Right on the heels of the Republican defeat, John Conyers (D-Michigan) introduced H.R. 676 or the Expanded and Improved Medicare for All Act. There are also a batch of other healthcare related bills in the House that Newsweek detailed in their article "Forget Trumpcare, Here Are Some Other Healthcare Bills Congress is Considering." Additionally, the Campaign for Guaranteed Healthcare is planning a National Day of Action for Improved Medicare for All for Saturday, April 8, In short, healthcare is a big issue right now. If you or someone you know has ever needed a doctor, then you should care about healthcare.
That's a lot to take in with one paragraph, I know. Let's break it down into specific things you can do:
1. Mark the National Day of Action for Improved Medicare for All on your calendar for April 8 and plan to participate in an action that day.
2. Mark April 3-9 as National Public Health Week and find at least one other activity/action you can do.
3. Educate yourself about the healthcare bills that are in Congress right now. Know which ones are good and which are bad and be ready to contact your MoCs with informed comments as needed. I've detail some of the key ones below with links.
4. Keep watching the Daily Yopp! this week and next for updates on what's hot. I plan to focus heavily on healthcare over the next two weeks. Also, be sure to send this Yopp! and others far and wide. I don't advertise it beyond the web of my social network and completely depend on you readers to spread the word. You can also sign up for the Daily Yopp! Google Group to get these posts delivered directly to your email.
4. Keep watching the Daily Yopp! this week and next for updates on what's hot. I plan to focus heavily on healthcare over the next two weeks. Also, be sure to send this Yopp! and others far and wide. I don't advertise it beyond the web of my social network and completely depend on you readers to spread the word. You can also sign up for the Daily Yopp! Google Group to get these posts delivered directly to your email.
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PENDING HEALTHCARE LEGISLATION
S. 469 & H.R. 1245 Affordable and Safe Prescription Drug Importation (Sanders I-VT & Cummings D-MD7)
Alleged purpose: Amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to allow for the importation of affordable and safe drugs by wholesale distributors, pharmacies, and individuals.
What they actually are: Companion bills that would allow the importation of drugs from Canada.
Why it matters: "The U.S. spends more than any other country on prescription drugs in part due to their high price tags. Medications are often less expensive in other countries, but Americans in need are denied access. In 1999, Senator Sanders took a bus filled with fellow Americans into Canada to purchase prescription drugs. Passage of this bill means he would not have to do that again. (Nobody wants to take a bus if they don’t have to.)" - Newsweek
Should we support it: Yes, though since it's sponsored by Democrats it probably won't go anywhere.
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S. 297 Increasing Competition in Pharmaceuticals Act (Collins R-Maine & McCaskill D-Missouri)
Alleged purpose: Increases competition in the pharmaceutical industry.
What it actually does: Creates an easier way to obtain generic drugs, which are cheaper than branded drugs.
Why it matters: "Generic drugs introduce competition, which could force manufacturers to lower the cost of branded products. Also, more generic drugs would mean more concerns about whether generics are equivalent to brand-name medications, which would help take our minds off the potential consequences of AHCA." - Newsweek
Should we support it: Yes. This is a bipartisan bill that is co-sponsored by Republican Senator Susan Collins. Getting our support on her bill would go a long way in building a positive relationship with a senator who is already showing signs of Trumpsistance.
Alleged purpose: To increase competition in the pharmaceutical industry.
What it actually does: Provides incentives to drug makers to create generic drugs where none currently exist or to address a drug shortage.
Why it matters: "The bill could stop sudden price hikes of generic drugs made in the absence of competition, which is what Martin Shkreli was vilified for doing." - Newsweek
Should we support it: I think so. It's a bipartisan House bill that is reasonable. That should be reason enough. We need to normalize things in Congress.
Alleged purpose: A bill to amend part D of title XVIII of the Social Security Act to require the Secretary of Health and Human Services to negotiate covered part D drug prices on behalf of Medicare beneficiaries.
What it actually does: Allowing the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to negotiate drug prices with pharmaceutical companies.
Why it matters: "The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services is currently forbidden by law from negotiating drug prices. President Donald Trump supposedly favors the change. Prior administrations have tried and failed, but the growing frustration about drug prices means this attempt could work." - Newsweek
Should we support it: Yes
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Alleged purpose: Amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to allow for the personal importation of safe and affordable drugs from approved pharmacies in Canada.
What it actually does: Allows U.S. Citizens to go across the border to buy less expensive drugs from Canada. (Basically makes it so Grandma doesn't have to smuggle her prescription drugs anymore.)
Why it matters: "Like Senator Sanders’s bill above, this proposal would amend the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act to allow importation of drugs from Canada." - Newsweek
Should we support it: Yes, if only because a Democrat sponsored it in the House and a Republican sponsored it in the Senate. This is the normal legislative process in these abnormal times.
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S. 183 Short on Competition Act (Klobuchar D-Minnesota & Lee R-Utah)
Alleged purpose: Allows for expedited approval of generic prescription drugs and temporary importation of prescription drugs in the case of noncompetitive drug markets and drug shortages.
What it actually does: Quicker approval of generic drugs to increase competition.
Why it matters: "This bill could also prevent price hikes similar to the one made by Shkreli. That could mean fewer people wealthy enough to purchase and stream a $2 million Wu Tang Clan album." - Newsweek. (Note: The Wu Tang Clan comment is a reference to that creep Martin Shkreli.)
Should we support it: Yes, especially since this reasonable bill has bipartisan sponsorship in the Senate. Time to remind Congress how it is supposed to work.
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H.R. 676 Expanded and Improved Medicare for All Act (Conyers D-Michigan)
Alleged purpose: Provides for comprehensive health insurance coverage for all United States residents, improved health care delivery, and for other purposes.
What it actually is: A single-payer public healthcare system.
Why it matters: It's a good first draft of good legislation that won't come to fruition for awhile.
Should we support it: Yes, but don't get yourself in a twist about it passing because it won't. Think of it as a bill in training for better times.
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S. 191 Patient Freedom Act of 2017 (Cassidy R-Louisiana)
Alleged purpose: To improve patient choice by allowing States to adopt market-based alternatives to the Affordable Care Act that increase access to affordable health insurance and reduce costs while ensuring important consumer protections and improving patient care.
What it actually s: An alternative to the ACA that is not Trump/Ryan Wealthcare, but this time it's written by a licensed medical doctor (*eye roll*)
Why it matters: The bill explicitly attacks "Obamacare." As best I can tell, this is the Repeal part of "Repeal and Replace."
Should we support it: NO! Sit down, Bill!
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H.R. 1275 World's Greatest Healthcare Plan of 2017 (Sessions R-Texas)
Alleged purpose: To eliminate the individual and employer health coverage mandates under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, to expand beyond that Act the choices in obtaining and financing affordable health insurance coverage, and for other purposes.
What it actually is: An alternative to the ACA that is not Trump/Ryan Wealthcare.
Why it matters: OMG! I had to doubletake the title of this bill. Yes, this fool really did title his bill the "World's Greatest Healthcare Plan."
Should we support it: Hell NO! But you should read it for a good laugh.
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