A Political History of Medicare and Prescription Drug Coverage Essay

Thisis a discussion topic to compare President Trump, Obama, and George Bush\’s agenda on a health topic of our choice that risen to presidential agendas. I have 2 choices of interest: 1. Coverage of Pre-existing medical conditions. 2. Control of Narcotics prescriptions .

Week1 Discussion: Presidential Agendas

Control of narcotic prescriptions is an issue of concern in the USA in the face of high prices that make up a significant proportion of health care costs. A comparison between drug prices in the USA and other countries reveals that Americans pay significantly higher prices. In fact, drug prices are significantly lower in Canada with vital medicines such as insulin being priced at one-tenth what they cost in the USA. This raises questions about whether or not the high drug prices in the USA are justified (Kuchler, 2019). President Trump addressed the issue by signing an executive order to lower drug prices by targeting kickback discounts, passing discounts to patients, enabling importation at lower prices, and authorizing re-importation (US Department of Health & Human Services, 2020). President Obama addressed the issue by authorizing the government-managed insurers (Medicare and Medicaid) to negotiate for lower drug prices for some of the populations, such as the disabled and elderly Americans (Morgan, 2015), as well as seeking greater price restrictions targeting the pharmaceutical companies (Bandow, 2018). A Political History of Medicare and Prescription Drug Coverage Essay. President Bush addressed the issue by enacting the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003 that reformed Medicare and Medicaid to include a prescription drug benefit that offered beneficiaries private plan choices that allowed for access to prescription drugs at lower prices. The plan helps beneficiaries to pay for prescription drugs and offers more drug choices (Oliver, Lee & Lipton, 2004). Americans are paying significantly higher costs for the same drugs when compared to other countries. This issue can be addressed at the presidential level by setting up a price management commission that sets price caps relative to those paid by other countries. In addition, the government should subsidize the prices of vital medicines. A Political History of Medicare and Prescription Drug Coverage Essay.

References

Bandow, D. (2018). Pharmaceutical Industry Pays Price for Alliance with Obama Administration. https://www.cato.org/publications/commentary/pharmaceutical-industry-pays-price-alliance-obama-administration

Kuchler, H. (2019). Why prescription drugs cost so much more in America. https://www.ft.com/content/e92dbf94-d9a2-11e9-8f9b-77216ebe1f17

Morgan, D. (2015). Obama administration seeks to negotiate Medicare drug prices. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-budget-medicare/obama-administration-seeks-to-negotiate-medicare-drug-prices-idUSKBN0L61OW20150202

Oliver, T., Lee, P., & Lipton, H. (2004). A Political History of Medicare and Prescription Drug Coverage. The Milbank Quarterly, 82(2), 283-354. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.0887-378X.2004.00311.x

US Department of Health & Human Services (2020). Trump Administration Announces Historic Action to Lower Drug Prices for Americans. https://www.hhs.gov/about/news/2020/07/24/trump-administration-announces-historic-action-lower-drug-prices-americans.html. A Political History of Medicare and Prescription Drug Coverage Essay.

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NURS 6050: Policy and Advocacy for Improving Population Health.

Module 1. Agenda setting (Weeks 1-2). 

Week1 Discussion: Presidential Agendas 

Regardless of political affiliation, every citizen has a stake in healthcare policy decisions. Hence, it is little wonder why healthcare items become such high-profile components of presidential agendas. It is also little wonder why they become such hotly debated agenda items.

Consider a topic that rises to the presidential level. How did each of the presidents (Trump, Obama, and Bush) handle the problem? What would you do differently?

To Prepare:

• Review the Resources and reflect on the importance of agenda setting.
• Consider how federal agendas promote healthcare issues and how these healthcare issues become agenda priorities.

By Day 3 of Week 1

Post your response to the discussion question: Consider a topic that rises to the presidential level. How did each of the presidents (Trump, Obama, and Bush) handle the problem? What would you do differently?

By Day 6 of Week 1

Respond to at least two of your colleagues* on two different days by expanding on their response and providing an example that supports their explanation or respectfully challenging their explanation and providing an example. A Political History of Medicare and Prescription Drug Coverage Essay.