Health Watched

Allison Bass’ most recent blog post should serve as inspiration to all , especially to those who think that nothing can be done:

Fighting for lower drug prices, or how to counteract Big Pharma’s lobbying

She gets right to the point with her analysis and recommendations:

Why? The reason is glaringly obvious: Congress won’t give the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) the authority to negotiate lower drug prices because too many of its members are in bed with the industry. That’s why HHS was expressly prohibited from negotiating lower drug prices in the Medicare Part D legislation enacted during the Bush administration.

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It’s difficult for individual consumers to have much of a voice in the face of such well-oiled (forgive the pun) special interests. But it doesn’t hurt to try. So I will repeat what I told the Mount Holyoke crowd: Pick up the phone or write a letter/email to your Congressional representatives telling them that you want Congress to pass a law giving HHS the power to negotiate lower drug prices for Medicare and Medicaid (and while you’re at it, ask for a ban on direct to consumer advertising too).

Obviously this was a select crowd she was speaking to, but the message is clear and vital for us all. Time for everyone to become a broken record on the topic.

Allison is a journalist and medical writer, and author of the book  Side Effects: A Prosecutor, a Whistleblower, and A Bestselling Antidepressant on Trial.  Her blog focuses on “the serious flaws in our health care system and the need for reform.”