[Ip-health] Bipartisanship Lives! Eshoo Amendment E mbraced by GOP in “Alternative” Health Bill

[Sarah Rimmington]

http://fdlaction.firedoglake.com/2009/11/03/bipartisanship-lives-eshoo-amen=
dment-embraced-by-gop-in-%E2%80%9Calternative%E2%80%9D-health-bill/
Bipartisanship Lives! Eshoo Amendment Embraced by GOP in “Alternative”
Health Bill
By: Jon Walker Tuesday November 3, 2009 11:07 am


The Republican’s have just released their “alternative” bill to the
Democrats’ health care reform legislation. It is frankly a meaningless,
very long press release, filled with some really bad ideas. The
Republicans did find basically only one section of the Democrats’ reform
bill they really liked. In fact, the Republicans thought it was such a
great idea that they added it, completely unchanged, to to their
alternative bill.

What was the section? It was the Eshoo amendment on the pathway for
biosimilars! They took this one division of the Democratic bill, and
added it word for word to their own (Republican bill starting page 185
and Eshoo Amendment). I guess the only thing truly bipartisan in
Washington these days is shilling for powerful industry lobbyists. It
seems the one things Democrats and Republicans can agree on in health
care is that lifesaving medication should be given a nearly endless
monopoly period, so they are priced out of reach for many Americans in need.

--
Sarah Rimmington
Attorney
Essential Action, Access to Medicines Project
Washington, DC
Tel: +1 (202) 387-8030
Cell: +1 (202) 422-2687
www.essentialaction.org/access/

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