The head of a drug manufacturer that lobbied on behalf of “Obamacare” now has come out swinging on one key aspect of the plan — the requirement for more tax rebates for dual Medicaid-Medicare recipients.
Eli Lilly & Co. CEO John Lechleiter said the “dual-eligible” aspect of Obamacare is all wrong for industry innovation and advancement, The Daily Caller reported. He made the statements during a shareholder meeting in Indianapolis, where the company is headquartered, earlier this week.
“Dual eligible” refers to the ability of Medicaid recipients to simultaneously receive Medicare benefits. Mr. Obama in his State of the Union speech spoke of the need for drug companies to expand their tax rebate programs for these consumers, The Daily Caller reported.
Mr. Lechleiter spoke harshly against the plan, characterizing it as a fiscal burden on drug companies.
“He said it would have fairly catastrophic consequences to the industry,” spokesman Greg Kueterman said, reciting for The Daily Caller the remarks made by Mr. Lechleiter.
Mr. Kueterman also said the company has “always spoken out about the fact that we don’t think these kinds of rebates are the right thing to do,” The Daily Caller reported.
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But Eli Lilly was a staunch Obamacare supporter during the White House push for its passage. In 2010, the drugmaker sponsored an event for the National Journal on “how Obamacare could create health jobs,” The Daily Caller reported.
• Cheryl K. Chumley can be reached at cchumley@washingtontimes.com.
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