flipper wrote:

First link: The VA Drug Pricing Model: What Senators Should Know

"But the VA does not simply negotiate prices; rather, it **fixes**
prices and then reduces the range of drugs offered to enrollees.
.
.
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While the VA's pricing practices do not consist of price-fixing
mechanisms alone, they are not "negotiation" either. The VA does not
use its buying power to negotiate with drug companies for lower
prices. Instead, the government, acting through the VA, uses its power
to deny manufacturers market access as a way to extort lower prices.
But these lower prices come at the expense of fewer drugs for
patients."


The VA also imports some medicines and medical supplies from Canada.
Several times my prescriptions were from Canadian companies.


From a VA newsletter for January, 2010:


VA Statement about 2010 Benefits and Programs

WASHINGTON – The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) wants to inform
Veterans and other beneficiaries of the following changes that will take
effect in 2010:

· VA will Freeze Increase in Prescription Copayments: Any
increase in Veterans out-of-pocket payments for pharmaceuticals will be
delayed until June 30, 2010. This means the department will delay a
scheduled $1 increase – to $9 – in the copayments facing Veterans for
each 30-day supply of medicine for the treatment of conditions not
related to military service. During this period, VA will also keep $960
as the maximum, annual out-of-pocket payments for pharmaceuticals for
non-service-related conditions. The $960 cap will not apply to Veterans
in priority groups seven and eight. The yearly maximum out-of-pocket
payment was scheduled to increase to $1,080. There are no copayments
associated with the treatment of conditions related to military service.


--
Greed is the root of all eBay.