Taxpayers would be saddled with the bill for another huge entitlement. The observation by Clinton adviser Starr explains the strategy. Once the federal government gets control of one of the most important and most successful industries in the United States, its seeming benevolence will indeed turn to power - power to determine who gets what drugs and power to continually adjust the levers of prices and eventually political control of the pharmaceutical research agenda. An opinion poll conducted by Public Opinion Strategies soon after the president announced his drug benefit plan found that the majority of seniors believed that if the plan were implemented they would be worse off. Of course, low-income elderly citizens should have coverage for prescription drugs.
Japan controls the prices of prescription drugs and also their availability.
Many of the most effective drugs for cancer, heart disease and other conditions simply are not available there. If the government provides a universally available prescription drug benefit for seniors, it will quickly control the choices over what is covered. The only way for doctors and patients to retain control over choices is for the benefit to be provided through the private sector. Provide targeted assistance to those who need it to enable them to buy private coverage. Keep the pharmaceutical industry free of eventual political domination so market-driven research into new and better therapies can continue into the 21st century.