OT - I just saw a teaser for 60 Minutes where they’ll be talking about one of the greatest rip-offs in history - the prices that we pay for prescription medications. Yesterday I started a regimen of pills - one per day for 90 days. Easy enough. Each pill costs $1047. 50. I understand that the pharmaceutical company laid out millions developing the drug, conducting double blind studies and marching it through FDA approval. However the literature accompanying the pills speaks of “more than 8000” cures. So 8000 x $90,000 is $720,000,000. And the medication only came out last year and treats a condition where estimates of prevalence exceed more than 5 million undiagnosed cases. Now my co-payment is only $30.00 per month, but those who share my insurance company ( and every other one) will be paying higher insurance premiums. Why has our Congress prohibited Medicare & Medicaid from negotiating lower drug prices? Oh yah, another major expenditure driving up prices? Funding re-election campaigns, of course. And who’s getting screwed?
Big Pharma
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There's a new drug coming out expected to cost $2-million for the treatment:
Hep c treatment is really expensive. The drugs are still better and less expensive than a liver transplant.
The drug that cures spinal muscular atrophy, in the article Chulo linked, is pretty amazing and there’s probably more miracle specialty drugs coming, assuming dumbass democrats don’t destroy the healthcare industry.
I understand that there are plenty of conditions people are born with. But our healthcare system is based on treatment and keeping a patient alive for a long a possible regardless of quality of life instead of prevention, healthy nutrition and healthy lifestyle. In medical school one has to go out of their way to learn more than the very basic in prevention and nutrition. It's as though your doctor is taught what symptoms to expect at certain ages and the treatment and if you are not experiencing those symptoms they give you something to edge it on.
Originally Medicare was to have cost controls, board approved fees.
But LBJ scraped that in order to get support from the American Medical Association. Originally they were opposing Medicare.
So this is why costs have so exploded.
New proposals to have Universal Medicare, do include the establishment of cost controls, and the AMA does now support this.
SJG
Man, it's amazing they have a cure now for hep c.
There is a reason why the United States is a leader in innovative drug development. Profit. New proprietary drugs become generic after 20 years and prices drop considerably as competitive forces drive down production cost.
You wouldn't have the advanced drugs we have now unless there was a financial incentive to cover the considerable cost and risks of development.
^^^^^^ Shorter life expectancy, higher infant mortality, higher maternal mortality, in the US than in other industrialized countries.
But a much higher rate of people doing prayer circles and prayer vigils than in the countries which have single payer health care.
SJG
I only like this heavily track overlaid studio recording of this song, not any of the live versions. Cause of the singer's style. And I don't so much like the other guys who usually sings this either. youtube.com
Suspicious Mind - Elvis Presley youtube.com
Glenn Campbell, experience really shows, in my opinion. They have a four string bass player, but notice the guy who solos on the six string bass. youtube.com
Try a Little Tenderness youtube.com
Medicare and Medicaid should be allowed to negotiate.
But drug prices are complicated.
^^^^ agreed.
But it is also intended that a Universalized Medicare will be negotiating on doctor's fees, instead of just picking up the tab.
SJG
Police - Roxanne - 2008, really altered the phrasing for this performance. Phrasing has always been a big part of their sound. youtube.com
I only like this heavily track overlaid studio recording of this song, not any of the live versions. Cause of the singer's style. And I don't so much like the other guys who usually sings this either. youtube.com
Suspicious Mind - Elvis Presley youtube.com
Glenn Campbell, experience really shows, in my opinion. They have a four string bass player, but notice the guy who solos on the six string bass. youtube.com
Try a Little Tenderness youtube.com
Lauryn Hill - Killing Me Softly youtube.com
I'd Rather Go Blind youtube.com
^^^^^^ Shorter life expectancy (ON AVERAGE BY 2 YEARS FROM THE BEST).... bullshit liberal claim higher infant mortality (US HAS 5 DEATHS PER 1000, JAPAN IS THE BEST WITH 2.5, AFGHAN IS 125 DEATHS PER 1000).... another bullshit claim higher maternal mortality (STILL NEAR THE BEST) another liberal scare tactic used to brainwash people too stupid to read the facts. in the US than in other industrialized countries.
But a much higher rate of people doing prayer circles and prayer vigils than in the countries which have single payer health care.
AND A MUCH LARGER GROUP OF PEOPLE FREE TO SPEAK OUT AGAINST THE GOVERNMENT WITHOUT FEAR.... OR IN THIS CASE WITHOUT FACTS
SJG
Sorry to break this news to you IL but you will die of something and it's not my or anyone else's responsibility to make sure you live 2 more years.
Comparing to Industrialized Nations, like we are. We spend much more money, and we get far worse results. And health care is a collective responsibility.
SJG
Michelle Alexander on The New Jim Crow, at Union Theological Seminary ( she wrote a very important book ) youtube.com
Paul Tillich Symposium: John Caputo Lecture youtube.com
I think that episode is a repeat (at least they did a segment like that not that long ago - I think it was Leslie Stahl doing the interview)