Drugmakers, consumer group unite on health care

Who says bipartisanship over health-care legislation is dead?

Yes, Democrats and Republicans in Congress appear irreconcilably divided on the key tenets of a health-care overhaul. But two strange bedfellows — the pharmaceutical industry and a left-leaning national consumer-advocacy group — have united to promote a consensus health-care bill in Washington and 10 other key states.

Last week, some Seattle-area residents received a mailer that looks as if it could have come from Sen. Maria Cantwell, touting that she "is working to lower health care costs and make sure everyone can get and keep health insurance — even if they get sick or lose their job."

But on the flip side of a photo of Cantwell is this disclaimer: "Paid for by Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (Phrma) and Families USA."

Judy Zeh, a retired University of Washington statistics professor, said she was so perturbed by the mailer that she called Cantwell's office in Washington, D.C., to find out "if Maria Cantwell is bought and paid for by the pharmaceutical manufacturers."

The response: Cantwell had nothing to do with the mailings, nor the television ads lauding her efforts to break partisan gridlock over health-care legislation on Capitol Hill.

Phrma and Families USA produced identical ads and mailers featuring Sen. Patty Murray, who is a member of the Senate leadership.

The Washington Democrats were among senators from 11 states whose names have been invoked in a multimillion-dollar campaign launched by Phrma and Families USA to rally lawmakers and voters alike to pass a comprehensive health-care bill this year.

The two organizations don't make for natural political allies. Families USA, a Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit that calls itself the voice for health-care consumers, has accused drugmakers of charging excessive markups.

Families USA also strongly supports creating a public health-insurance plan that would compete with private insurance to drive down costs. Phrma, though it has not taken a formal position on a public plan, favors expanding choices among private health insurers.

Despite past "public policy spats," the two groups share the common goal of expanding coverage to all Americans, said Ken Johnson, senior vice president of Phrma.

Johnson said Phrma and Families USA joined forces because bipartisan debate over health care has been hijacked by political opportunism.

"People are dug in on the left and dug in on the right," he said. "Unfortunately, some people are more interested in scoring political points than in passing important public policy."

Ron Pollack, executive director of Families USA, said the 11 states chosen for the advertising campaign were deemed the most fertile grounds for persuasion. Washington and Montana, for instance, are represented on the Senate Finance committee, the pivotal group for forging a consensus bill. Cantwell sits on the committee and Democratic Sen. Max Baucus of Montana chairs it.

Other states, including Colorado, were chosen to shore up support for an overhaul of the health-care system among wavering voters, Pollack said.

Families USA and Phrma, along with groups representing unions, hospitals and physicians, are spending another $12 million in 12 states (not including Washington) to create momentum to enact a health-care bill.

Zeh, the former UW professor, thinks efforts to bridge the political divide over health care will be for naught.

Zeh, who has given money to Cantwell's campaign and who favors a "Medicare for all" single-payer plan, said she wants her senators to focus on fixing the health-care system for good, not on placating opponents.

"Bipartisan health-care reform ain't gonna happen," Zeh said. "... if a bipartisan reform passes, it will not be meaningful health-care reform."

Kyung Song: 206-464-2423 or ksong@seattletimes.com