“So we’ll continue to lighten your wallet and bust the budget. Thanks.” On his way to trying to kneecap meaningful cost control measures in the federal health care bill, former state rep and Patrick administration czar Robert Coughlin makes the old “If it’s good for us, it’s good for the MA” argument for the MA biotech industry:
“How could anyone in Massachusetts vote against the biotech industry?” said Robert Coughlin of the Massachusetts Biotechnology Council.
Well, the biotech industry wants to kill off the Independent Payment Advisory Board, which Congress created to try to reign in Medicare’s exploding costs, which Congress itself is incapable of doing. Why? Because it’s in the thrall of groups like Coughlin’s.
Biotech is targeting Sen. Kerry, who seems to be having none of it. Good on him. I like that guy.
On the other hand … Mr. Progressive-Alternative Mike Capuano is absolutely in the back pockets of Kendall Square, to the point of spewing gibberish like this:
“Hypothetically, this could destroy the Massachusetts health care economy,’’ said Capuano. “A small tweak could literally mean hundreds of billions of dollars going from Massachusetts to some other state.’’
Uh … yeah … very “hypothetically”. “Hypothetically” I could be considered for a spot in the Red Sox’ rotation.
So, trying to get MA biotech to compete on the merits, and on the basis of good information, would cause the entire industry to crater. In a general sense … if that’s true, then good riddance to bad rubbish. If MA biotech can’t create valuable and cost-effective treatments, then they should go the way of the dodo. I tend to doubt that would be the case.
If we actually care about getting Medicare’s cost curve under control, then let’s take the necessary measures. Biotech will figure out how to play the new game — if they innovate and create treatments of genuine, quanfiable value. If it’s just about preserving current revenue streams (and mediocre health care) at vast public expense, well … see ya.
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Incidentally, Thursday June 30th from 12-1pm, Health Care For All and GBIO demonstrate at the State House for our own health care cost control. I’m putting it on our calendar.
Bob Neer says
Let’s have a little dose of free market discipline for corporations in this economy. If they are willing to work hard and play by the rules, there is no better place in the world for them than America, and no better place in America than Massachusetts. But welfare handouts to preserve non-competitive business models and insider-backed deals to turn public capital into private profits are losing propositions. Just ask this spokesman for the former #1 and current #25 most admired company in the world.