| Former FDA chief Mark McClellan, who was confirmed as director for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services this morning, finally agreed to testify in front of Senators questioning his stance on the reimportation of drugs from Canada yesterday. Facing bitter backlash and the threat of a block on his nomination, he met with the Senate Commerce Committee. However, he was so evasive that Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) reprimanded him, saying, "You come to this committee after having stiffed us, having stiffed the House of Representatives and my first question ... you won't answer." McClellan, who recently raised eyebrows for accepting an award from a group funded by the drug industry, twice before refused to testify to the Senate about his views on the reimportation of FDA-approved drugs from Canada. His nomination caused concern among lawmakers, as McClellan has been one of the loudest voices against buying drugs from Canada, claiming there are safety issues, even though his own FDA officials dispute this.
Arch-conservative Sen. Trent Lott (R-MS) now agrees that the reimportation block makes no sense. "When the next vote comes, I'm switching my position on the import of drugs...I cannot explain to my mother any longer why she should pay twice or two-thirds more than what is paid in Canada and Mexico...I can't do it any more." He was joined in support for reimportation by fellow conservative John Cornyn (R-TX), and "last week, Sen. Jim Bunning (R-KY) voted for a nonbinding budget amendment endorsing legal importation." CQ reports, Sen. John McCain told McClellan yesterday that, despite the power of the pharmaceutical companies, "we will pass, as the House has passed, requirements for the ability to reimport drugs from Canada. My suggestion is that you prepare for it and be part of the solution, rather than – as is the perception here – that you and the administration have been blocking it." |
Okay, so my question is: why did they confirm McClellan's appointment?
| Did the Administration know how much they were accelerating the Medicare Trust Fund crisis before the bill was passed? The new estimates from the Medicare Trustees, who use the same Medicare actuaries who estimated the higher costs, will be issuing a report this month. Last year, they estimated that the Hospital Insurance Trust Fund would become insolvent in 2026. In the Administration's budget, their "new" definition of insolvency moved this up by 12 years to 2014. Did the Administration withhold from Members of Congress the fact that they were voting on legislation that would redefine and worsen Medicare's financial status? |
Gee. Let me think about that idea for a minute.
....but hey, do what you want....you will anyway.
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