, it would make sense that they should qualify for bulk discounts.
But alas, Republican Congressman Billy Tauzin of Louisiana wrote a provision into the law that specifically bars Medicare from negoitating for lower prices. I wonder where he got that idea? I guess we can go ask him, since he now earns $1 million a year as a lobbyist for the drug companies.
Corrupt politicians make me sick.
