"The threats of "death panels" raised during the debate over ObamaCare may have been overblown, but they highlighted an important problem: When the government funds and controls most or all of the health care system, health care becomes subject to the same fiscal constraints as other government programs.  Just look at the political and fiscal chaos involving Medicare reimbursements to doctors, referred to as the "doc fix."

That's why the CDC's resistance to "recommending" certain new FDA-approved vaccines is raising eyebrows.  Has the fiscal hammer come down on access to medicines??"

We have always understood the FDA is slow to approve medications, and the profit time before drugs are released into generics is a very small window.  But the Obama administration seems to be dragging it out even further. The cost of approval lays in the fact that government has to pick up the tab for some of the drugs that work.  

A Drug is new, and it works, very well.  Unfortunately its also relatively expensive, due to the nature of development, and time in producing it.  The government, while recognizing how much better it might be than than the last used drug, also realizes its on the hook for the better drug if used.

To control that cost, it apparently refuses to approve.

Something is screwy here.  The Forbes article describes a particular Pneumonia for seniors drug Prevnar, is facing this issue. Matthews continues:

"The vaccine was approved under the FDA's accelerated approval process, created to expedite drugs addressing life-threatening illnesses.  And as if to underline the importance of the new vaccine, the FDA issued a press release last December asserting: "[I]t is estimated that approximately 300,000 adults 50 years of age and older are hospitalized yearly because of pneumococcal pneumonia.  Pneumococcal disease is a substantial cause of illness and death.  Today's approval [of Prevnar 13] provides an additional vaccine for preventing pneumococcal pneumonia and invasive disease in this age group."

But while the ACIP is scheduled to meet later this month--as it does three times a year--it has only scheduled time for discussion, not for a vote to recommend Prevnar 13.  And the question is why?"

Michigan has a rather large senior population.  A third of Michigan's population is over 50, and the fact Michigan has one of the largest senior populations in the country, means Michigan's share of elderly pneumonia victims is high.  

"Well, the FDA says that, not "a few thousand," but 300,000 adults age 50 and will be hospitalized with pneumonia in a given year."

And without access to the best medication developed.

Because of Obamacare, rationing, and shortsighted healthcare policy, will continue to stop development of lifesaving, and enhancing medication.