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September 25, 2009

Senate Finance Panel Rejects Curbs on Drug Costs
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The Senate Finance Committee has rejected a proposal that would have
forced pharmaceutical companies to lower drug prices for elderly
Americans under Medicare. The measure would have saved Medicare
beneficiaries more than $100 billion over ten years. The Obama
administration had opposed the proposal because it would have undercut a
secretive deal with pharmaceutical companies to back healthcare reform.
Three Democratic senators-–Max Baucus of Montana, Thomas Carper of
Delaware and Robert Menendez of New Jersey—joined with the finance
panel’s Republican members to defeat the amendment by a 13-to-10 vote.
Committee members meanwhile have put off debate on a public insurance
option until next week.



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