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

While the cost of the new Medicare drug benefit is lower than originally predicted, it is still not low enough, critics of the program contend.

A new report issued by Democrats on the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform concluded that Medicare Part D beneficiaries and taxpayers could have saved almost $15 billion in 2007 by negotiating discounts from pharmaceutical companies and pharmacies. These negotiations have produced prescription drug discounts for the Medicare program averaging 26%, the report said. In contrast, private insurers offering prescription drug coverage under Part D negotiated discounts of only about 8.1%.