By Bill Savage , Editor – The WCD.
Earlier this month, a group of us (patient advocates for sure) met with former Governor Tommy Thompson and various experts in the health and pharmaceutical industries. The topic was fairly focused on how we can change the culture within our healthcare system that has lost its focus from healthier patients to healthier profits.
Most of you that follow politics are familiar with PBM reform and the challenges of getting those reforms through the legislative process and signed by the governor. Yes, it comes down to money, and my readers (unfortunately) are familiar with just how powerful the lobbyists can be when representing the interests of big pharma and others. Although the fight will be lengthy, I believe the righteousness of the cause and the clarity of our positions can and will propel us to victory. The time is now as we have a current administration at the federal level, that also would like to see the “people” prevail. For a host of reasons. A quick few are:
- The human cost of prescribing drugs for anything other purpose than curing ailments is immoral.
- The economic costs of creating “perpetual” drug consumers are a burden on family budgets, crowding out other purchases that would help drive the economy.
- The costs of perpetual drug expenditures are also a burden on the overall healthcare system as well.
In the upcoming weeks and months, the WCD will be doing three things.
- Informing the public on what the specific details of the problems are.
- Informing the public on what can be done to “move our elected officials” to act in the best interests of the people.
- Holding the legislature and the governor accountable to enact needed reforms.
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