Why Didn't Medicare Negotiate Better Prices?

In two thousand three the congress passed legislation establishing the drug benefit in the medicare programe. But that's almost 20 years ago now, so that seems like it's been a real issue all that time. So i helped work in two thousand three on the legislation. And then when a nancy polosy became speaker in two thousand and five, with the democrats taking over the house of representatives, they called me in to try to pass legislation. They did, allowing the government to negotiate the drug prices. However, when they were debating the affordable care act, they said, well, we'll give up on that issue in order to get the Affordable Care Act through. So a