tschuckman@aol.com
Friends,
Let me tell you a short story... Many years ago some travelers got lost in the desert searching for any kind of living thing and WATER of course, until they saw something off into the distance with their field glasses. They were unprepared, hungry, thirsty and at the end of there ropes, sure to die in the desert for sure and the Oasis in the distance looked so good with trees, grass, some fruit trees, etc. After they finally got to the Oasis, the water saved their lives, but it didn't taste quite as good as they first hoped. Most of the dates and figs from the trees were dry and hard to chew although that precious food also helped to save their lives. Moral of the story: Not everyone is thankful for what they have in life! That's why I tend to drift or look for other combat Veterans "who have walked the walk." They are my Brothers and Sisters, many of whom are also "Brothers in the Spirit, the Bible/ fellow Christians and Soldiers of Christ.
I am suffering some serious illnesses right now and at the local VA hospital too often, also knowing that many relatives in my family don't live too much after age 70, as I am now. I have never been afraid of death in the past, especially with a strong, powerful body with may blessings and gifts from Father God. But even the farmer's big, strong Ox will get sick and die SOME DAY... And I have had some long, deeply sober thoughts these past few months after my brother Albert [2-years younger than I]passed away a few months ago.
I ask for your prayers to strengthen me, also your emails to encourage me, too. I am always looking for more good, trustworthy friends. Email: tschuckman@aol.com
We who live in a great country like America also know that many of our politicians and lawmakers can and are 'bought off' with too much corruption all around in all political parties! President Trump is trying hard to clean all of that up. People who have studied the Bible know that our earth will never be truly, totally clean by human hands -- but only from God's hands in the near future. Please remember this when so-called patriots--- FAKE patriots who are really Socialists lie to us all. Our true rewards and Grace really come from our heavenly Father, and death is a part of living.
The VA hospital U.P. where I live cannot afford to hire great surgeons, doctors who want to heal the Veterans, but instead much money actually gets drained to help Illegal Aliens who cross our Southern border! Many have never paid ANY income taxes or other taxes, yet they are provided for from OUR hard earned taxes, and that is just not fair! Just read the Laws that Yahweh-- Father God gave His people in the book of Exodus, etc. Not just the FIRST TEN COMMANDMENTS, like in the movie...LOL, but over 600 other legally binding laws for the Hebrew people. Don't be afraid to read the KJV Bible, please. It only takes a 5th grade reading level, dear friends !! Smile.
Warm Regards,
Tom Schuckman
Trump Lifts “Canada Ban” – Infuriates Dirty Politicians
WASHINGTON — The Trump administration said Wednesday it will set up a system to allow Americans to legally import lower-cost prescription drugs from Canada, weakening a longstanding ban that had stood as a top priority for the politically powerful pharmaceutical industry.
Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar made the announcement Wednesday morning. Previous administrations had sided with the industry on importation, echoing its concerns that it could expose patients to risks from counterfeit or substandard medications.
Azar, a former drug industry executive, said U.S. patients will be able to import medications safely and effectively, with oversight from the Food and Drug Administration. The administration’s proposal would allow states, wholesalers and pharmacists to get FDA approval to import certain medications that are also available here.
It’s unclear how soon consumers will see results.
Most patients take affordable generic drugs to manage conditions such as high blood pressure or elevated blood sugars. But polls show concern about the prices of breakthrough medications for intractable illnesses like cancer or hepatitis C infection, whose costs can run to $100,000 or more. And long-available drugs like insulin have also seen price increases that have forced some people with diabetes to ration their own doses.
“For too long American patients have been paying exorbitantly high prices for prescription drugs that are made available to other countries at lower prices,” Azar said in a statement that credited President Donald Trump for pushing the idea.
The administration’s move comes as the industry is facing a crescendo of consumer complaints over prices, as well as legislation from both parties in Congress to rein in costs.
Trump is supporting a Senate bill to cap medication costs for Medicare recipients and require drugmakers to pay rebates to the program if price hikes exceed inflation. Democrats in the House are pressing for a vote on a bill allowing Medicare to directly negotiate prices on behalf of millions of seniors enrolled in its prescription drug plan. Separately, the Trump administration is pursuing a regulation that would tie what Medicare pays for drugs administered in doctors’ offices to lower international prices.
The importation idea won praise from a key lawmaker, Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, chairman of the panel that oversees Medicare. Grassley said on Twitter that importation would lower prescription drug costs, and all drugs from abroad must be verified as safe by the FDA. He and Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota have a bill to facilitate importation.
Eyeing his reelection campaign, Trump has made lowering prescription drug prices one of his top goals. As a candidate, he called for allowing Americans to import prescription drugs, and recently he’s backed a Florida law allowing state residents to gain access to medications from Canada.
Drug prices are lower in other economically advanced countries because governments take a leading role in setting prices. But in the U.S., Medicare is not permitted to negotiate with drug companies.
Some experts have been skeptical of allowing imports from Canada, partly from concerns about whether Canadian suppliers have the capacity to meet the demands of the much larger U.S. market.
But consumer groups have strongly backed the idea, arguing that it will pressure U.S. drugmakers to reduce their prices. They also point out that the pharmaceutical industry is a global business and many of the ingredients in medications sold in the U.S. are manufactured abroad.
AARP had pushed hard for the Florida plan, saying it’s possible to safely import lower-priced, equally effective drugs and it would promote worldwide price competition.
The drug industry lobby, Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America, has successfully blocked past efforts in Washington to allow importation. It argues that patients would be at risk of receiving counterfeit or adulterated medications.
Author: Ricardo Alonso-Zaldivar
Source: Global News: Trump administration says Americans will be allowed to buy cheaper drugs from Canada
Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar made the announcement Wednesday morning. Previous administrations had sided with the industry on importation, echoing its concerns that it could expose patients to risks from counterfeit or substandard medications.
Azar, a former drug industry executive, said U.S. patients will be able to import medications safely and effectively, with oversight from the Food and Drug Administration. The administration’s proposal would allow states, wholesalers and pharmacists to get FDA approval to import certain medications that are also available here.
It’s unclear how soon consumers will see results.
Most patients take affordable generic drugs to manage conditions such as high blood pressure or elevated blood sugars. But polls show concern about the prices of breakthrough medications for intractable illnesses like cancer or hepatitis C infection, whose costs can run to $100,000 or more. And long-available drugs like insulin have also seen price increases that have forced some people with diabetes to ration their own doses.
“For too long American patients have been paying exorbitantly high prices for prescription drugs that are made available to other countries at lower prices,” Azar said in a statement that credited President Donald Trump for pushing the idea.
The administration’s move comes as the industry is facing a crescendo of consumer complaints over prices, as well as legislation from both parties in Congress to rein in costs.
Trump is supporting a Senate bill to cap medication costs for Medicare recipients and require drugmakers to pay rebates to the program if price hikes exceed inflation. Democrats in the House are pressing for a vote on a bill allowing Medicare to directly negotiate prices on behalf of millions of seniors enrolled in its prescription drug plan. Separately, the Trump administration is pursuing a regulation that would tie what Medicare pays for drugs administered in doctors’ offices to lower international prices.
The importation idea won praise from a key lawmaker, Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, chairman of the panel that oversees Medicare. Grassley said on Twitter that importation would lower prescription drug costs, and all drugs from abroad must be verified as safe by the FDA. He and Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota have a bill to facilitate importation.
Eyeing his reelection campaign, Trump has made lowering prescription drug prices one of his top goals. As a candidate, he called for allowing Americans to import prescription drugs, and recently he’s backed a Florida law allowing state residents to gain access to medications from Canada.
Drug prices are lower in other economically advanced countries because governments take a leading role in setting prices. But in the U.S., Medicare is not permitted to negotiate with drug companies.
Some experts have been skeptical of allowing imports from Canada, partly from concerns about whether Canadian suppliers have the capacity to meet the demands of the much larger U.S. market.
But consumer groups have strongly backed the idea, arguing that it will pressure U.S. drugmakers to reduce their prices. They also point out that the pharmaceutical industry is a global business and many of the ingredients in medications sold in the U.S. are manufactured abroad.
AARP had pushed hard for the Florida plan, saying it’s possible to safely import lower-priced, equally effective drugs and it would promote worldwide price competition.
The drug industry lobby, Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America, has successfully blocked past efforts in Washington to allow importation. It argues that patients would be at risk of receiving counterfeit or adulterated medications.
Author: Ricardo Alonso-Zaldivar
Source: Global News: Trump administration says Americans will be allowed to buy cheaper drugs from Canada
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