Poster
05-11-2004, 08:59 AM
The numbers show that the companies who wrote the largest checks to the Bush campaign, were the winners of the Medicare contracts to provide discount prescription cards. Administration officials vehemently deny that any contracts were awarded based on donations.
“HHS spokesman Bill Pierce said Thompson had "no role whatsoever" with his department's selection of Medicare drug card providers. The companies had to go through "a very long and involved process" to be certified by the department's Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, he said.”
“A handful of the winning companies make up the lion's share of the political spending.
In addition to Merck and Medco, others with seven-figure lobbying expenses in 2003 included: Blue Cross & Blue Shield Association (at least $8.1 million), Aetna (at least $2.9 million), Wellpoint Health Networks (at least $1.5 million), Pacificare ($1.42 million), and UnitedHealthcare Inc. ($1.2 million).”
To read more go to: http://www.nctimes.com/articles/2004/05/11/ap/Headlines/d82g73b00.txt
“HHS spokesman Bill Pierce said Thompson had "no role whatsoever" with his department's selection of Medicare drug card providers. The companies had to go through "a very long and involved process" to be certified by the department's Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, he said.”
“A handful of the winning companies make up the lion's share of the political spending.
In addition to Merck and Medco, others with seven-figure lobbying expenses in 2003 included: Blue Cross & Blue Shield Association (at least $8.1 million), Aetna (at least $2.9 million), Wellpoint Health Networks (at least $1.5 million), Pacificare ($1.42 million), and UnitedHealthcare Inc. ($1.2 million).”
To read more go to: http://www.nctimes.com/articles/2004/05/11/ap/Headlines/d82g73b00.txt