Planet Rugby Forum

saffer13 wrote:Identity politics is here to stay unfortuantely.

The senator from Vermont has been huddling with staff in meetings and brainstorming on phone calls over the past few weeks, chewing over plans. Barring a surprise, last-minute change of heart, he will jump into the 2020 race, convinced he can win, according to people familiar with his plans.

Bowens wrote:Good article today... “Bernie Sanders Is Ready to Rumble”

The senator from Vermont has been huddling with staff in meetings and brainstorming on phone calls over the past few weeks, chewing over plans. Barring a surprise, last-minute change of heart, he will jump into the 2020 race, convinced he can win, according to people familiar with his plans.

https://www.theatlantic.com/amp/article/582328/

Bernie/Tulsi 2020

Bowens wrote:I would have voted for him last time.

Bowens wrote:If you had a medical emergency and needed money I would help you out. Universal healthcare is my #1 issue. The number of people who go bankrupt due to illness is shameful.

Yet soon after he became president, Trump changed his tune on direct negotiations. After meeting with pharmaceutical executives, adopting the industry’s rhetoric, he called it “price fixing.” Instead Trump has pushed two years of increased costs and reduced coverage, crowned by hollow rhetoric.

Today, there is nothing stopping drug companies from continuing to raise prices and no place Americans can go for relief when they do. Americans overwhelmingly want the government to use its buying power to reverse increases and control the cost of drugs. And they want an administration that will make that a priority.

Deadtigers wrote:

Bowens wrote:If you had a medical emergency and needed money I would help you out. Universal healthcare is my #1 issue. The number of people who go bankrupt due to illness is shameful.

I just think it is ridiculous people have to decide between kemo and eating. The thing I don't get bro is why do people always think of the Canadian model when the German model which incorporates insurance companies wouldn't be a better fit for us.

saffer13 wrote:Obamacare has don't it's fair share in the rising insurance cost department. Why not create a free market for insurance companies to comete, driving costs down.

Bowens wrote:Because they don’t want to lower costs, especially for drugs. This is something Trump ran on and has failed to deliver.

Yet soon after he became president, Trump changed his tune on direct negotiations. After meet
ing with pharmaceutical executives, adopting the industry’s rhetoric, he called it “price fixing.” Instead Trump has pushed two years of increased costs and reduced coverage, crowned by hollow rhetoric.

Today, there is nothing stopping drug companies from continuing to raise prices and no place Americans can go for relief when they do. Americans overwhelmingly want the government to use its buying power to reverse increases and control the cost of drugs. And they want an administration that will make that a priority.

https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/ ... 777673002/

Deadtigers wrote:White males, evangelicals, WWC, etc are also identity politics. So let's not act like it's new. When it is not about the aforementioned, it is identity politics but when it is, I guess it is the way things should be right?

Bowens wrote:Because they don’t want to lower costs, especially for drugs. This is something Trump ran on and has failed to deliver.

The Hartford, Conn.-based insurer's announcement is intended to redirect blame for rising drug prices toward pharmaceutical companies. Meanwhile, Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America, a drug industry lobbying group, is fighting back with an ad campaign launched Thursday highlighting how insurance companies and pharmacy benefit managers block patients from applying cost-saving copay coupons to their deductibles.

To catch you up: A Wall Street Journal exposé reported last week that major U.S. health insurance companies dramatically inflated their cost projections under Medicare's Part D prescription drug benefit program for financial gain.

Under peculiar language of the statute, insurers are paid by Medicare for drugs in advance of their purchase, based on their own estimated outlays. However, they only have to repay a portion of the overpayments to the Treasury if their estimates come in high. Insurers exploited this loophole for a decade, and American taxpayers coughed up a staggering $9 billion to insurers for drug costs that they never actually incurred.

Giants like UnitedHealthcare, which covers many AARP members, won’t be voluntarily returning the windfall anytime soon. They are feigning ignorance and blaming drugmakers – their favorite foil – for unpredictable price increases that led to the inaccurate cost estimates.

Bowens wrote:They blame each other. What’s clear is costs are rising under the current system. And more to the point, it’s another unfulfilled Trump promise.

The Hartford, Conn.-based insurer's announcement is intended to redirect blame for rising drug prices toward pharmaceutical companies. Meanwhile, Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America, a drug industry lobbying group, is fighting back with an ad campaign launched Thursday highlighting how insurance companies and pharmacy benefit managers block patients from applying cost-saving copay coupons to their deductibles.

https://www.modernhealthcare.com/articl ... /180329919

Man In Black wrote:One problem the Democrats may have with their leftward shift is that it’s ultimately impossible to please the far left. There’ll always be a marginalised group or a new grievance that they need to iron out before they can archieve purity. Trying to pander to every grievance will fudge them. On the other hand, good centrist policies that put more money in your pocket and more food on the table is what should win. Fingers crossed.

Deadtigers wrote:

Bowens wrote:If you had a medical emergency and needed money I would help you out. Universal healthcare is my #1 issue. The number of people who go bankrupt due to illness is shameful.

I just think it is ridiculous people have to decide between kemo and eating. The thing I don't get bro is why do people always think of the Canadian model when the German model which incorporates insurance companies wouldn't be a better fit for us.

goeagles wrote:

Bowens wrote:They blame each other. What’s clear is costs are rising under the current system. And more to the point, it’s another unfulfilled Trump promise.

The Hartford, Conn.-based insurer's announcement is intended to redirect blame for rising drug prices toward pharmaceutical companies. Meanwhile, Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America, a drug industry lobbying group, is fighting back with an ad campaign launched Thursday highlighting how insurance companies and pharmacy benefit managers block patients from applying cost-saving copay coupons to their deductibles.

https://www.modernhealthcare.com/articl ... /180329919

As someone who works with payers (not just insurance companies, most unions self insure on drug spend for their members as do many large companies) to lower their prescription drug costs, the drug manufacturers are absolutely to blame for rising drug costs. Pick any drug and I can tell you how much they've raised their prices on it over the last 10 years. Those coupons they're talking about were instituted by drug companies to milk payers for every last penny and to circumvent plan designs. Any attempt by payers to control costs or manage utilization and the drug companies go nuts. The PBMs (not all, just some) who do a poor job of utilization management are complicit in rising prices because they're basically doing the drug companies' bidding in doing nothing to combat rising prices so the idea that the drug companies are shifting the blame to PBMs is laughable. The drug companies really are reprehensible.

saffer13 wrote:Obamacare has don't it's fair share in the rising insurance cost department. Why not create a free market for insurance companies to comete, driving costs down.

paddyor wrote:

saffer13 wrote:Obamacare has don't it's fair share in the rising insurance cost department. Why not create a free market for insurance companies to comete, driving costs down.

Obamacare bit the bullet on pre-existing conditions which the US had been avoiding for years. In a pure market none of these things get covered. If the likelihood that you will require expensive medical treatment is 1, who is going to insure you at an affordable rate? The whole point of insurance is that risk is pooled.

Bowens wrote:

goeagles wrote:

Bowens wrote:They blame each other. What’s clear is costs are rising under the current system. And more to the point, it’s another unfulfilled Trump promise.

The Hartford, Conn.-based insurer's announcement is intended to redirect blame for rising drug prices toward pharmaceutical companies. Meanwhile, Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America, a drug industry lobbying group, is fighting back with an ad campaign launched Thursday highlighting how insurance companies and pharmacy benefit managers block patients from applying cost-saving copay coupons to their deductibles.

https://www.modernhealthcare.com/articl ... /180329919

As someone who works with payers (not just insurance companies, most unions self insure on drug spend for their members as do many large companies) to lower their prescription drug costs, the drug manufacturers are absolutely to blame for rising drug costs. Pick any drug and I can tell you how much they've raised their prices on it over the last 10 years. Those coupons they're talking about were instituted by drug companies to milk payers for every last penny and to circumvent plan designs. Any attempt by payers to control costs or manage utilization and the drug companies go nuts. The PBMs (not all, just some) who do a poor job of utilization management are complicit in rising prices because they're basically doing the drug companies' bidding in doing nothing to combat rising prices so the idea that the drug companies are shifting the blame to PBMs is laughable. The drug companies really are reprehensible.

I have no love for drug companies at all. Appreciate the insights.

saffer13 wrote:

paddyor wrote:

saffer13 wrote:Obamacare has don't it's fair share in the rising insurance cost department. Why not create a free market for insurance companies to comete, driving costs down.

Obamacare bit the bullet on pre-existing conditions which the US had been avoiding for years. In a pure market none of these things get covered. If the likelihood that you will require expensive medical treatment is 1, who is going to insure you at an affordable rate? The whole point of insurance is that risk is pooled.

Good thing the Donald was pre-existing conditions to be covered as well

Bowens wrote:Early poll shows Bernie, Tulsi running ahead of Trump:

https://ivn.us/2019/02/08/ivn-poll-inde ... -for-2020/

About IVN, a nonpartisan website:

https://mediabiasfactcheck.com/independ ... twork-ivn/

Bowens wrote:Early poll shows Bernie, Tulsi running ahead of Trump:

https://ivn.us/2019/02/08/ivn-poll-inde ... -for-2020/

About IVN, a nonpartisan website:

https://mediabiasfactcheck.com/independ ... twork-ivn/

Bowens wrote:Early poll shows Bernie, Tulsi running ahead of Trump:

https://ivn.us/2019/02/08/ivn-poll-inde ... -for-2020/

About IVN, a nonpartisan website:

https://mediabiasfactcheck.com/independ ... twork-ivn/

paddyor wrote:

saffer13 wrote:

paddyor wrote:

saffer13 wrote:Obamacare has don't it's fair share in the rising insurance cost department. Why not create a free market for insurance companies to comete, driving costs down.

Obamacare bit the bullet on pre-existing conditions which the US had been avoiding for years. In a pure market none of these things get covered. If the likelihood that you will require expensive medical treatment is 1, who is going to insure you at an affordable rate? The whole point of insurance is that risk is pooled.

Good thing the Donald was pre-existing conditions to be covered as well

He plays that guy on TV alright. It's spreading the cost that's the nettle he won't grasp. How does he intend to pay for it?

Donald Trump wrote:Nobody knew healthcare could be so complicated

Democratic California Sen. Kamala Harris praised marijuana Monday as something that “gives more people joy,” and admitted to smoking the drug while in college.

“I have and I inhaled, I did inhale,” Harris told The Breakfast Club on Monday. “It was a long time ago, but yes. I just broke news.”

Harris went on to discuss her pot-smoking habits, claiming that she enjoyed smoking a joint in college while listening to Tupac and Snoop Dogg. However, Harris’s story came under scrutiny after several social media users pointed out that Harris graduated college in 1986, years before either Tupac or Snoop Dogg released their respective first albums. (RELATED: Kamala Harris Claims There Is ‘Racial Bias’ In Healthcare Delivery System)

Kamala Harris said she smoked weed while listening to Snoop & Tupac.

Kamala graduated from college in the 80’s.

Snoop & Tupac didn’t release their first albums til the 90’s.

This is basic rap history.

Bowens wrote:Sure Kamala. And when Bernie was in college he did ayahuasca with Diplo at Burning Man.

Bowens wrote:Sure Kamala. And when Bernie was in college he did ayahuasca with Diplo at Burning Man.

flaggETERNAL wrote:Oh Kamala, trying to be hip and cool...

Democratic California Sen. Kamala Harris praised marijuana Monday as something that “gives more people joy,” and admitted to smoking the drug while in college.

“I have and I inhaled, I did inhale,” Harris told The Breakfast Club on Monday. “It was a long time ago, but yes. I just broke news.”

Harris went on to discuss her pot-smoking habits, claiming that she enjoyed smoking a joint in college while listening to Tupac and Snoop Dogg. However, Harris’s story came under scrutiny after several social media users pointed out that Harris graduated college in 1986, years before either Tupac or Snoop Dogg released their respective first albums. (RELATED: Kamala Harris Claims There Is ‘Racial Bias’ In Healthcare Delivery System)

Kamala Harris said she smoked weed while listening to Snoop & Tupac.

Kamala graduated from college in the 80’s.

Snoop & Tupac didn’t release their first albums til the 90’s.

This is basic rap history.

https://dailycaller.com/2019/02/12/kama ... fast-club/