This infringement has actually been brought to you by these guys; Republicans all.
- Roy Blunt, Missouri
- Richard Burr, North Carolina
- Shelley Moore Capito, West Virginia
- Bill Cassidy. Louisiana
- Susan Collins, Maine
- John Cornyn, Texas
- Joni Ernst, Iowa
- Lindsey Graham, South Carolina
- Mitch McConnell, Kentucky
- Lisa Murkowski, Alaska
- Rob Portman, Ohio
- Mitt Romney, Utah
- Thom Tillis, North Carolina
- Pat Toomey, Pennsylvania
- Todd Young, Indiana
The dems got them by tacking on an Obamacare era pharmacy clawback bill that would actually make prescription medication more affordable for the average person but every single time it's about to go into effect it's been repealed by congress, both dems and repubs have voted against it because having the current system is profitable for big pharma and PBMs (pharmacy benefit managers) and that translates into campaign dollars. So the dems can say 'we voted for gun control' and Mitch McConnell and the rest of these losers got nothing except proving they're in the back pocket of big pharma.
By the way, let me give you an example:
Your insurance has a 10% patient responsibility for prescription medication.
Doctor gives you a script, you fill it on CVS online by submitting the Dr Script
The prescription is handled not by CVS but a 3rd party (Caremark who is coincidentally also fully owned by CVS). They're the PBM.
When you're at the pharmacy and your cost is being determined, Caremark generate that number and sends it back to CVS on the register.
The pharmacy cashier at CVS says 'your responsibility is 29.99'
Meanwhile back at the PBM (caremark) buys the drug from Astra Zeneca (for example) for $249.99 but lists the prices at $299.99
The PBM has a $50 profit on the medication. You made a good faith payment assuming the medicine cost $299.99 when in fact it didn't
You should have paid: $24.99, but you overpaid by $5. So where does that $5 go?
It goes into the pocket of the PBM. It's your money, you overpaid for something that was bargained down to a lower price.
The clawback was to give that $5 back to the consumer at the time of purchase. Over the lifetime of refilling the prescription monthly over a one year period, you overpaid for the prescription by $60. That's your money that they are keeping.
Just thought everyone would like to know how they were double shafted by the GOP and dems in one single bill. Let that sink in a little.