He would overhaul medical patent law and require health care companies to spend 85% of premiums on patients. From Associated Press June 15, 2007
DETROIT — Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards on Thursday proposed cutting healthcare costs by overhauling the patent process for breakthrough drugs and requiring health insurance companies to spend at least 85% of their premiums on patient care.

During an appearance at the East Riverside Health Center, a federally funded community clinic, the former senator from North Carolina offered details of the universal healthcare proposal he had released in February.

Edwards’ plan would offer cash payments in place of long-term patents for companies that develop certain breakthrough drugs and then reap large profits because of the monopolies those patents provide. (more…)