In their distorted view of the world, they could "save $5 billion over 10 years by cutting down on unnecessary drug purchases."
Of course they neglected to factor in the Law of Unintended Consequences.
Instead of REDUCING expenditures on health care, just the opposite occurred.
Indeed, many doctors complain that they're seeing patients for the sole purposeImagine that...
of writing out prescriptions for over-the-counter medicines.
"Flexible Spending and other medical savings accounts allow consumers to haveI assume Sen. Snowe does not have an FSA or has no idea how to use it.
more control of their medical decisions and help them save money," Nelson said.
"The use of these consumer-driven accounts should be encouraged, not
discouraged."
The policy was originally introduced by a Republican, Sen.
Olympia Snowe (Maine), as a compromise during bipartisan negotiations to avoid
requiring people with FSAs and HSAs pay for the whole cost of over-the-counter
medications.
Perhaps they had to pass the bill in order to know what was in it...