Here’s the thing about specific “asks.” I wasn’t gonna include those. But some of the guys say Congress is really struggling with the technical nature of PBM reform. When I watched the hearing this week, they might be right. So, I’m open to it if it helps. Things are so fluid that I don’t know if it does. I asked one of the pharmacists that today to see what she thought. She wrote this,
“I think the POTUS will indirectly affect PBM practices by negotiating drug prices to match European or Asian best price. That will drop or even eliminate the PBM profit margins and rebates”
If that happens, then we don’t have to do anything. But that’s all speculation right now.
The main question of historical importance is this: Are the medical monopolies stronger than the federal government or is the US government stronger than the medical monopolies? Additionally, “What is the strength of the American people vs powerful monopolistic interests, blah, blah?” “Are the modern medical monopolies more powerful than the rail barons?” That’s really the last time the feds did antitrust like this.
I’ve been wasting time throwing a handkerchief to doctors, asking them to help us. They are pretty pinned down by the machine. They either won’t move or they can’t.
Ha! I’m trying to read your post and Discuss is updating it with your edits.
The DOJ thing you linked to is asking about regulations to remove. You’re talking about adding regulations. I think your work is going to end up ignored. You are passionate and have the time and energy to make change happen. I want you to make change happen so I’d encourage you to find a path with a better chance at success.
There was an EO this week with that “match European or Asian best price” language in it. That is another money maker for attorneys until Congress writes a law.
If you are open to a different way to look at it, I really think the problem is fiduciary duty. In heathcare patients need to come first. Stockholders are wayyyy down the list. The problem isn’t just healthcare. I can’t name any US company that respects its customers.
ERSA is moving on this. But, it’s slower. We might see a lot of success out of this. That camp has lost a lot of lawsuits, but you always lose a lot of lawsuits before you succeed. This interview made me hopeful about that path. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fjY7noiu3J8
It’s possible that we need successes down every possible one of these paths in order to get anywhere. I don’t know what happens when you bust up a monopoly. Maybe some really bad things.
What came outta CA this week? I didn’t see. I’ve been writing this DOJ complaint.
This was todays big win (maybe). This guy is submitting a DOJ complaint. I haven’t read it. Too busy. But it looks pretty substantial.
I’m taking the “remove regulations” as partisan color or corporate pandering and kinda ignored it. But if they can remove regulations in a way that helps us, I’m totally open to it.
Don’t worry. I have nothing BUT time when it comes to f*ing with the medical system. It’s my favorite thing to do. Lord knows that it has F’ed with me. I make the time. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NEqniZcaU6Y
There are a bunch of people like me who do this crap. We are all clinically insane. I tell them that all the time. You have to be crazy. I believe that my individual insanity is a result of always doing predictive analytics on blood glucose values in my younger years. Then when tech evolved so I didn’t have to do that anymore, it freed up a bunch of brain space/energy that just fixated itself on revenge.
Its also a form of play. I’m playing and learning. I’ll be the best unpaid diabetic federal lobbyist (that’s really just a dangerous, unhinged constituent that will write to the DOJ or get on a plane to ■■■■■ at members) in my area that I can be when next I travel. It’s good for me. It’s a healthy way for me to channel my otherwise destructive rage. A lot of people like me have a severe case of the inner rage. You should see the pharmacists.
The odds that I am on a gov watchlist are not 0%. But lets put them all at ease by recognizing that I have been raging out about diabetes on the internet for some years now. It’s fine. It is what it is. They will receive my rage-y complaints by the 27th and they can add that to their file of “potentially dangerous patients.”
Maybe we have created a dangerous narrative. But I can’t say that it is a false narrative.
It’s my favorite thing to do. Lord knows that it has F’ed with me. 
I make the time.