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Bangkok Post
4 days ago
- Politics
- Bangkok Post
Pheu Thai blasted for rejecting amnesty bills
The opposition has lashed out at Pheu Thai for refusing to support proposed amnesty efforts related to the lese majeste law, dismissing as unconvincing the ruling party's justification that it must appease coalition partners due to the government's slim majority. The House of Representatives on Wednesday passed three amnesty bills but rejected two versions submitted by civil society groups and the former Move Forward Party (MFP), which is now the main opposition People's Party (PP), during their first readings. The three bills, also known as the "Promote Peaceful Society Bill", were proposed by different parties. The two that did not pass were the MFP's "Amnesty for Political Offences Bill" and the "People's Amnesty Bill", which was backed by 36,723 signatories. Pheu Thai subsequently claimed it had not abandoned young people facing prosecution under Section 112 of the Criminal Code (the lese majeste law), and that it is seeking a solution, but it cannot yet reveal the details. These arguments are both vague and unsatisfactory, opposition leader Natthaphong Ruengpanyawut, also head of the PP, said yesterday. "There are channels available to offer clarity and reassurance to those impacted," he said. "I don't understand why those avenues are not being used." Mr Natthaphong also pointed out that there are various procedural approaches available in the House when it comes to voting, even if a party's stance cannot compel coalition partners to support a particular bill. He said that if Pheu Thai were genuinely committed to representing the voices of those facing political prosecution, the party could have taken a stronger, more assertive stance. He suggested Pheu Thai could have used internal coalition negotiations to propose that the issue not be subject to a binding cabinet or coalition resolution, which would have allowed its MPs the option to abstain from voting against the MFP's bill and the other bill backed by civil society groups. This way the two bills could have passed the first reading and proceed to more comprehensive deliberation, he added. Mr Natthaphong insisted that political will and clear communication are more important than hiding behind procedural constraints. "Amnesty should be broad-based, inclusive, and free from discrimination," he said, adding: "Only then can it lay the foundation for genuine peace and national reconciliation." Rangsiman Rome, a PP list-MP, meanwhile, described the rejection of both bills as a troubling sign of selective treatment and accused the government of lacking the political courage needed to seriously address deep-rooted political conflicts. "Pheu Thai does not have even a fraction of the courage needed to seize this opportunity to address the crisis boldly," Mr Rangsiman said.
The Diplomat
4 days ago
- Politics
- The Diplomat
Former Thai PM Thaksin Gives Testimony in Lese-majeste Case
The case is just one of a handful of legal complaints that threaten to end the influence of the Shinawatra family in Thai politics. Thailand's former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra yesterday took the stand in a Bangkok court to defend himself against royal defamation charges that threaten to curtail his influence in Thai politics. The former leader has been charged with lese-majeste and computer crimes stemming from a 2015 interview that he gave with a South Korean newspaper, and has been barred from leaving Thailand without permission until the case is resolved. Thaksin faces up to 15 years in prison if he is convicted under Thailand's harsh lese-majeste law, which criminalizes criticisms of the king and the royal family. Speaking to reporters after yesterday's hearing, Thaksin's lawyer Winyat Chatmontree said that the court would hand down its verdict on August 22 – two years to the day that Thaksin returned to Thailand from more than 15 years in self-exile. 'We are confident that we will receive justice,' Winyat said, as per Reuters. The case is just one of a series of legal challenges facing Thaksin and his daughter, Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, whose government hangs by a thread after the leak in mid-June of an embarrassing phone call with Cambodia's equally influential former leader, Hun Sen. During the call, which discussed the ongoing border dispute between the two nations, the Thai leader appeared to side with Hun Sen and accused a Thai general of being 'completely aligned' with her political opponents. On July 1, the same day that Thaksin's trial opened in Bangkok, Paetongtarn was suspended by the Constitutional Court, pending an ethics probe into her conduct during the call with Hun Sen. The national anti-corruption body has also announced a similar investigation, and the Bhumjaithai party, which withdrew from Paetongtarn's coalition after the call was leaked, has pledged to seek a vote of no-confidence in her government. In addition to the current lese-majeste case, Thaksin also faces legal scrutiny for the circumstances surrounding his return to the country – in particular, that he faked an illness in order to avoid serving a single night of a lengthy corruption sentence in prison. This flurry of legal cases marks an abrupt end to the truce between Thaksin and Thailand's conservative political establishment, and a resumption of the political struggle between the two camps. For years, the establishment had sought to extirpate his influence, and pro-Thaksin governments were removed both via military coups (against Thaksin in 2006 and his sister Yingluck Shinawatra in 2014) and rulings by politically pliant courts. However, after the May 2023 general election, which saw the opposition Move Forward Party (MFP) win a plurality of seats on a threateningly progressive platform, Thaksin's Pheu Thai party agreed to form a coalition with conservative and military-backed parties in order to block the MFP from power. In exchange, Thaksin was allowed to return to Thailand, which he did on the same day in August 2023 that the new government was sworn in. An eight-year prison sentence was conveniently watered down, and Thaksin was granted parole in February of last year. Despite the truce, many royalist opponents of Thaksin did not let go of their strong mistrust of the former leader, and many perceived that he overstepped the political boundaries of the deal by inserting himself so actively into the affairs of government. While he does not occupy any official position in government, Thaksin has been very active in government-adjacent roles, leading critics on both sides of Thai politics to accuse Paetongtarn (with some justice) of acting as his proxy. They have since seized on the border dispute with Cambodia, which has worsened since an armed clash between Thai and Cambodian soldiers on May 28, to attack the legitimacy of Paetongtarn's government. While the current cases will likely bring Paetongtarn's term to an end, sooner or later, they also raise questions about the future prospects of the Shinawatra clan as a force in Thai politics, as Joshua Kurlantzick and Pavin Chachavalpongpun argued in an article in late June. 'Although the family has weathered numerous challenges in the past, changing party names at times, the convergence of internal fractures among its backers and sustained external pressures from powerful Thai actors now suggests the dynasty is done for,' they wrote.
The Hill
5 days ago
- Health
- The Hill
Maine Family Planning sues Trump administration over Medicaid cuts
Maine Family Planning filed a lawsuit Wednesday against the Trump administration seeking to restore Medicaid funding that is set to be stripped under the president's sweeping tax and spending package. A provision in the law bans health care providers who perform abortions and receive more than $800,000 in federal reimbursements from receiving Medicaid funding for one year. Republicans included the provision in the legislation to cut off funding to Planned Parenthood even though the organization is not named in the language of the law. Planned Parenthood quickly filed an injunction against the Trump administration after President Trump signed his 'big, beautiful bill' into law and a judge temporarily paused the measure's enforcement. But the provisions stipulations mean that Maine Family Planning, which oversees the largest network of reproductive health clinics in Maine, will also be cut off from Medicaid reimbursements. 'The provision's parameters were designed to create plausible deniability that its sole target was Planned Parenthood; as a result, MFP got caught in its net,' the lawsuit reads. If the provision is enacted, thousands of low-income Mainers will lose access to abortion care as well as primary and reproductive health care unrelated to abortion, the organization argues. The Center for Reproductive Rights filed the lawsuit against the Department of Health and Human Services and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services on behalf of Maine Family Planning. In the lawsuit, the plaintiffs ask for emergency relief from the provision so that the nonprofit organization would not be forced to turn away patients who rely on Medicaid and who otherwise are not able to afford to pay out-of-pocket for health care. They argue withholding Medicaid funding to Maine Family Planning denies it equal protection under the law since other organizations that also receive Medicaid reimbursements for providing the same reproductive health services are not subject to the provision. 'Targeting health care providers who serve the populations with the fewest resources, and doing it by witholding funding simply because they also provide abortion care, is completely opposed to the goal of the Medicaid program—to ensure that adults and children with limited resources can access health care,' the lawsuit states. Maine Family Planning serves about 8,700 people a year either at one its 18 clinics or via its mobile unit, according to George Hill, president and CEO of Maine Family Planning. 'Tens of thousands' of other patients receive health care at one of MFP's subcontracted clinics throughout the state, the organization said in a statement. 'In a state like Maine, which is large enough to include the rest of New England by geographic area, this is a big threat,' said Hill. 'We don't have patients that are extremely mobile, especially in winter time. We have one highway going North and South. There is no highway going East and West.' About half MFP's patients at their primary clinics get their health insurance coverage through Medicaid, and 70 percent of their patients do not see other providers for health care needs. Hill said at the moment MFP has issued a moratorium on accepting new patients at its primary care clinics but is continuing to care for existing patients with Medicaid and holding off on filing insurance claims. 'We can't do that forever, obviously,' he said.
Bangkok Post
27-06-2025
- Politics
- Bangkok Post
A 'dangerous' July for the Shinawatras
The Hun Sen effect -- caused by a controversial private telephone call recording between Cambodia's de facto leader and Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra -- has thrown Thai politics into disarray. Ms Paetongtarn is in treacherous waters as calls for her resignation grow. Her opponents are to gather today in a bid to throw her out of office. The telephone conversation, believed to have been leaked by the Cambodian former prime minister Hun Sen, cast Ms Paetongtarn in a very bad light. Questions about her leadership, or lack thereof, are getting louder and louder, while public trust in her is rapidly eroding. Due to her limited experience, she was not an ideal leader from the start. Although the 38-year-old prime minister is trying to fight back by switching into tough mode, public confidence in her continues to dip. To flex her political muscles, PM Paetongtarn has instructed authorities to target call centre scams at the border town of Poipet that have for a long time harmed innocent people. The decision reportedly hit Cambodian leaders hard as it's believed that those behind the scam operation are supporters of the Hun family. The fact is, Ms Paetongtarn could have declared a war against scammers along the Thai border long ago, but chose not to. Critics say she let family ties between her family and Hun Sen's affect the decision. With the telephone recording controversy, it's clear that her leadership is in crisis. Pheu Thai's popularity had already nosedived after it dumped the then Move Forward Party (MFP) and chose to instead form a coalition with parties under the ex-junta's control. Suffice it to say, July won't be summer time for Ms Paetongtarn and Pheu Thai, as they will be facing many challenges. There are quite a few scenarios that are likely to cripple Ms Paetongtarn, with slim chances of her continuing as government leader. Among them: lawfare, largely based on the Hun Sen effect, through independent agencies; a no-confidence censure pushed by friend-turned-foe Bhumjaithai, which remains uncertain as it requires consent from other opposition parties; rising calls for her to resign, which she is choosing to ignore, and calls for a house dissolution. A coup has been ruled out, at least for now. Demonstrations against her by groups of opponents, ie, the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD), the People's Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC), and even ex-red shirt leaders, who are united in this cause, may not directly result in her removal from office. But it could be fuel for lawfare against her. Ms Paetongtarn's fate hangs in the balance as petitions against her are filed with the National Anti-Corruption Commission and Constitutional Court. In particular, the Senate petitioned the charter court, as it regarded her call with Hun Sen as disrespectful to the rule of law and a breach of ethics. The charter court is to convene on July 1 to consider the case. There is widespread speculation that the court will accept the petition. Yet, it remains to be seen if it will suspend her from duty at this stage. Most political pundits believe so. Jaran Pakditanakul, a former charter court judge, is confident that Ms Paetongtarn has little chance of surviving politically. The clip saga speaks volumes about the conflicts of interest between the two families, and shows Ms Paetongtarn has no ability to handle national crises. If the court accepts the petition and Ms Paetongtarn is suspended during the probe, it is likely that the government and public administration will be handled by Deputy Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai, according to an analysis by Mr Jaran. Even though the prospective charter court's action, mentioned by Mr Jaran, may be deemed contentious lawfare, it is preferable to a military coup, which would see the country regress politically. The following is a likely scenario if the court accepts the case against Ms Paetongtarn and suspends her from duty. Mr Phumtham would become acting PM. This could happen in around 1-2 months when the court hands down a ruling. If the court does ditch Ms Paetongtarn, the House of Representatives will vote for a new PM and, under the present circumstances, Chaikasem Nitisiri -- Pheu Thai's third prime ministerial candidate -- stands a high chance of replacing her, but only if he is fit enough to take care of the country. Mr Chaikasem, 76, is reported to have health problems. It could be said that lawfare -- considered by many as a kind of coup by independent agencies -- is the favourable option by the old guard to attack their enemies. Look at what happened to the FFP and MFP. Yet, there is a chance Ms Paetongtarn may survive the lawfare. If so, it would mean the Shinawatras have another deal with the old guard, which may be pleased with the "civilian-cum-military government" now that Pheu Thai is allowing the men in green to have a mandate in handling border issues. At the same time, it's understandable that Pheu Thai will never accept a House dissolution as an option, as it is now in a disadvantaged position, with declining popularity as a result of its poor performance in running the country over the past two years. The party is experiencing a big headache in forming a new coalition as prospective partners are optimising their cabinet seat demands, and Pheu Thai has to accommodate them as a paper-thin majority is too risky. All in all, July is set to be a dangerous month for both Ms Paetongtarn and Thaksin. For Thaksin, the court is expected to hand down its ruling on the 14th floor saga -- his extended hospitalisation to avoid imprisonment. Given all the circumstances, this could be a turning point for Thai politics as the Shinawatra family is politically vulnerable.
Associated Press
13-06-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
ASCP and NCPA Announce Joint Recommendations to Manufacturers to Effectuate Medicare's Maximum Fair Price (MFP)
ALEXANDRIA, VA / ACCESS Newswire / June 13, 2025 / The American Society of Consultant Pharmacists (ASCP) and the National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA) have announced joint recommendations to pharmaceutical manufacturers aimed at helping to support pharmacies facing material cash flow concerns under Medicare's Drug Price Negotiation Program (MDPNP). The two organizations, both of which represent pharmacists committed to high-quality care for all patients including Medicare beneficiaries, expressed concerns about the impact of the MFP, which is part of the Medicare Drug Price Negotiation Program (MDPNP). This was included in the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 and enables Medicare to directly negotiate the prices of certain single-source medications without generic or biosimilar competition. CMS selected 10 drugs for an initial round of negotiations in 2023. These included medications for diabetes, heart failure, and peripheral artery disease. These negotiated prices, the highest that a Medicare Part D beneficiary or plan sponsor will have to pay for targeted medications, are slated to go into effect on January 1, 2026. While ASCP and NCPA fully support ensuring fair medication prices for Medicare beneficiaries, an analysis conducted for NCPA found that under MFP, pharmacies may face manufacturer refund payment delays of more than 21 days, beyond the 14-day Medicare prompt pay standard. At the same time, pharmacies could lose nearly $11,000 in weekly cash flow and $43,000 annually. Over 93% of independent pharmacies surveyed by NCPA state they may not be able to stock some medications targeted for price reductions because of cash flow and reimbursement below cost; and most LTC pharmacies anticipate closures, staff layoffs, service reductions, and medications shortages stemming from the MDPNP. Pharmacists at greatest risk for these negative impacts include sole proprietors in rural and urban areas, pharmacies that heavily rely on prescription revenue, and long-term care pharmacies. To address these concerns, ASCP and NCPA made several key recommendations to manufacturers, including the following: 'Most independent pharmacies and long-term care pharmacies care for populations that are heavily dependent on Medicare. It's critical that they are compensated in a fair and timely manner. Otherwise, they will face massive cash-flow problems and not be able to provide prescription services to their Medicare patients. A recent NCPA survey found that 93 percent of independent pharmacists would consider opting out of the program unless those concerns are addressed. That would be a disaster for Medicare beneficiaries and the program itself,' said Doug Hoey, NCPA's CEO. 'The IRA presents unprecedented threats to long-term care pharmacy as well as new opportunities to build a constructive, transactional relationship between pharmacists and manufacturers,' said Chad Worz. 'In developing and presenting these recommendations, we are hoping to send a fair and equitable framework that rekindles the historical partnership between pharmaceutical manufacturers and pharmacies. This, first and foremost, benefits patients while also protecting the sustainability of pharmacies and innovators. We look forward to continuing our constructive conversations with impacted manufacturers.' ASCP and NCPA urge manufacturers to incorporate these recommendations into their MFP effectuation plans by September 1, 2025, ensuring pharmacies remain viable and patients retain access to essential medications. About ASCP: The American Society of Consultant Pharmacists (ASCP) is the only international professional society devoted to optimal medication management and improved health outcomes for all older persons. ASCP's members manage and improve drug therapy and improve the quality of life of geriatric patients and other individuals residing in a variety of environments, including nursing facilities, sub-acute care and assisted living facilities, psychiatric hospitals, hospice programs, and home and community-based care. About NCPA: Founded in 1898, the National Community Pharmacists Association is the voice for the community pharmacist, representing over 18,900 pharmacies that employ more than 205,000 individuals nationwide. Community pharmacies are rooted in the communities where they are located and are among America's most accessible health care providers. Contact Information Melissa Blacketer Senior Director of Communications [email protected] 703-739.1311 SOURCE: ASCP press release
