Looks like I won't get Medicare

[mdm646]

18. There is a reason for this problem

I just received his information from and email from Senator Al Franken:

Q. (Bob C.) Any chance of changing the law so Medicare can bargain for better prescription drug prices similar to what the VA does?

This is a great question, because letting Medicare negotiate for better drug prices is a great idea.

A little background: Medicare represents a lot of people, and so if it could negotiate directly with the drug companies, it would be able to deliver the same benefits for seniors at a lower cost. For instance: As Bob says, the Department of Veterans Affairs uses its size to negotiate, and for the ten most-prescribed drugs, the VA pays about half what Medicare does.

The only reason Medicare doesn't’t negotiate for better prices is -- get this -- it's literally against the law for the government to negotiate to get a better deal. That's an actual law that Washington politicians passed. It's a huge giveaway to big drug companies that don't need the help, and it makes zero sense -- especially when getting rid of that rule could save us up to $240 billion over ten years.

That's why I've fought to change that law ever since I got to the Senate, and why I'm going to keep fighting until we get it done.

Folks this ain't chump change we are talking about here but what do you hear about this travesty in the nation press or from the Congress? Right you hear nothing but how Medicare is going broke. Ever really wonder why.