Whenever politicians and pundits want to trash the MMA’s federal non-interference clause (originally drafted, FYI, by Senators Kennedy and Daschle for the Clinton health care reform plan), they point to the rock-bottom prices charged by the Veterans Administration. What these folks always fail to mention is that the VA doesn’t have to add any additional costs for pharmacist services — often upwards of 30% or more of a drug’s cost to the average consumer. Facts are stubborn things and war is hell.
The VA and the Battle Over Drug Prices
Center for Medicine in the Public Interest is a nonprofit, non-partisan organization promoting innovative solutions that advance medical progress, reduce health disparities, extend life and make health care more affordable, preventive and patient-centered. CMPI also provides the public, policymakers and the media a reliable source of independent scientific analysis on issues ranging from personalized medicine, food and drug safety, health care reform and comparative effectiveness.
