One of the benefits of VA medical care is that when your doc prescribes a med for you, a generic-looking bottle of it arrives at your home by mail a few days later, although if you don't mind a wait you can get them at the pharmacy downstairs right after your visit. The copays in my case are $7/scrip, even for a three month supply. You can refill on line.
Is this "socialized medicine"? Not exactly; the docs do work for the gummint in a gummint-owned facility, but the VA buys meds from the manufacturers just like everybody else. The difference is, they can negotiate on prices. You'd think Congress would give Medicare, a much larger prescriber of meds, the same authority.
Well, you'd think that if you believe Congress would put your interests ahead of Big Pharma.
| "Who's to blame?" |
One of the benefits of VA medical care is that when your doc prescribes a med for you, a generic-looking bottle of it arrives at your home by mail a few days later, although if you don't mind a wait you can get them at the pharmacy downstairs right after your visit. The copays in my case are $7/scrip, even for a three month supply. You can refill on line.
Is this "socialized medicine"? Not exactly; the docs do work for the gummint in a gummint-owned facility, but the VA buys meds from the manufacturers just like everybody else. The difference is, they can negotiate on prices. You'd think Congress would give Medicare, a much larger prescriber of meds, the same authority.
Well, you'd think that if you believe Congress would put your interests ahead of Big Pharma.