Workers’ Comp Insider hosted the Holiday edition of the Health Wonk Review this week, with cute holiday GIFs mixed in among the excellent posts. They kick things off with a news story about how Santa needs $1.1 billion in insurance coverage, which is going to set him back about $1.2 million. Maybe we better all leave a couple bucks on a plate this year, instead of milk and cookies?
My favorite post in this edition of the HWR comes from Joe Paduda, explaining very clearly how we could save $20 billion per year if the feds could negotiate drug prices with pharmaceutical manufacturers. That’s forbidden by the language of the original legislation that created Medicare Part D (I know, it’s ridiculous, but that’s how it is), so it would require some legislation at this point to change things. Nobody in power seems to want to address this issue, probably because pharmaceutical companies make such large campaign contributions. But as I’ve pointed out several times, they also earn huge profits (far more than any health insurance company, although health insurance companies are the ones that are repeatedly targeted by the media as having excessive profits). Maybe it’s time for a change. Joe included links in his post where you can contact Speaker Boehner and President Obama to let them know your thoughts on this, so head over to his post to check out his detailed reasoning and include your own voice in the debate too.
We wish you all a Happy Holiday weekend!
