Clinton Backs Administration’s Faulty Medicare Rule On Advice From Failed Consultants

With most of the attention on today’s primaries, longtime Clinton lackey Chris Jennings tried to slip in some news that is bound to make big insurance companies happy at the expense of patients and doctors.

Jennings told Morning Consult that Clinton will support the Administration’s Medicare Drug pricing proposal that has received widespread criticism from groups that represent physicians, drug makers and patients.

In fact, more than 300 groups signed a letter expressing opposition to this initiative, saying that it is “misguided and ill-considered,” and will “adversely affect the care and treatment of Medicare patients with complex conditions,” such as cancer, macular degeneration, and rheumatoid arthritis.

It’s not very surprising that Jennings would push Clinton to support this rule that is opposed by doctors and patients alike. When Jennings left the Clinton White House, he made millions as a lobbyist for the pharmaceutical industry before rejoining the Obama White House to work on ObamaCare implementation.

Following that smashing success which resulted in Jennings conspicuous resignation, he went to advise Theranos, a health care start-up. During his time advising them, The Washington Free Beacon noted that the company, “quickly turned from an industry darling to being labeled a fraud.” In fact, Theranos’ founder Elizabeth Holmes, who is also a Clinton fundraiser, recently had her net worth valued at nothing, down from $4.5 billion the previous year.

As Clinton takes advice from these consultants who are clearly thinking with their own personal interests in mind, her support of this initiative clearly raises questions. While the rule might be a boon to the insurance companies who have bankrolled her campaign, it will make it more difficult for physicians to administer care and tougher for patients to receive it.