Another Reason for Universal Health Care - Out of Control Prescription Drug Costs
Yesterday's New York Times included an excellent story about the rising costs of so-called "specialty" drugs, often prescribed for long-term and life-threatening illnesses, such as cancer and multiple sclerosis. Some insurance companies have made subtle changes in their plans recently, charging subscribers a percentage of the cost of the drug, rather than a flat co-payment. So instead of paying $20 for a 30-day supply of a critical medication, the cost soars to $325 or much, much more for the same supply.
The article has a theme that is very familiar to all of us in the fight for universal health care: the increasing hardships placed on people who were, or at least thought they were, adequately insured. But as long as health care is dominated by private, profit-driven insurance companies, none of us will be adequately taken care of. The rising costs of prescription drugs as described in the New York Times article is another in the growing list of compelling reasons to move to universal, single-payer health care.
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Govt Regulators fail to protect us, More will need Universal HC
While Congress has stood by and let the Bush Administration gut and gag the regulatory agencies, the people of this country have been assaulted with the effects of the lack of oversight. From lead in baby bibs and toys, to tainted meat that hasn’t been subjected to mandatory recalls—and the news keeps coming. In 2005 this article described the health dangers of certain plastics in food (including baby bottle) containers:
Today, on the Financial pages, on MarketWatch, there’s this update: US report: Plastic chemical may be linked to health problems:
So, while the stockholders have a chance to review how this would affect their bottom line, and while bush continues to gut regulatory agencies, and while Congress fails to perform oversight—we all better make sure we have some kind of healthcare and Medications we will need to deal with all the effects of the toxins and poisons we’ve been subjected to because those whose duty it is to protect us have been actively or passively derelict in their duties.
What exactly IS your job?
Most major pharmaceutical companies have been firmly tucked inside the Bush crime family anal cavity since prior to Jose Canseco's fasscination with injecting steroids into the posterior of little Georgie's baseball team.
The stoopidest people in America know that Bush's drug connections, legal and otherwise, have been allowed to run rampant in America.
What did the voters say in 2006? It's the corruption stoopid!
Stop treating the symptom, Dr. Bill Frist and John Ashcroft have been working that angle for a while now.
Treat the disease, allow impeachment to proceed.
Or are YOU the disease?
Question for May 5 Hearing: Did US close Abu-Ghraib?
Greg Mitchell wrote: Newspaper Carries Word of Another Mysterious U.S. Soldier Death in Iraq:
Mr. Chairman, this report is disturbing because of the fact that not only did this young man die in Iraq, but he died “mysteriously” in a “non-combat” incident. How hard this must be for his family.
However, his death raises yet another disturbing question: Why was an American soldier in Abu-Ghraib in April of 2008? Two years after America Closes Abuse Prison: ?
Did American Forces turn Abu Ghraib over to the Iraqis? Are American troops still being required to serve there? In what capacity? Under who’s command? What are they doing? Who is making sure that there are no more “abuses” going on?
Mr. Chairman?
There's closing Abu Ghraib, and CLOSING Abu Ghraib.
In the 80's, as the fog of diesel fumes lay heavy in the mean streets of Lake Placid, New York, a town law was passed limiting the amount of time the army of buses filled with environmentally appreciative leaf peepers and skiers, could idle.
As a baggage handler who loaded and unloaded these buses each morning and evening, my lungs would often ache for hours each night due to the diesel fumes.
I liked the new limits until the General Manager of the hotel that I worked at, pointed out a little flaw in the plan. He said that the new law didn't specify how long the bus had to be shut off. As a result, if the police were to ask how long the buses had been running, I was to say "I think" they just started it back up. They could literally shut it off, start it back up, and be totally compliant with the law.
The enviro's happily went to a catered party at the top of the ski jumps to celebrate their great victory, and the employers giggled all the way to their golf course bar.
As my lungs continued to ache.
I'm sure they did close Abu Ghraib. 5-10 minutes tops. Then they turned the key and started it back up again.