Posted on Feb 3, 2016
Congress outraged over hepatitis C treatment VA can't afford
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In a CBS News investigation, we told you the cure was developed by a doctor
working for the Department of Veterans Affairs. The doctor got rich, but at $1,000 a pill, the VA
can't afford it. Much of the anger at Wednesday's hearing was directed at someone who wasn't even in the room."If I were you, I would be outraged," Rep. Mike Coffman, R-Colorado, said.
"Certainly the taxpayers should be outraged," Rep. Ralph Abraham, R-Louisiana, added.
Their target is Dr. Raymond Schinazi, who played a leading role developing a drug that cures
hepatitis C. When he sold his company to pharmaceutical giant Gilead in 2012, he made over
$400 million.
And he did it all while working seven-eighths of his time for the VA.
"So, I'm not full time -- what I do with my remaining time is up to me," Schinazi told CBS
News in December.
working for the Department of Veterans Affairs. The doctor got rich, but at $1,000 a pill, the VA
can't afford it. Much of the anger at Wednesday's hearing was directed at someone who wasn't even in the room."If I were you, I would be outraged," Rep. Mike Coffman, R-Colorado, said.
"Certainly the taxpayers should be outraged," Rep. Ralph Abraham, R-Louisiana, added.
Their target is Dr. Raymond Schinazi, who played a leading role developing a drug that cures
hepatitis C. When he sold his company to pharmaceutical giant Gilead in 2012, he made over
$400 million.
And he did it all while working seven-eighths of his time for the VA.
"So, I'm not full time -- what I do with my remaining time is up to me," Schinazi told CBS
News in December.
Congress outraged over hepatitis C treatment VA can't afford
Posted from cbsnews.comPosted in these groups: 
Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)CBS News
Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)CBS News
Posted 9 y ago
Responses: 7
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SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL 400 million $ is pretty good for part time. 12 1/2 % of his work load! 7/8 of a full-time position? The VA could not have afforded his full time services.
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Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS
You are absolutely correct. This is the wiki on the Dr. I know wiki is not a "reliable" source, however google will give you similar levels of information. The fact that we can afford him "at all" is surprising.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raymond_F._Schinazi
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raymond_F._Schinazi
Raymond F. Schinazi - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Dr. Raymond F. Schinazi is the Frances Winship Walters Professor of Pediatrics and Director of the Laboratory of Biochemical Pharmacology at Emory University.[1] He serves as Senior Research Career Scientist at the Atlanta Department of Veterans Affairs and Director of the Scientific Working Group on Viral Eradication within the NIH-sponsored Emory University Center for AIDS Research (CFAR).[2] He is also adjunct Professor of Chemistry at...
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SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL - If he was working on developing this while on government time or at the request of the government and his research development was funded by the government then I'm wondering who holds the patent. Does the government have the right to the patent? Of course I don't know the answers to any of the questions. Just wondering. Another question is, Is the price inflated because of the active components in the medication being difficult or expensive to get or is the price inflated because it's the only option on the market?
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SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL
CPT (Join to see) believe it or not he's saying it was on his time and not the VAs. We all know he got one over on the government. He got rich and sky rocket the price of the drug so VA couldn't afford it and retired just before the congressional investigation. How did the Government not know this?
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SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL - Somebody knows. I wonder if we will hear more about this. Like some answers to the questions I asked would be nice.
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Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS
SP5 Christine Conley - I'd suggest doing a simple good search of the good Dr. He isn't asking anyone at the DeptVA for help on this. He's literally the "Leader in the Field" for this research.
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Interesting post SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL
The fact that the bureaucrats at the VA range from competent to incompetent.
What seems lost in this investigation is that a doctor actually developed a cure for HEP C. That is great news. Tanks to the Congressional passing of the ludicrously named "Affordable care Act" which Nancy Pelosi infamously said had to be passed so they could find out what was in it.
That act is responsible for determining which drugs could be administered and which could not because of cost. That was a prediction by many who were concerned about the monstrosity known as Obamacare. Now the chickens have come home to roost.
America has long been the place where seemingly miraculous cures were developed. That may soon be a thing of the past as the incentive to develop life-saving medicines will be eliminated and penalties will be levied against doctors who develop cures. Hunter S .Thompson's astute observation "When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro" applies very well to the VA and to liberals in Congress.
"Coffman wanted to know why Schinazi got rich, but the VA got nothing for a drug that one of its own doctors helped develop.
"Is it bureaucratic incompetence or is it corruption, or is it a combination of the two?" Coffman asked. "This wasted resource is why this nation is unable to take care of the men and women who have served this country in uniform."
Others were upset that Schinazi wasn't there to be questioned. The VA says Schinazi retired just two days ago.
"The person that's responsible always seems to retire before the investigation starts," Coffman said.
The VA did approve Schinazi's part-time arrangement and told CBS News part-time employees are allowed to invest in private companies, so long as all conflict of interest rules are followed.
The VA said there will be both internal and outside investigations."
The fact that the bureaucrats at the VA range from competent to incompetent.
What seems lost in this investigation is that a doctor actually developed a cure for HEP C. That is great news. Tanks to the Congressional passing of the ludicrously named "Affordable care Act" which Nancy Pelosi infamously said had to be passed so they could find out what was in it.
That act is responsible for determining which drugs could be administered and which could not because of cost. That was a prediction by many who were concerned about the monstrosity known as Obamacare. Now the chickens have come home to roost.
America has long been the place where seemingly miraculous cures were developed. That may soon be a thing of the past as the incentive to develop life-saving medicines will be eliminated and penalties will be levied against doctors who develop cures. Hunter S .Thompson's astute observation "When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro" applies very well to the VA and to liberals in Congress.
"Coffman wanted to know why Schinazi got rich, but the VA got nothing for a drug that one of its own doctors helped develop.
"Is it bureaucratic incompetence or is it corruption, or is it a combination of the two?" Coffman asked. "This wasted resource is why this nation is unable to take care of the men and women who have served this country in uniform."
Others were upset that Schinazi wasn't there to be questioned. The VA says Schinazi retired just two days ago.
"The person that's responsible always seems to retire before the investigation starts," Coffman said.
The VA did approve Schinazi's part-time arrangement and told CBS News part-time employees are allowed to invest in private companies, so long as all conflict of interest rules are followed.
The VA said there will be both internal and outside investigations."
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SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL
LTC Stephen F. well stated and articulately conveyed response. Right on the money!
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