[HM2Viking]

As a taxpayer and future retired person I think that we can do much better in cost containment....

http://kaisernetwork.org/daily_repor...fm?DR_ID=42050


Medicare | Medicare Prescription Drugs Cost More Than Those Covered Under Veterans Affairs, Study Finds
[Jan 10, 2007] Drug prices in Medicare Part D prescription drug plans are on average of 58% more for the most commonly prescribed drugs than prices paid by the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs, according to a study released Tuesday by Families USA, the Arizona Daily Star reports (Arizona Daily Star, 1/10).
....
The report suggested that drug companies could shift money from marketing, advertising and administration -- which consumes 32% of the top seven companies' budgets -- to research and development, which takes up 13.9% of revenue, according to 2005 filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. "The industry could absorb a reduction in revenues resulting from negotiations with Medicare without paring back R&D spending," the report stated (Anstett, Detroit Free Press, 1/10). The study is available online. Note: You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to view the study.