House Republicans Read The Bill

This section allows the Secretary of Health and Human services to decide which prescription drugs are available to subscribers in the government-run plan by negotiating the price of drugs not covered in Medicare. This government price control will eliminate competition in the market, which naturally lowers prices, as evidenced by the decrease of prices under Medicare Part D. Additionally, the section shelters the government plan from any administrative or judicial review of the payment rate or methodology it uses. This keeps private health insurance providers from suing the government for price fixing. It also allows the government to get away with denying access to treatment based on cost, which has happened in other countries where the government controls prices.