"We are concerned that somebody, for example, who has taken an asthma medicine each day may decide to stop taking it and that might lead to a life-threatening situation, " he told Today.

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There's little to stop the negotiators from coming up with a package deal in which the asthma medication gets a 20% discount but the arthritis medication gets no discount.

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Laheij says patients should stop gobbling Prilosec like candy, especially those who are susceptible to pneumonia complications (the elderly and people with asthma or weakened immune systems).

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