March 28, 2020 Issue, Page 4 of 8

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Page 4 The Elk City News, Elk City, Oklahoma Saturday, March 28, 2020 Americans should demand Trump Opinion Page “ElkCituNews enact the Defense Production Act Serving Western Oklahoma since 1901 By Ellen Birkett Lindeen is going to be — it’s going to States, because of what I did for chemical, radiological, OICA planning Do you want to wait until your town Is out of medical be fine.” Feb. 14: “We have a very and what the administration did with China, we have 32 biological or nuclear attacks. However, the pre-packed small number of people in deaths at this point ... when series of telephone supplies? and transport-ready contain- Other questions to con- the country, right now, with you look at the kind of num- sider might be: Do you want it. It’s like around 12, Many bers that you’re seeing com- ers cannot supply what is town halls to update to learn that there are no of them are getting better. ing out of other countries, needed for COVID-19. The available tests for Corona-Some are fully recovered al- it’s pretty amazing when you 2009 HINI outbreak de- virus when you realize you ready. So we're in very good think of it.” pleted supplies that have not families on are exhibiting symptoms? Do you want your doctor to shape.” Feb. 19: “I think it’s go- March 15: “This is a very contagious virus. It’s incred- been restocked, according to Charles Johnson, president COVID-19, census have to treat you for coro- navirus even if he does not ing to work out fine. I think when we get into April, in ible. But it’s something that we have tremendous control of the International Safety have protective gear? I can the warmer weather, that has over.” Equipment Association. It guess your answers to these a very negative effect on that March 16: “If you're talk- is believed that the SNS has By Joe Dorman, CEO of OICA questions. and that type of a virus. So ing about the virus, no, that’s 30 million simple surgical To better keep you informed, the Oklahoma Institute for Okay, I admit that I’m let’s see what happens, but I not under control for any masks and 12 million more Child Advocacy is planning a telephone town hall for April livid. There are over 21,000 think it’s going to work out 1, with hopefully other calls to follow each week. place in the world.” protective N95 masks, when cases of the coronavirus fine.” The telephone town hall will allow Oklahomans to hear March 17: “I’ve always 300 million masks are need- surging in the U.S. as of Feb. 24 (tweet): “The from health care professionals, government leaders, and March 22, 2020. There Coronavirus is very much known this is a, this is a real, ed to properly test for Coro- other experts about COVID-19, the U.S. Census, and criti- are dwindling basic medi- under control in the USA. this is a pandemic ... I’ve navirus. cal government services. Those on the call will have the cal supplies, as well as not ... Stock Market starting to felt that it was a pandemic Trump downplayed the ability to ask questions. enough test kits. Physicians look very good to me!” long before it was called a seriousness of COVID-10 If you would like to register for the calls, please go to and other medical personnel Feb. 25: “You may ask pandemic.” from the start to keep ner- oica.org and sign up. There will be a limited number of lack necessary equipment about the coronavirus, which March 18: But it’s a pan- people who can be on the call due to financial realities, so vous citizens calm, but he to keep themselves safe, to is very well under control in demic. We knew it was a created a much more dan- sign up soon. test patients, and to treat pa- our country. We have very pandemic long before any- We are in the midst of a crisis Americans have not faced few people with it, and the body else did. It’s a pandem- gerous situation. Even today, tients. in more than three generations. According to the Centers The president has the abil- people that have it are ... ic, and there’s no difference there are people far removed for Disease Control and Prevention, the 1918 influenza getting better. They’re all in what we said before and from reality having listened pandemic was the most severe in recent history. About 500 ity to call for more aggres- getting better. ... As far as what we’re doing with the what we're saying now.” to the president downplay- million people — or a third of the world’s population at the sive action. He could enact The president has been ing the seriousness of this time — became infected. The death toll was staggering — 50 the Defense Production Act new virus, I think that we’re million worldwide, with 675,000 in the United States. for mobilization efforts, but doing a great job.” much more interested in the pandemic. With no vaccine to protect against influenza and no an- he chooses not to do. Why? Feb. 26: “Because of all economy and therefore has Former Milwaukee county tibiotics to treat secondary bacterial infections associated Because some companies we've done, the risk to the vacillated about the corona- sheriff and ex-Fox News with it, control efforts were limited to interventions like are voluntarily stepping up? American people remains virus and its potential harm regular David Clarke recent- isolation, quarantine, good personal hygiene, disinfectants, Is this a bit late? The presi- very low. ... When you have to the American public. ly tweeted this: “GO INTO and limitations of public gatherings — which was what fi- dent has said that he wants to 15 people, and the 15 within Currently, this denial is no THE STREETS FOLKS. nally brought the pandemic to an end. keep a free market for pric- a couple of days is going to longer possible. This grave Visit bars, restaurants, shop- Those same common-sense suggestions are what health be down to close to zero. danger to citizens deserves ing. ping malls, CHURCHES care professionals recommend today since we have no vac- He is putting profit above That’s a pretty good job a president who listens to cine for COVID-19. Testing is underway on existing medi- we've done.” and demand that your human life. public health officials and Feb. 28: “I think it’s really schools re-open. NOW! If cations in hopes they might help; some of that research is In the United States, more keeps them safe. That means happening here at the Oklahoma Medical Research Foun- going well. ... We're pre- than 400 people have already pared for the worst, but we ordering resources made as government doesn’t stop this dation. foolishness...STAY IN THE Until effective therapies and medications are discovered died, and there is a lack of think we’re going to be very quickly as possible. and mass-produced, Americans need to use the interven- crucial gear and protective fortunate.” Medical professionals are STREETS. END GOVER- tions mentioned above. The more you are around people, equipment. Just in the last Feb. 28: “It’s going to dis- facing a critical shortage NEMNT [sic] CONTROL the greater your chance to become infected. If everyone week, Advocate hospitals appear. One day, it’s like a of testing swabs, protec- OVER OUR LIVES. IF would limit interaction for just one month, COVID-19 in the Chicago area set up miracle, it will disappear.” tive masks, surgical gowns, NOT NOW, WHEN? THIS drive-thru testing sites, but Feb. 28: “This is their new and hand sanitizer. In Italy, IS AN EXPLOITATION OF would be constrained. they have already been sus- hoax.” doctors have been forced ACRISIS.” OICA extends a special thanks to health care providers, pended after only a few days March 4: “Some people to decide who gets medical grocery store employees, law enforcement, emergency will have this at a very light care and who gets a respira- The president’s behav- personnel, and those in jobs that place them in the public. due to a national shortage. If ior and remarks regarding level and won’t even go We appreciate you for doing what is needed to help others you are Tom Hanks or play to a doctor or hospital, and tor, or essentially who has a coronavirus have generated while placing yourself at risk. for the NBA or a Senator, they'll get better. There are chance to live and who may and welcomed this kind of Also, do not let you or your neighbors get cheated in this you can likely get tested but many people like that.” die. There are 5,476 deaths reaction. Remember, he said time. In 2013, Sen. Patrick Anderson, R-Enid, and I wrote that is not the case across the in Italy of just under 60,000 March 9 (tweet): “So last in February that the virus the law creating penalties for price-gouging during emer- country. year 37,000 Americans died cases. U.S. doctors are well would “go away” and he ex- gencies. The law includes a $1,000 fine per violation for From the onset of the from the common Flu. It aware of this disaster and price gougers in a disaster area. All of Oklahoma is in this coronavirus, Mr. Trump has averages between 27,000 fearing they will not have pected a “miracle.” He has situation so report price gouging or scams to the Oklahoma sent many conflicting sig- and 70,000 per year. Noth- needed resources are asking never been very interested in attorney general’s Consumer Protection Unit at 405-521- nals about how he will han- ing is shut down, life & the the question: “Who will get learning about complicated 3921 or fill out an online complaint form at oag.ok.gov. dle crisis. Recently, when he economy go on. [sic] At this saved and who will not?” issues. He is publicly dis- Finally, OICA wishes to apologize for a mistaken cita- was asked about the surgical moment there are 546 con- These are not decisions they dainful of knowledge and in- tion of law in a recent action alert about a meeting of the masks’ scarcity, he replied firmed cases of Coronavirus, want to make. New York different to facts, but at this Oklahoma Health Care Authority (OHCA). OHCA held a that masks don’t always with 22 deaths. Think about point his ignorance could has issued dire predictions virtual public hearing on the governor’s Medicaid expan- need to be thrown away, that!” and warned about dwindling cost you your life. Demand sion proposal. The meeting was announced at about 9 a.m. but can be sanitized, saying, March 10: “And it hit the necessary supplies. that the president enacts the and was held at 3 p.m. that same day. The day before, the “We have very good liquids world. And we’re prepared, There is one source forsup- Defense Production Act. Legislature expedited a law to modify the Open Meetings for doing this.” and we're doing a great job plies that has been tapped. Ellen Birkett Lindeen, Act to forego posting of public meeting notices during this Mr. Trump attempted to with it. And it will go away. The Strategic National syndicated by PeaceVoice, current state of emergency. We apologize for mistakenly deny the seriousness of the Just stay calm. It will go is an Emeritus Professor Stockpile (SNS), created in connecting the two together. virus from the start: away.” Even so, OICA has serious concerns that any state agency Feb. 7 (tweet): ”... as the March 11: “I think we’re 1999, has medical supplies of English at Waubonsee would not provide sufficient notice for public comment re- weather starts to warm & going to get through it very and life-saving pharmaceuti- Community College where garding any policy change, especially one this significant. the virus hopefully becomes well.” cals in warehouses in secret she taught Peace Studies & OICA will continue to monitor this discussion and keep you weaker, and then gone.” March 12: “It’s going locations all over the United Conflict Resolution and Hu- informed. Feb. 10: “I think the virus to go away. ... The United States. They are to be used man Rights & Social Justice. Trump should dust off last year’s drug reform plan By Merrill Matthews while providing little value pharmacy benefit §manag- patients. So, a patient with retained by drug companies nearly $60 billion in out-of- Voters generally approve to ordinary Americans. ers to help design their drug a 25 percent coinsurance declined by 12.5 percentage pocket drug costs between of Donald Trump's econom- By reintroducing — that plans. PBMs decide which requirement would pay $50 points. Last year, the Trump 2020 and 2029, and the fed- ic policies -- but give him proposal, President Trump medicines to include -- and per prescription, a quarter of administration proposed a eral government — i.., tax- low marks on health care, could cut these middlemen exclude -- from each plan. the drug's list price, rather tule that would have forced payers — could save almost according to recent polls. down to size and reduce pa- They use this leverage to ne- $100 billion. than $25, a quarter of the these middlemen to reduce The president, unsurprising- tients’ drug spending. gotiate with manufacturers discounted price. copays and coinsurance, By reintroducing that re- ly, is grumbling. He recently Most people blame drug for generous discounts and bate rule, President Trump companies for the high price Moreover, middlemen are thus sharing more of the dis- chewed out Alex Azar, or- of medications. But manu- rebates. In 2018 alone, man- hogging a bigger and big- counts directly with patients. could lower drug prices by dering his Health and Hu- ufacturers doled out about excluding middlemen who facturers have little say in ger percentage of the drug- Unfortunately, the admin- man Services secretary to $166 billion in discounts and gobble up much of the cur- what patients actually pay at rebates. Patients often fork spending pie. Consider the istration caved to pressure rent price-discount savings. make progress on reducing drug prices. the pharmacy counter. The over copays and coinsurance findings of a newly updated from PBM lobbyists and And he would finally be able Fortunately, HHS bu- so-called "list prices" drug based on a drug's original list study from consulting firm shelved the proposal. to tell voters “another prom- An analysis from the ac- ise kept.” reaucrats needn't start from companies set are merely price -- not the much lower, Berkeley Research Group. scratch. Last year, they pro- starting points for negotia- negotiated price. Total brand-name drug tuarial firm Milliman, Inc., Merrill Matthews is a resi- posed -- but then shelved -- a tions. Insurers and pharma- For example, say a popu- spending at pharmacies and estimated the cost-saving dent scholar with the Insti- plan to reform the drug sup- cy benefit managers (PBMs) lar diabetes drug costs $200. other points of sale rose benefits for Medicare Part tute for Policy Innovation in ply chain. Right now, sup- are the ones that determine PBMs may negotiate that from $269 billion in 2013 to D under the Trump plan. Dallas, Texas. Follow him ply-chain middlemen drive the final price at the point of price down to $100. But in- $440 billion in 2018, an in- In a scenario where rebates on Twitter @MerrillMat- up patients' pharmacy bills sale. Here's how the supply surers and PBMs deliberate- crease of $170 billion. were eliminated, Milliman thews. This piece originally by tens of billions of dollars chain works. Insurers hire Iv hide these savings from But the share of spending estimated seniors could save ran in The Hill.