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Pharma to Push Obama Plan in $150M Ad Blitz

Drug companies get behind health care reform, to Congress' concern

By Jason Farago,  Newser Staff

Posted Aug 9, 2009 6:12 AM CDT
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(Newser) – Drug companies have authorized their lobbyists to spend up to $150 million on TV ads supporting Barack Obama's health care reform plan—a surprisingly large sum that suggests the industry still has a deal with the White House on capping pharma's costs, reports the New York Times. A few spots that have already aired echo Democratic talking points about consumer protection and universal coverage. The connections run deep—one of the agencies involved is David Axelrod's old firm.

Democrats in Congress have bridled at an agreement struck with the White House last June, in which the drug industry agreed to pay $80 billion over 10 years into health reform. The terms of the deal were not made fully public, and it's unclear just what drug companies are getting in return—although the industry stands to pick up millions more customers as health care coverage expands.

The White House and the drug industry say that pharma would pay $80 billion over 10 years into health care reform. Congress wants to extract more from the industry.
The White House and the drug industry say that pharma would pay $80 billion over 10 years into health care reform. Congress wants to extract more from the industry.   (©quinn.anya)
The drug industry is getting behind health care reform with a $150 million advertising campaign.
The drug industry is getting behind health care reform with a $150 million advertising campaign.   (©Lintilla)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 11 comments
Ucantusethatname
Aug 10, 2009 12:28 PM CDT
The bottom line: Government control of health care will never be a good idea--regardless of whether Teddy or drug companies support it.
justme
Aug 10, 2009 12:11 PM CDT
We need to improve the wat we deliver health care. We don't need to kill the system that produces most of the pharma and health inovations for the world. Careful change is not fast. Fast change is not thoughtful.
BackAgain
Aug 9, 2009 12:35 PM CDT
No they do not what do you think the world runs on a free money tree. You people have got to get a grip on reality. Life is hard and unfair, suck it up and get to work. The lion would have run you cry babies down along time ago and the rest of us would not have to listen to you.
US • Health • Money

 
advertising • White House • drug companies • health care reform • pharmaceutical industry • advertising budgets

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