by Gabriel Levitt, President, PharmacyChecker.com and Prescription Justice | Jan 26, 2011 | Drug Prices, Healthcare Reform, Medicare Drug Plans, Online Pharmacies, Personal Drug Importation
In the State of the Union speech last night, President Obama highlighted prescription savings benefits in his otherwise brief coverage of new healthcare reform. As we’ve previously reported, and President Obama was clear to state, those prescription savings will go mostly to our nation’s seniors who are enrolled in Medicare. Beginning last September, many of America’s seniors received $250 rebate checks for prescription drug costs, a small step toward affordable healthcare. Better yet, starting this year, the coverage gap will narrow, with enrollees receiving a 50% discount on brand name drugs, and by 2020, a 75% discount. While the “doughnut hole” will not fully be closed, the savings will mean that far fewer Medicare enrollees will face exorbitant brand name drug prices out of pocket. (more…)
Tagged with: 50-64, brand name drugs, discount, doughnut hole, health insurance, Medicare, personal drug importation, prescription drugs, President Obama, rebate, seniors, State of The Union, uninsured
by Gabriel Levitt, President, PharmacyChecker.com and Prescription Justice | Jan 19, 2011 | Drug Prices
We recently reported that Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IW) voiced his vehement support for legalizing drug importation to lower brand name drug prices, in an attempt to bring greater fairness to the market. We’re now pleased to report the first bill of the year calling for the reform of our nation’s current laws that seem to protect the pharmaceutical industry to the detriment of the American consumer.
On January 5th, 2011, Congressman Ron Paul (R-TX) introduced the Prescription Drug Affordability Act, which would amend the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act. We applaud the bill’s intent because it seeks to do away with unfair trade laws and policies applied to drug pricing by allowing Americans to purchase lower cost prescription drugs safely from other countries without the threat of prosecution. Congressman Paul has introduced similarly named bills in prior years that have not become law. As the need for affordable medication is now greater than ever, H.R. 147 should stand a better chance at becoming law. (more…)
Tagged with: Congrassman Ron Paul, Drug Prices, drug re-importation, FDCA, Online Pharmacies, Prescription Drug Affordability Act, prescription drugs, re-importation, Secretary of Health and Human Services, Senator Chuck Grassley
