Reduce Health Care Costs by 50%

Americans spend $300 Billion every year for medication. A 50% reduction would save consumers and taxpayers $1 Trillion in 7 years. Here is how:

Repeal federal legislation banning importation of less expensive FDA approved brand name medication from Canadian pharmacies.

Repeal federal legislation making it illegal for Medicare D to negotiate discounts from drug manufacturers.  Medicare D is the largest purchaser of medication in the world.  It is a prescription med plan for Seniors and, believe it or not, Congress passed legislation that increases consumer prices and taxes by increasing medication costs for Medicare D.

American pharmaceutical costs are by far the highest in the world (link to OECD data). Republicans and Democrats have placed their political interests and the profits of international pharmaceutical corporations ahead of their own constituents.  American  taxpayers pay for health insurance of federal, state and local government employees.  American businesses pay for the health insurance of their employees.  Americans with health issues pay for medication insurance or pay out of pocket.  The Rs and Ds have placed the profits of international pharmaceutical companies ahead Americans.

Repeal federal legislation making it illegal for Medicare to negotiate discounts on $15 billion of durable equipment purchased each year.  Equipment such as wheelchairs, canes, diabetic test strips, home oxygen and so on.

Develop gatekeeping to prevent abuses by a significant minority of consumers who utilize medical services excessively.

Develop effective antifraud measures to deal with abuse of government funded health care.

Reduce exorbitant compensation at non-profit hospitals and non-profit health insurance companies.  That legislation is presented on  the ATLP LEGISLATION page.

Expose monopolist practices and contracts between non-profit health insurance companies and non-profit hospitals that drive economic competition out of the health care market.  For example, have you noticed that independently owned, low cost Urgent Care Centers  have closed. Have you noticed that emergency room utilization has soared for minor medical problems.   Emergency room care costs at least 10 times more that the cost of primary physician office care.  In the ER everyone gets a CT head for a bump on the head.  Costly, yes.  And what about the radiation?  Is this decent medical care?

It can be done. Reduce total health care expenditures  from the highest in the world to Germany’s level,  47 % lower (link to OECD data).  Improve our below average medical quality as compared to other countries.  For example the US ranks 31st out of 41 countries in infant mortality;  we certainly can do better  (link to OECD data)