September 21, 2016 is going to go down in my personal history book as the best online live stream watching to date! There were dramatic accusations, rage, disgust, confusion, misinformation and phrases that I can’t get out of my mind. I cheered, I laughed and was depressed. I was in the dumps because I was not watching a day time drama television show, but the reality of The House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform: Reviewing the Rising Price of EpiPens. Unfortunately, this was real life unfolding before my eyes as the House Oversight Committee grilled Mylan CEO, Heather Bresch and the Food and Drug Administration, Deputy Director, Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, Doug Throckmorton in a bi-partisan effort to find answers about why EpiPen prices sky rocketed. Words like “juice” replaced epinephrine, “rope-a-dope strategy”, “no substance” and “lawyered up” were used. (Note: lawyered up remains my favorite and I hope to find a way to use in casual conversation).
Scroll down to watch Part 1 and Part 2 of the hearing. I suggest you grab some coffee and a treat, it’s long but truly a must-watch!
As much as I have scoffed at Bresch’s ridiculously high salary, I felt she earned some of those $$$ today and she was drug through the ringer for hours as anger, rage and disgust was flung squarely at her. When I saw the photograph in the New York Times piece, of Bresch surrounded by hoards of photographers while testifying, I thought to myself, “well, that is why you earn the big bucks”. Then I thought, where are the female photographers, but that is a different conversation for a different day.
My personal belief is that almost all conversation can be civil, so as much as I was cracking up over some of the comments made, I was disappointed with some members of Congress. I felt some members were laying on the drama rather thick in an effort to demonstrate their outrage, as if they were saying, “hey constituents, look at me, I’m doing my job”, rather than being better prepared with valuable questions. I don’t want to give away the good comments, but folks were on facebook comparing their favorite comments from members of Congress.
Nevertheless, I felt the hearing was basically a mash-up of Bresch avoiding questions and not having clear answers, the FDA trying to answer but sometimes missing the mark and very frustrated members of Congress, trying to find out specific information regarding pricing decisions. I was busy sending twitter messages to several of Congress who expressed dismay with stock epinephrine law. I simply forwarded Allergic Living Magazine’s piece, “Activists Fear Backlash Could Harm Stock EPI Access, Leave Students Vulnerable” and my piece about the late Nevada State Senator Debbie Smith, “Protecting People with Life Threatening Allergies: Remembering Senator Debbie Smith”. Just trying to stop the baby being tossed out with the bath water.
I applauded Representative Stephen Lynch of Massachusetts when he brought up Bresch showing us what is wrong with our health care system. Finally! Someone in Congress who gets the entire system is a train wreck and Mylan is only one little slice of this big old messed up pie. Yesterday, it was Valeant and Turing on the hot seat and today is Mylan. Who is coming tomorrow? Several members stated they support our free market system, but clearly, it is not working within the drug industry. My family’s asthma medications are out-of-control too! Maybe GlaxoSmithKline is next?
These problems will continue as long as we have a Congress that allows them to fester. I believe it is that simple. If our society’s goal is to make as much money as possible, then why are we shocked when people do it? I wish everyone would have high ethical standards, but the harsh reality they don’t. Big corporations need guidelines. They just do.
I’m sad that our country is in this ridiculous position, but inspired that sometimes you need to knock down the castle to rebuild something better.
PART 1:
PART 2
Disclaimer: None of the companies, individuals or organizations mentioned asked me to write about them. I just love sharing my thoughts. That is what bloggers do. It is our definition. Also, I’m an Allergic Living magazine and Huff Post Contributor and I shared the above pieces since I thought they are of high value.
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Caroline, as usual, you nailed it!
If that was the first time you’ve heard the phrase “lawyered up”, this explains quite a bit of your skewed perspective.
It was and yes, my perspective is skewed based on my experiences.