Comments on: The Attacks Begin: PhRMA To Target Obama Health Plan http://wonkroom.thinkprogress.org/2008/11/14/phrma-obama/ Thu, 26 Nov 2009 16:42:01 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.5 hourly 1 By: stateofthedivision http://wonkroom.thinkprogress.org/2008/11/14/phrma-obama/comment-page-1/#comment-2884 stateofthedivision Fri, 14 Nov 2008 20:42:14 +0000 http://wonkroom.thinkprogress.org/2008/11/14/phrma-obama/#comment-2884 There is no, I mean zero, opportunity to buy Chinese ingredient free medicines in the United States. 80% of our pharmaceuticals are made in China or have Chinese supplied ingredients. (I'll look for confirmation on this stat, but I recall seeing it in the past year.) Recall the heparin debacle? If not, it's similar to Chinese milk formula, milk products, pet food, tires, toothpaste, cough syrup, lead tainted candy, and dangerous toys. There is no, I mean zero, opportunity to buy Chinese ingredient free medicines in the United States. 80% of our pharmaceuticals are made in China or have Chinese supplied ingredients. (I’ll look for confirmation on this stat, but I recall seeing it in the past year.)

Recall the heparin debacle? If not, it’s similar to Chinese milk formula, milk products, pet food, tires, toothpaste, cough syrup, lead tainted candy, and dangerous toys.

]]> By: stateofthedivision http://wonkroom.thinkprogress.org/2008/11/14/phrma-obama/comment-page-1/#comment-2882 stateofthedivision Fri, 14 Nov 2008 20:38:08 +0000 http://wonkroom.thinkprogress.org/2008/11/14/phrma-obama/#comment-2882 Unless you're talking over the counter meds, there is no free market for pharmaceutical health care. A patient has to get a prescription from a licensed medical professional. Then it is filled by a licensed pharmacist or their designee. In between a private regulatory body, usually known as a pharmacy benefit manager, screens the doctor's decision. This bureaucratic interloper approves or denies the physician's order. The opportunity for choice exists only at two points, doctor and pharmacy choice. But insurance plans frequently restrict both decisions to an approved panel of doctors or participating pharmacies. Pharmaceutical free market healthcare is a fiction. Unless you’re talking over the counter meds, there is no free market for pharmaceutical health care.

A patient has to get a prescription from a licensed medical professional. Then it is filled by a licensed pharmacist or their designee. In between a private regulatory body, usually known as a pharmacy benefit manager, screens the doctor’s decision. This bureaucratic interloper approves or denies the physician’s order.

The opportunity for choice exists only at two points, doctor and pharmacy choice. But insurance plans frequently restrict both decisions to an approved panel of doctors or participating pharmacies.

Pharmaceutical free market healthcare is a fiction.

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