CONGRESSMAN SEES INCREASING SUPPORT FOR MEDICARE Rx PRICE NEGOTIATIONS

A Democratic congressman believes momentum is building for his bipartisan legislation that would allow the HHS secretary to negotiate drug prices under the Medicare prescription drug bill, according to a congressional aide.

Rep. Dennis Moore (D-Kan.) is hopeful that his bill, H.R. 3707, would pass during the next session given its growing support, said Rebecca Black, a spokeswoman for the congressman. Moore's legislation, Medicare's Equitable Drugs for Seniors Act, was introduced Jan. 20, 2004, and has garnered 175 co-sponsors, including 20 Republicans.

As evidence of its increasing support, Black touted recent comments made by outgoing HHS Secretary Tommy Thompson, who said he would have liked Congress to have given him the ability to negotiate prescription drug prices.