Last week the U.S. House of Representatives announced it will not implement the President's directive for employees of the House, joining major companies in rejecting the option. .Every other developed country has evolved schemes to set or negotiate prices, while balancing cost, efficacy and social good. The United States instead has let business calculations drive drug price tags, forcing us to accept and absorb ever higher costs. That feels particularly galling for treatments and vaccines against COVID-19, whose development and production is being subsidized and incentivized with billions in federal investment. .Specialists are already warning that under the new "quality initiatives" some patients may have difficulty finding services under the new system as doctors join larger practices or stop accepting patients. As doctors reorganize and move into new HMO - like Accountable Care Organizations, all sorts of new questions are coming up. Does this payment system create an incentive to send unprofitably sick patients with complicated conditions elsewhere for care? How will the government measure quality, and what evidence will the Administration use to determine successful doctor performance? .During the recent government shutdown, a group of feisty World War II vets managed to do what Congress failed miserably to do for another 15 days – reopen a part of our shuttered government. The National Mall and parks in Washington D.C. were closed to visitors. But on day one of the shutdown, CNN reported that "busloads of World War II vets, many in wheel chairs, broke past the barricades to visit the World War II Memorial as onlookers applauded." As the cameras rolled and several Members of Congress were busy trading blame, a line of vets rolled past security officers "who willingly stepped aside," CNN reported. .Action on Capitol Hill was slow this week as lawmakers remained in their home states and districts for the holiday recess. They are expected to return to Capitol Hill to begin the second session of the 114th Congress on Tuesday, January 5th. Check back then for legislative news, or visit our new page on Twitter for more frequent updates. .The DOJ in late March arrested a man in Southern California who allegedly orchestrated an investment scheme involving a bogus injectable cure for Covid-1A week later, the DOJ filed charges against a man whose treatment allegedly involved a combination of Vitamin C, bee pollen, hydrogen peroxide, and prayer. .TSCL is gearing up to fight legislation that would cut the current rate of COLA growth. "People who depend on Social Security need a COLA that more adequately protects the buying power of their benefits," says Hyland. TSCL believes seniors would receive higher and more adequate benefits by using an index that more closely tracks senior spending, like the Consumer Price Index for the Elderly (CPI-E). TSCL supports The Consumer Price Index for Elderly Consumers (CPI-E) Act, H.R. 798 introduced by Rep. Peter DeFazio (OR-4), and H.R.456 introduced by Charles Gonzalez (TX-20). Learn more by visiting TSCL on the web at . .TSCL is supportive of both of Rep. DeFazio's bills, and we were pleased to see support grow for them this week. .While the cost of the prescription is affordable, the drug causes a number of serious side effects. Susan needs to see her doctor more frequently for monitoring and blood tests. Her biggest prescription cost surprise was learning that her prescription vitamin, folic acid, which she needs to fight the side effects, was not covered under Medicare. Her Part D plan wanted 0.00 for a one-month supply. Susan instead orders an over-the-counter supply of 400 pills for .99 on Amazon, taking 7 pills every day to get to the required dosage, which is still not as effective as the prescription version of folic acid. Now her doctor is considering a different medication.