MEDICARE PART D GLASS IS "HALF EMPTY," CRITICS SAY

While the cost of the new Medicaredrug benefit is lower than originallypredicted, it is still not low enough,critics of the program contend.

A new report issued by Democratson the House Committee on Oversightand Government Reform concludedthat Medicare Part D beneficiaries andtaxpayers could have saved almost$15 billion in 2007 by negotiating discountsfrom pharmaceutical companiesand pharmacies. These negotiationshave produced prescription drugdiscounts for the Medicare programaveraging 26%, the report said. In contrast,private insurers offering prescriptiondrug coverage under Part D negotiateddiscounts of only about 8.1%.