How come the VA can buy prescription drugs in bulk but medicare can't?

Question

As a fiscal conservative, I'd like to see spending come down. Wouldn't you?

Answer 1

Bush and the Republicans are the friends of the pharmaceutical companies. Even the Democrats in power would still have to fight the Repubs. to get drug prices down.

Answer 2

Have you been to a VA lately? They are a model of government controlling medicine. Long waits, multiple visits, long travel time and poor follow up.

Medicare is not set up to purchase and distribute medication. To do so would put the cost even higher after you added in the needed infrastructure to do so. I thought it was a good idea too until I stopped and really thought about what would be necessary to implement it. The medication for those on Medicaid would have to be segregated from general pharmacy stock and inventoried separately, the entire Medicaid roll would have to be reviewed daily and the medications readjusted so that there was enough on hand to distribute with out omissions or shortages.
It would be easier and cheaper to leave the system as it is.

Answer 3

The Pharmacutical companies have strong lobby and have made sure they are protecting their profit margins. The veterans groups can meet them face to face in their lobbying
efforts and keep the VA funded and working for cost control.
They rally the Veterans in their membership to stand up and be counted.
Congress can "sell OUT" OUR MOST VULNERABLE SENIOR POPULATION. This is why "grass roots" senior run organizations need Senior Power as demonstrated in Massachusetts by my organization Mass Senior Action.
Congress "goes along to get along " with lobbyist because the are funded in their campaigns and given job after they
"screw up" the legislation.
I wish more fiscal conservatives would see the light of what some of the "greedy" corporations in Health care do the
system.

Answer 4

The VA is far from conservative on their spending. The VA is also limited on what they can get their hands on too. Medicare is able to address and have access to more with their policies.

Answer 5

Excellent point. The only problem with Medicare drug bill besides the donut hole is that they are forbidden to negotiate bulk prices for prescription drugs; sounds like restraint of trade to me.

Answer 6

The V A is not run by politicians like medicare is