Letter to the Editor

Drug savings needed

Thursday, March 8, 2007

Dear Editor,

In the near future, the U.S. Senate is expected to vote on a measure allowing the Secretary of Health and Human Services to bargain for lower Medicare drug prices.

The House already approved secretarial negotiation on a strong bipartisan vote early this year. Current law bans the secretary from negotiating directly with the pharmaceutical manufacturers for lower drug prices. This is a major flaw with the Medicare Part D drug benefit.

It's time to correct that mistake and grant our government the ability to negotiate the best prescription drug prices on behalf of older Americans and taxpayers. I urge Senators Ben Nelson and Chuck Hagel to commit their support for this common sense, cost-saving measure.

 **Russ Wood

Indianola

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