Part-D The not so hidden costs

We (Americans) are a very "giving" society. We have much, therefore we can afford to give much. We cheer the underdog, who valiantly tries to surmount, insurmountable obstacles. We feel good as we help the poor with gifts, donations, new this or new that. We feel fulfilled because we have given what appears to be much needed assistance to a less fortunate human. So too was the intent of Medicare Part-D, that is to help eligible senior citizens afford life-sustaining or life-lengthening drugs when they might otherwise go without these drugs. On board the train of good intent, and fully occupying most of the cars and supplying the fuel to drive this train, is the powerful pharmaceutical manufacturers association (the drug companies). The government, which in case you forgot is actually you--the taxpayer--pays the costs for this free or nearly free ride. Now to be fair, there is a strong assumption that certain people's lives have seen its quality increase due to access to these free or reduced drug price program. However, what has been the most vivid observation for me, the pharmacist, has been the egregious over-prescribing to many Part-D eligibles. Many individuals wind up swallowing a virtual drug-soup. A cocktail of un-needed redundancy and excess. The health train of "good intent" has removed the consumer as the arbiter of sale or no sale. The person taking the drugs has no interest in the cost since it does not directly effect their pockets. Its either "free" or costs a few dollars. With costs removed from the equation, the doctors and patients pile on the drugs. Different doctors different drugs. Costs to taxpayers escalate, patient quality of life deteriorates, health outcomes diminish, yet the train of "good intent" inexorably rolls on. Our American healthcare scenerio is complex tangle of many players which has developed over the decades. This drug portion is but a small part of the health-drug-business industry. Many areas are profiting handsomely from the status quo and do not care to re-shape the set.