Here’s How Government Works
2009-10-13 - by
Money’s tight the Democrats in Raleigh say, so the state’s flailing away to cut health care costs – it’s slashing home care, nursing home care and hospitals.
But one group is safe.
North Carolina Medicaid spends $1 billion a year on prescription drugs. But North Carolina is one of six states without a Medicaid ‘Preferred Drug List.’
What’s that? It’s simple: A ‘Preferred Drug List’ means if there’s a generic you take it – instead of a name brand. If North Carolina had a ‘Preferred Drug List’ it would save $84 million a year in Medicaid costs.
So what’s the problem? Politics. No one can get the legislation through the legislature.
Why not? Pharma – the pharmaceutical lobby.
Last year Governor Perdue, Secretary Lanier Cansler and State Senator Phil Berger all supported cutting health care programs that serve patients with incomes under $8,000 per year – but none of them dared tackle Pharma. The bill for a ‘Preferred Drug List’ died in the legislature.
So North Carolina is cutting health care for the elderly and paying pharmaceutical companies $84 million for name brand drugs when there are generic substitutes – which is a classic example of how government works.
Here’s How Government Works
2009-10-13/
Money’s tight the Democrats in Raleigh say, so the state’s flailing away to cut health care costs – it’s slashing home care, nursing home care and hospitals.
But one group is safe.
North Carolina Medicaid spends $1 billion a year on prescription drugs. But North Carolina is one of six states without a Medicaid ‘Preferred Drug List.’
What’s that? It’s simple: A ‘Preferred Drug List’ means if there’s a generic you take it – instead of a name brand. If North Carolina had a ‘Preferred Drug List’ it would save $84 million a year in Medicaid costs.
So what’s the problem? Politics. No one can get the legislation through the legislature.
Why not? Pharma – the pharmaceutical lobby.
Last year Governor Perdue, Secretary Lanier Cansler and State Senator Phil Berger all supported cutting health care programs that serve patients with incomes under $8,000 per year – but none of them dared tackle Pharma. The bill for a ‘Preferred Drug List’ died in the legislature.
So North Carolina is cutting health care for the elderly and paying pharmaceutical companies $84 million for name brand drugs when there are generic substitutes – which is a classic example of how government works.