Why can't Government Medicare bargain with drug companies?

Question

Why can private insurers bargain with hopsitals and drug companies to lower the costs, but the government Medicare can't? i just want to know what law says the government can't bargain to kepp drug prices down.

Answer 1

Because the drug companies helped write the law. It was all over the news at the time and people were outraged, but the GOP just brushed it under the rug. I'm sure they'll have some long winded pretzel logic "justification" but the facts are the facts. The GOP let the wolf in the hen house.

Answer 2

I suppose they can. But I don't think that will hold the cost down. Just look at what government bargaining on health care is doing to the cost.

For health care the government sets limit that will be paid by medicare for each particular proceedure. In many cases the limit set by the government is below the actual cost to provide the service. So the difference is spread out and added onto the cost of services paid for by private insurers and non-medicare patients. Driving their cost up. At the same time doctors then place a limit on the number of medicare patients they will accept. I've seen signs saying we are taking no additional medicare patients.

I expect the government to do the same thing with drug cost that they've done with medical care. Drive the cost to private payers up to the point no one can afford it. And drive the supply to down to the point of rationing.

Be careful what you ask for you'll might get it.

Answer 3

Lobbyists, that is why.