Drug savings needed
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