I was reading last night about the House health care reform bill in the Ways and Means Committee, and came upon this point:
Officials in both houses said fulfilling Obama's request on Medicare prescription drug benefits would be considerably more difficult, citing the cost.Drug manufacturer rebates? You mean those things that businesses use, instead of simply offering discounts up front, since they know lots of people won't ever submit the rebate form? Those rebates? Not to mention, rebates are a massive database marketing scheme. Have you noticed how you always have to fill out all your personal information when you apply for a rebate? That's because they just bought your name, and now you're in a big telemarketing database for life. It's a rather massive giveaway to corporate America.
The measure Baucus is expected to unveil would cut the so-called "doughnut hole" in half by 2019, but any additional benefit would have to come later, he told reporters.
In the House, Beck said draft legislation called for closing the gap in 15 years, "using drug manufacturer rebates to cover the cost."
Don't rely on my account, here's what a health care reform expert I contacted about this had to say:
The rebate issue is everything [Aravosis] says it is and worse. Rebates are a way for the Rx industry to say it's doing something, while not helping the most vulnerable who can barely function, let alone complete forms, address and stamp envelopes and collect and deposit rebate checks. Absurdity.
