Kuchinich bill would replace Part D with new program

Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-Ohio) recently introduced a bill (HR 6800) that would replace the Medicare prescription drug benefit with a new program in an effort to reduce costs, CQ HealthBeatreports. The legislation would require Medicare to negotiate directlywith pharmaceutical companies for discounts on prescription drugs andeliminate copayments, premiums and deductibles for medications forbeneficiaries. In addition, the bill would limit the price ofprescription drugs developed through publically funded research andallow the purchase of medications from an approved list of foreignnations.

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